A Song for Lya: And Other Stories

Description

Two telepaths investigate the newly discovered world of Shkea, where every native inhabitant, and an increasing number of human colonists, worships a mysterious and deadly parasite. Winner of the 1975 Hugo Award for Best Novella.

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Customer Reviews

Delighted that this is back in print!
My brother has always been an avid reader, and since he is three years older than I, when we were kids I always benefited from his library picks . It went like this: he would leave whichever then-current book face down open to mark the page. I would walk past and see both the front cover and the blurb on the back cover, and be hooked. A lot of times I would take the book and start at the beginning before he'd finished reading it (I imagine this was pretty annoying for him)--The Great Brain, the Tripods Trilogy, Bolo. Anyway, A Song for Lya was one of the titles that I discovered this way. Our copy was a battered, dog-eared, yellowed mass market with a hideous cover: a bunch of disembodied lips (think Dairy Queen but more chapped) floating in a reddish sky. I could never figure out which story the cover was supposed to illustrate.

It's the kind of book I can read over and over, which is unusual for me. Years later I tried to find my own copy, but it had gone out of print. I would always look in used bookstores, but could never turn up a copy. Now it is back in print, and I've bought copies for myself, brother, and friends. Have you re-read a book as an adult that you loved as a kid, only to be disappointed? Not this one! I was delighted to find it back in print and just as gripping as before, and thoroughly enjoyed rediscovering the rich characterization and detail packed into a few pages. All Sci-Fi short stories (although at least one can be considered a ghost story), there is great variety, imagination, and suspense, many with "Twilight Zone" twists. The stories range from "comedy" to drama, mystery, and do tend to run a bit dark, as one reviewer has pointed out. Martin uses science fiction as a backdrop to set off how the characters feel and behave. I like the writing style in that it is "unobtrusive", meaning that the story is totally captivating so that you don't even notice the words and punctuation (so you're not reading along and suddenly fetch up against uneven writing that makes you pause and think, now why did they use that word?) I don't find it to be dated. I've not read Martin's new series, so I can't say if you like one you'll like the other. The new re-print is a nice heavy quality/trade paperback, though some may find it a bit thin for the price. I'd say it's a matter of quality over quantity. The cover is glossy black that shows fingerprints and marks; the picture does not appeal to me, although it is a better than the old cover. Who cares about the cover--I highly recommend the contents of A Song for Lya.

2009-07-09 (USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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One short story only for Kindle
Reading the previous reviews led me to believe this was a short story collection. For the Kindle at least, it is not. This is only contains 'A Song for Lya' not any of the other stories mentioned. Its a well written story but I would have rather paid a little bit more and purchased the whole collection.

2009-06-09 (Georgia) | Helpful Votes: 5 | Rating: 3

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On par with A Song of Ice and Fire series
I'm not a big sci-fi fan, and I LOVED this book. The last story is "A Song for Lya" and it's just incredible. This isn't a spoiler cuz it's the premise of the story. Two telepaths go to a planet to find out why the aliens commit suicide at the age of 50. Pure cheery GRRM at his best.

2006-10-20 (Louisville, KY) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Early George Martin...contains inklings of great things to come
An interesting read.

This book is a collection of ten short stories by George Martin that were written in the late 60's and early 70's. The writing is not quite up to the quality of the "Ice and Fire" series, however if you look beneath the surface you can see the beginnings of the style that has made the aforementioned series a resounding success.

The stories are all off world adventures including the Hugo Award winning "A Song for Lya", however it is the story "Override" that is my favorite in this group of ten. This tale has a gut wrenching, visceral component to it that we fantasy fans have grown to love in Mr. Martins' latest offerings. In fact, I'd recommend buying this book for this story alone, it's that good.

All in all, early G.R.R. Martin, and definitely worth reading.

