It might seem a bit jaded but this series, SONG OF FIRE AND ICE, gets better as it traverses the middle aged civilization of Westeros and the lands around. The intrigues, conniving and treacheries of royalty are constant and ongoing. One thing can be said for sure in the instalments of this series, and that is, everything is so unpredictable. Favoured characters have no immunity from any of the foibles of their actions or of those opposed to them.
Some of the characters have morphed from being banish to goodish while others have descended and elevated accordingly. George
RR Martin leads us along his plotline and then dashes what seems to be the predicted outcome. I have thought, hoped many times that a main character receive justice, all for naught.
The fantasy part of this series is always implied and does not manifest until a moment least expected. There are major shifts that happen in this instalment, A DANCE WITH DRAGONS. Some are welcomed and in his true fashion so far, some not. Book 5 has not lost any of the lustre created by the preceding four and leave me an anticipation of the final two. Once completed they will be missed but I have no expectation a nice neat ribbon will be tied upon this literary package.
I disagree though with the statement that one reviewer called him the American Tolkien. He is so much more! I believe Tolkien's work to be a morality play, while Martin's work is elevated to near reality using the fantasy mode as allegorical. There is no black or white delineation.
As one character relates in a paragraph three quarters of way through. he says that maesters, the royal advisors that know all, are the real power in 'the game of thrones'. Truly a succinct testimony to reality in our world.
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