2005-12-17 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Does not stand the test of time
This series of short stories has a very distinct 1970's feel (because they were written in the 70's!) which I personally do not really appreciate. It is a kind of morose look at the nature of people that has a depressive 70's way of looking at things. The fact is that it is more geared towards deep thinking (or depressive) people who like to overly ponder about the state of humanity and that kind of crap. It is not anything like George Martin's Song of Ice and Fire in terms of mood or writing, which is what put me off about this book. If you really must introspect into the multiple facets of loneliness or some equal emotional angst then I guess that you may enjoy this book, otherwise get a good sci-fi or fantasy novel that has action and not so much of this philosophical 70's drama.

2005-10-04 (Montreal, Québec) | Helpful Votes: 3 | Rating: 3

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A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3)

Product Details

• Influence: New
• Notes: BUY WITH Assurance, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and help to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• ISBN13: 9780553573428

Description

Here is the third volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

A Storm of Swords

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world....

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others--a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords. . .

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Is George R.R. Martin for real? Can a fantasy epic actually get better with each new installment? Fans of the genre have glumly come to expect go-nowhere sequels from other authors, so we're entitled to pinch ourselves over Martin's tightly crafted Song of Ice and Fire series. The reports are all true: this series is the real deal, and Martin deserves his crown as the rightful king of the epic. A Game of Thrones got things off to a rock-solid start, A Clash of Kings only exceeded expectations, but it's the Storm of Swords hat trick that cements Martin's rep as the most praiseworthy fantasy author to come along since that other R.R.

Like the first two books, A Storm of Swords could coast on the fundamentals: deftly detailed characters, convincing voices and dialogue, a robust back-story, and a satisfyingly unpredictable plot. But it's Martin's consistently bold choices that set the series apart. Every character is fair game for the headman's axe (sometimes literally), and not only do the good guys regularly lose out to the bad guys, you're never exactly sure who you should be cheering for in the first place.

Storm is full of admirable intricacies. Events that you thought Martin was setting up solidly for the first two books are exposed as complex feints; the field quickly narrows after the Battle of the Blackwater and once again, anything goes. Robb tries desperately to hold the North together, Jon returns from the wildling lands with a torn heart, Bran continues his quest for the three-eyed crow beyond the Wall, Catelyn struggles to save her fragile family, Arya becomes ever more wolflike in her wanderings, Daenerys comes into her own, and Joffrey's cruel rule from King's Landing continues, making even his fellow Lannisters uneasy. Martin tests all the major characters in A Storm of Swords: some fail the trial, while others--like Martin himself--seem to only get stronger. --Paul Hughes

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Customer Reviews

Over hyped, under written
It's almost too embarrassing to admit that I've read this ridiculous trash, it was at times juvenile fun but mostly just an overlong boring slog through an endless parade of heraldry and sigils. George RR Martin is just one of those fantasy authors who is better suited to writing for the want ads. If you disagree with this review you only prove my point.

2010-07-23 (USA) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 1

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Wait until he finishes the series before buying
The first three books where with out a doubt some of the best Fantasy writing I have ever read.
I mean 'Lord of the Rings' good, I will re-read them every couple of years, great!

But George has broken trust, the trust established between an author and reader of Epic Fantasy, I buy your books and you continue to write the story. I bought the books George! Now it has been 5 years, many excuses and broken promises later and still no book 5 is forth coming. I would recommend that we all wait for him to finish the series and then buy the books

I also now have a bigger worry, now with the HBO series coming out, will George give in to the temptation to write with an eye toward HBO picking up the entire series.

Sorry George.
You have broken trust.

2010-07-12 (New York, NY United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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It. Will. Blow. You. Away.
No, really, it will. This is in my view the best of A Song of Ice and Fire (so far). And in case you for some reason haven't read the first two installments yet, this means a hell of a lot. ASOIAF is very likely the best fantasy series still in the making, and one of the best of all time. Wheel of Time? Ha. WoT hasn't been fit to lick this book's boots since The Fires of Heaven.

I'm going to avoid plot summary in this review, both because there is so much of it, and because I really don't want to reveal anything that could spoil your enjoyment of it when it occurs. But the plot is as fresh as ever, shocking and swift-moving, full of spine-tingling coups and incredible cliff-hangers. The characters are balanced well (which isn't always the case, as most who read epic fantasy can attest), and the dialogue is better than you can believe, for the most part.

There are a few storylines which drag a little on occasion, granted. But those that succeed more than make up for them, and Martin's continuing ability to force his readers to sympathize with anyone (really. ANYONE. Just wait) is astounding.

In the end, all I can really say about this book that will come close to describing what the reading experience was like for me is that on at least three occasions I started shouting out loud, and on one, I felt compelled to go for a run, just to blow off steam. It's that good.

All of this praise comes with a single warning: if you have not read Martin's books before and are considering purchasing them for yourself or someone else, please take into account the fact that they are very dark at parts, and very gritty (that's good gritty, balanced by charm, but still...the march through ASOS is strewn with blood, sex, and the splintered fragments of various taboos). So if, say, Drizzt Do'Urden and His Amazing Platonic Pals are about your speed, in terms of fantasy...take care. This has the capacity to shock young or sensitive readers.

2010-07-10 (Canada) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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still epic
Book 3 of the series "a song of ice and fire", and things are still kickin. the author has taken a very unique approach to writing this series and he still keeps you on your toes. I grow fond of one characters schemes and start to root for them,and then they get snuffed out!it really is hard to read this series and not get pulled into his world. and id like to point out that this is a realistic fantasy book, in so far as that characters do die in battles and dont pull through mortal wounds or poison. i hate books where someone gets a blank through their heart/brain and a few chapters later you find out some super awesome healer person just happened to be there and took it upon themselves to fix said character right up. not in this series, a few chapters later you might find out someone is pissing on their grave, but they stay in the ground. ive let a few people borrow the first book and they all have liked it, i highly recommend this series.

2010-07-02 (TN) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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missing an entire chapter
Great book but beware, an entire chapter is missing. I ordered it new from Amazon and pages 593-624 are missing. In their place is a repeat of pages 561-592. I'm guessing it was a printing issue for this edition isbn 978-0-553-57342-8. The only option would be return, would be nice if you could get a partial refund while keeping a partial book...

2010-06-16 (Florida) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 4)

Product Details

• Mould: New
• ISBN13:
• Notes: BUY WITH Belief, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and rite to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Description

Few books have captivated the imagination and won the devotion and praise of readers and critics everywhere as has George R. R. Martin’s monumental epic cycle of high fantasy. Now, in A Feast for Crows, Martin delivers the long-awaited fourth book of his landmark series, as a kingdom torn asunder finds itself at last on the brink of peace...only to be launched on an even more terrifying course of destruction.

A Feast for Crows

It seems too good to be true. After centuries of bitter strife and fatal treachery, the seven powers dividing the land have decimated one another into an uneasy truce. Or so it appears....With the death of the monstrous King Joffrey, Cersei is ruling as regent in King’s Landing. Robb Stark’s demise has broken the back of the Northern rebels, and his siblings are scattered throughout the kingdom like seeds on barren soil. Few legitimate claims to the once desperately sought Iron Throne still exist—or they are held in hands too weak or too distant to wield them effectively. The war, which raged out of control for so long, has burned itself out.

But as in the aftermath of any climactic struggle, it is not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters start to gather, picking over the bones of the dead and fighting for the spoils of the soon-to-be dead. Now in the Seven Kingdoms, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed, while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—are seen emerging from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges ahead.

It is a time when the wise and the ambitious, the deceitful and the strong will acquire the skills, the power, and the magic to survive the stark and terrible times that lie before them. It is a time for nobles and commoners, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and sages to come together and stake their fortunes...and their lives. For at a feast for crows, many are the guests—but only a few are the survivors.


From the Hardcover edition.

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Customer Reviews

A Song of Ice and Wild Cards
In this installment of the series I feel that GRRM has either gotten lost or he has decided to take the series in a new direction.

Part of my interest in the Song of Ice and Fire has been reading the divergent storylines and the tension of their inevitable clash. Feast takes a step back and focuses (or should I say unfocuses) on the storylines themselves. More and more, it seems that GRRM has abandoned his original vision of the series. The cohesiveness of the story has wandered dangerously and I worry that A Song of Ice and Fire will degrade into "Wild Cards: Westeros edition."

For those unfamiliar with Wild Cards, its a series of stories written in collaboration by a writers under GRRM's direction. Rather than being a single story, WC is a mish mash of short stories set in the same post apocalyptic setting. Sometimes the characters converge, ofttimes they don't. Their is no master story arc, no common resolution.

The writing in Feast is still good, but the epic feel of the first three novels has given way. Feast feels more like a collection of serial novellas. The book has its shining moments, but those moments seem to get their spark from the stored energy of the prior novels. Ultimately, Feast is a disappointment. I've re-read the first three novels, but I haven't opened Feast since I first slogged through it. I'll read a summary of Feast prior to reading Dance, but I'll never reread it.

To my friends to whom I've recommended the series, I advise that they skip Feast altogether. There are several online summaries that capture all the plot points (mostly minor sub-plots anyway). Hopefully GRRM will regain his focus in Dance. If he doesn't, I will declare A Song of Ice and Fire a great fantasy trilogy and ignore subsequent afterbirths.

2010-07-20 (San Francsico, CA United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 2

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I will wait untill he finishes the series before buy another book of him
Sorry George.
The first three books where with out a doubt some of the best Fantasy writing I have ever read.
However I will not be buying anything written by you until you finish the ____ thing.

This could have been another 'Lord of The Rings'
You have gotten greedy or too full of yourself.

You have broken trust. I believe that there is a trust established between an author and reader of Epic Fantasy, I buy your books and you continue to write the story. I bought the books George!

I also now have a bigger worry, now with the HBO series coming out the George will give in to the temptation to write with an eye toward HBO picking up the entire series.

2010-07-12 (New York, NY United States) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 3

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A noodling free jam
Haha, this is truly a soap opera without end, throw in an occasional perceived resolution
Friday which actually creates more trouble, and go on and on and on, even repeating long long verbatim passages from earlier books, until this final Noodle of Noodles.
Final for me, that is, I'm off this trip.

2010-07-12 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 1

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Great book (Not as good as Storm of Swords)
Great book, but not as good as Storm of Swords. I'm eager to read the next one... When it gets published (Still no date)

Just remember that George Martin is a better writer in his worst moments than many others in their greatest.

2010-07-09 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Absorbing Page Turner
This series has been a non-stop roller coaster ride! I love epic story arcs and this is one of the best I've seen for a long time. I only wish Mr. Martin would hurry up and get the next novel out before I finish this one. But, it's so good, I might just go back and start the series over again. The characters are so realistic and believable that when tragedy occurs (and no one is safe from this) you feel like you're punched in the stomach. The realism and gritty way Mr. Martin describes the fight scenes and landscape makes you feel like you know Westeros, the land where the epic takes place. Not just a romantic series for chicks, there's enough gore and war strategies to keep the guys happily engrossed as well. Overall, it's on my new top ten list.

2010-07-02 | Abstract Eclectic (Central Florida) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Hunter's Run

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780061373305
• Acclimatize: New
• Notes: BUY WITH Assurance, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and aid to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Description

Running from poverty and hopelessness, Ramón Espejo boarded one of the great starships of the mysterious, repulsive Enye. But the new life he found on the far-off planet of São Paulo was no better than the one he abandoned. Then one night his rage and too much alcohol get the better of him. Deadly violence ensues, forcing Ramón to flee into the wilderness.

Mercifully, almost happily alone—far from the loud, bustling hive of humanity that he detests with sociopathic fervor—the luckless prospector is finally free to search for the one rich strike that could make him wealthy. But what he stumbles upon instead is an advanced alien race in hiding: desperate fugitives, like him, on a world not their own. Suddenly in possession of a powerful, dangerous secret and caught up in an extraordinary manhunt on a hostile, unpredictable planet, Ramón must first escape . . . and then, somehow, survive.

And his deadliest enemy is himself.

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Customer Reviews

A Fantastic Book - Hoping To See the Movie
I have 2 main interests in reading: Sci-Fi and History. This book does such a great job of mixing the 2 - with the classic "settlment" story combined with the strange ideas of what could happen when one battles against himself (both psychologically, and in this book, physically).

It was good to see and hear a character who definitely has more problems than the vast majority of us "cultured" types. I can definitely understand how many could be turned off by Ramon's issues, but I felt it gave a great feeling of what it would be like to be a man who drinks, curses, and fights too often, due to a SERIOUS anger disorder. Yet, similar to the old guy who smokes too much in "The Andromeda Strain", our man Ramon actually benefits from his condition (even if it kills him - lol!).

A great read - hoping for a movie and/or more adventures in book form...

2010-05-06 | themoondog (Charlotte) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Very good
Very good book. The main character is multidimensional, not necessarily likable. The twist at the end where he remembers why he got into trouble in the first place. A bit long, but leaves you with a cool feeling.

2010-04-20 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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A Great SciFi Adventure.
Aside from the strong language employed, it's only fault by the way, this book truly is a great adventure from the beginning to it's excellent ending. The characters and plot develop nicely and a good amount of novelty, along with surprises big and small are thrown in liberally. Without a doubt one of the best scifi books I've read in a long while. An excellent result from a collaboration of authors, over an extended period.

2009-08-07 (About 50 miles, or so, east of Manhattan.) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Sometimes a good book requires a good character
Ramon Espejo is a bad man. He doesn't see himself that way until he gets a chance to see himself from outside himself. (You'll understand this when you read it.) Unfortunately, this voyage of discovery is most of the book, and if the main character is discovering how unpleasant he is, that's not very interesting. Not much of an action book. Not much of a science fiction book. More of a ??? book.

2009-08-03 | rekrapmij (Austin, Texas United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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A COOL RIDE
Hunter's Run it's above average indeed. Just see who are the guys who collaborated for a couple of decades to bring us what I like to call a "COOL RIDE".

Pure SciFi from the first page to the somehow "unfinished" end.

Here we are humans!!! all over the universe trading with superior alien races who dominates only God knows how many galaxies. In the colony of New Sao Paolo we find a character Mr. Ramon Espejo one tough explorer or miner. A Drunk with a really short temper, also involved in a rather sick relationship with his "girlfriend".

One good day Mr. Espejo gets drunk and knifes down a top Embassador in a clouded bar fight. Off he goes to the northern part of the planet to avoid authorities and perhaps make a little money off mining and then of course........he is kidnaped, cloned, chased down by his own clone and a rather big alien with a terrifying past.

A extremely well written story with tons of profanity and Gang Slang language all over the place. A great piece of work.

Highly recommended.

Cheers!!!!!

2009-07-21 | Julio (Panama) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780553381689
• Influence: New
• Notes: BUY WITH Reliance, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and utilization to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Description

Here is the first volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

A GAME OF THRONES

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

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Readers of epic fantasy series are: (1) patient--they are left in suspense between each volume, (2) persistent--they reread or at least review the previous book(s) when a new installment comes out, (3) strong--these 700-page doorstoppers are heavy, and (4) mentally agile--they follow a host of characters through a myriad of subplots. In A Game of Thrones, the first book of a projected six, George R.R. Martin rewards readers with a vividly real world, well-drawn characters, complex but coherent plotting, and beautifully constructed prose, which Locus called "well above the norms of the genre."

Martin's Seven Kingdoms resemble England during the Wars of the Roses, with the Stark and Lannister families standing in for the Yorks and Lancasters. The story of these two families and their struggle to control the Iron Throne dominates the foreground; in the background is a huge, ancient wall marking the northern border, beyond which barbarians, ice vampires, and direwolves menace the south as years-long winter advances. Abroad, a dragon princess lives among horse nomads and dreams of fiery reconquest.

There is much bloodshed, cruelty, and death, but A Game of Thrones is nevertheless compelling; it garnered a Nebula nomination and won the 1996 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. So, on to A Clash of Kings! --Nona Vero

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Customer Reviews

finally read this after hearing about for a long time
I decided to finally reading this after hearing about the new show coming out. I have been a fantasy reader since I was in middle school but for some reason I wasn't interested in this series. I think my initial misgivings were due the fact that most reviews seemed to say that there are a lot of characters, main characters die a lot, and that there was a lot of sex.
I don't really agree with any of these. The sex is sparse and not detailed(a good thing since I think that sex distracts from a story) and not many characters have died(at least in the first book).
There are quite a few POV's from different characters as their storylines progress but most of the POV's are interesting and well written.
Nothing is really black and white with his characters and the world is so well imagined that you can be attached and unattached with a character at the same time. Even if a character I like dies I think I wouldn't mind it because you get a sense that is just the way that world is. It will be interesting to see how the series progresses.

2010-07-26 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Transcription needs work
I've become annoyed enough while reading the story to write a review. Though the story is intriguing and captivating, the numerous errors in the kindle edition makes it an abysmal failure to me. Slogging through mistypes and mispells make me think the transcriber was using a poor text-to-speech software, and liken it to a barely tolerable subtitled foreign film. Great story, bad kindle editors

2010-07-26 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Strong Start to a Fantastic Series
There are a lot of great things about this book, and if nothing else, it is worth reading just to get into the series. However, it has some drawbacks that make it not quite as good as the next two books in the series.

Great things:

The subplot of Daenerys won a Hugo Award, and it is well-deserved. Her story is amazing, even as a stand-alone short story.

Martin does an impressive job of moving quickly between characters. Having each chapter from the viewpoint of a different character helps with that. He will focus on one character for a chapter, switch to another for the next chapter, and then when he goes back to the first, he fills you in as events have continued progressing in the meantime for the previous character. This gives the sense that the world is constantly in action and you are moving from window to window viewing parts of it at a time. Martin also keeps most of the chapters short enough that you do not get unnecessarily bogged down, unlike some other fantasy epics that seem to have hundreds of pages of exposition.

The tone is set very early in this book that it is a dark and dangerous world, and any character can die, no matter how pivotal they seem to be to the plot. In most books, it is fairly clear that the author will not kill off the main protagonists, making it much less tense when their lives are supposedly in jeopardy. Not so here - Martin really will kill off anyone at any time.

Bad things:

Martin seems to still be working out some writing fundamentals in this first book. The most jarring example of this to me is his overuse of pronouns, which is a common mistake amongst novice writers, usually students. For example (not from the book, so as to avoid any spoilers): "When he came into the room, he saw that his two brothers Jon and Jeremy were wrestling. He pinned him down just before he stopped the fight by pulling him to the side and shoving him out the door." At best, these sorts of passages make you stare until you can figure out who is who from the context. At worst, it's impossible to tell who's who from the context and you have to just give up and move on.

He also seems to be obsessed with nipples. I wasn't quite as disturbed as some other reviewers I've read, but it was definitely jarring when all of the sudden he would feel the need to insert another nipple-pinching scene.

Final good thing: The fundamental writing problems get better in the second book and seem absent from the third, and I didn't notice any unnecessary nipple pinching in subsequent books.

2010-07-24 (San Francisco, CA USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Not a bad read, but there are many better options.
There seems to be a great deal of debate as to whether or not this is a good book/series. I'm not going to jump in with the rest of the crowd and write a review that bashes the other reviews (come on people), but as a well-read fantasy enthusiast and author, I would like to give my impressions of the book to potential readers. I'll begin by saying what I liked about the book.

Let me first start off by saying that I did indeed enjoy this book, and I went on to read the next three. The characters are very interesting and well developed, and the story is full of twists and turns. One of the key selling points for this book is that it breaks from the traditional "good vs. evil" fantasy saga. The story is fitting for the title, and you'll probably find yourself rooting for different "players of the game" throughout the course of the story. Martin has managed to successfully merge traditional fantasy with a modern realpolitik novel. His dramatization of the action is very compelling and will have the reader turning the page and staying up later and later to finish one more chapter. His details of medieval warfare, weaponry, and politics also seem to be very well researched.

There are numerous negative points to this book (and series), however, which cause this book not to be my first choice of fantasy to recommend. First of all, the story is only marginally constructed and is quite poorly organized. The characters, dialogue, and action are all excellent, but the plot is extremely convoluted. The book also includes profanity that serves absolutely no literary purpose (and that is not to sound prudish; it's not the profanity I have a problem with - it's Martin's way of using it just for the sake of using it). I think what truly compels me to recommend against this book, however, is the fact that Martin is very irresponsible as an author. This was a decent book; by itself, it's a good read. However, Martin began a four-book series which remains unfinished - he had promised that book five would be released in 2005. It's now 2010 and we're still waiting for it. Honestly speaking, I have read so much other good fantasy since then (like The Wheel of Time (Boxed Set #1) and Through Wolf's Eyes (Wolf, Book 1)) that I'm not sure I'll even read book five if it ever comes out.

Don't get me wrong - this book is a great book for killing an hour or two on a winter evening, but it certainly falls short of fantasy greats like J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert Jordan. Even if you're looking for a fantasy that breaks from tradition, this is not the best read. For that, you're better off with a series like Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set. This book and series are a compelling story, but they have little literary value.

2010-07-23 (Virginia, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Spoiler alert
*Spoiler Alert* This series has no end in sight. If you read this then you are starting down the path to bitter frustration and financially supporting a man who does not appreciate your readership or patronage. I'm glad I didn't pay for this book, my friend works in a kinko's and they xeroxed us all copies, yes, they have that much unsupervised time.

Also, Jon Snow is really the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, who were actually lovers, and Ned Stark is killed at the end of the first book. Rob and Catelyn die in book three, but then Catelyn comes back as a zombie. Yup, zombies. Oh, and forget about the Others and the forty year winter, that never goes anywhere.

2010-07-23 (USA) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 1

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A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2)

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780553381696
• Requirement: New
• Notes: BUY WITH Faith, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and handling to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Description

Here is the second volume in GEORGE R. R. MARTIN’S magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, GEORGE R. R. MARTIN’S stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

A CLASH OF KINGS

A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon—who hold sway over an age of enforced peace are dead, victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.

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How does he do it? George R.R. Martin's high fantasy weaves a spell sufficient to seduce even those who vowed never to start a doorstopper fantasy series again (the first book--A Game of Thrones--runs over 700 pages). A Clash of Kings is longer and even more grim, but Martin continues to provide compelling characters in a vividly real world.

The Seven Kingdoms have come apart. Joffrey, Queen Cersei's sadistic son, ascends the Iron Throne following the death of Robert Baratheon, the Usurper, who won it in battle. Queen Cersei's family, the Lannisters, fight to hold it for him. Both the dour Stannis and the charismatic Renly Baratheon, Robert's brothers, also seek the throne. Robb Stark, declared King in the North, battles to avenge his father's execution and retrieve his sister from Joffrey's court. Daenerys, the exiled last heir of the former ruling family, nurtures three dragons and seeks a way home. Meanwhile the Night's Watch, sworn to protect the realm from dangers north of the Wall, dwindle in numbers, even as barbarian forces gather and beings out of legend stalk the Haunted Forest.

Sound complicated? It is, but fine writing makes this a thoroughly satisfying stew of dark magic, complex political intrigue, and horrific bloodshed. --Nona Vero

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Customer Reviews

Brilliant once again!
George R. R. Martin delivers another wonderful epic story in A Song of Fire and Ice series. Totally captivating...keeps you guessing...can't wait to read the next book in the series!!

2010-07-17 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Frustrating, but fascinating
This second book in George RR Martin's beyond-epic series is by turns frustrating and highly rewarding. Like the first book, the story is divided amongst the third-person POV of several major characters, most of them Starks of Winterfell. But unlike the first book, this time the structure detracted from my enjoyment of the story. I was so eager to find out what would happen next in one storyline that I couldn't stop myself from skipping forward several times in order to see what happened next. The characters propelled me along so effectively that I was more than halfway through the book before I realized how little was truly happening. Characters are developed, but in terms of major PLOT developments, most of what happens to these people can be summed up in one or two sentences. The Daenerys story is particularly disappointing after her stunning final scene in the first book. She does get another great final scene here, but everything leading up to it is straight-up BORING.

I will say this for Martin -- it's very realistic fantasy. The story is not just non-stop action. But the problem is that when there ARE good action scenes, we usually hear about them second-hand, or from the POV of someone who isn't directly involved, and witnesses it from afar. Martin's strange decision to omit Robb Stark as a POV character means that we are not truly present for any of his spectacular battles. I guess Martin wanted to save his juice for the massive naval and land battle at the end. It IS an epic scene, totally unlike any I've ever read before, but a few earlier battle sequences wouldn't have given me any battle fatigue. He writes them so lucidly that they simply whet the appetite for more.

The main thing that did fatigue me is how tiresome the Starks became. They always make horrible choices that lead to some calamity or fail to act when opportunity presents itself. Time and again, it crossed my mind that maybe they aren't supposed to be the heroes of this story after all. But it's Martin's world and there are no rules -- just tons of rape, tons of characters and (eventually) tons of action. It's an excellent companion to A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1), but does not stand as well on its own as the first book does. At this point, it is abundantly clear that what you're reading is just one part of a gigantic story, and it becomes imperative to pick up the next volume immediately after putting this one down. Martin's fond of his cliff hangers. So I suggest that you have it handy. Then take a deep breath, and plunge in. As long as you hang in there for the slower sections, the ending is well worth the wait.

2010-07-16 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Worthy installment
A Clash of Kings is the excellent second book in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. This installment was very enjoyable for me. The book is long. It reaches nearly a thousand pages. Despite its length it does not seem to drag on as much as A Game of Thrones, the first installment of the series. The only drawback to the length of the book is that, by the end of the book, the reader tends to forget whether certain events happened in the first book or in the beginning of this one.

Martin is a very talented writer. His work is descriptive and is very in-tune with the medieval world that it is so obviously styled after. The characters, though many in number, are well-developed. Several characters become more likeable in A Clash of Kings because they have had more in-depth story lines and have been allowed to grow past what we saw in the first book. Martin's strength is his ability to write this fantasy epic as if it were a true history, weaving different story lines together to form a more realistic time and place.

I would recommend this series to any fan of fantasy novels or historical fiction centered around medieval Europe. However, this recommendation does come with a warning. There are currently four books out in this series of what is said to eventually be seven. It has been five years since the last installment was published and the release date for book five keeps getting pushed back.

2010-07-12 (Missouri) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Wait until he finishes the series before buying
The first three books where with out a doubt some of the best Fantasy writing I have ever read.
I mean 'Lord of the Rings' good, I will re-read them every couple of years, great!

But George has broken trust, the trust established between an author and reader of Epic Fantasy, I buy your books and you continue to write the story. I bought the books George! Now it has been 5 years, many excuses and broken promises later and still no book 5 is forth coming. I would recommend that we all wait for him to finish the series and then buy the books

I also now have a bigger worry, now with the HBO series coming out, will George give in to the temptation to write with an eye toward HBO picking up the entire series.

Sorry George.
You have broken trust.

2010-07-12 (New York, NY United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Gripping story, but dark and depressing
Unlike the first book in the series, A Clash of Kings did not make me race to read the next book in the series. While I had a difficult time putting the book down and was endlessly intrigued by the plot, on the whole the book was very dark and depressing compared to the first.

2010-07-03 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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