Game of Thrones

I don't normally read really intense fantasy series; I'm pretty mainstream: Eragon is about as deep into fantasy as I get. So when my freshman year English teacher (and good friend) approached me with Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin, and said: "You have to read this," I was skeptical. I'd heard about it, but it seemed really confusing and intense, something only people with a lot of time to obsess over something got into, and altogether odd. But in a lull between books, I found myself picking up The Game of Thrones.

As always, boy was I wrong about this series. All I can say without spoiling the plot is that the book revolves around a fantasy world, and the fight for the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms between several great houses and families: key players include the Starks and the Lannisters. The story is told through alternating viewpoints of several different characters. And that is literally all I can say, because once the reader has figured that out for themselves, everything changes, alliances shift constantly, people die, kings die, and families are separated in a whirlwind of plots.

But the brilliant thing is, though daunted originally by the sheer number of characters, I am now fluent in Game of Thrones-lingo. I know who each person is, who each house is loyal to, where a certain character is at a given time. I actually care about every single character and every single plotline, which is saying something when there are around 7 at any given time! Martin excels at keeping every plot balanced and switches back and forth deftly, like an organ player on the pedals to create a hymn. And even more intricate than the plot are the characters themselves.

The characters are what truly make Game of Thrones. I have been completely immersed in Martin's fantasy world as I haven't been since Harry Potter, and I think it's due in large part to the reality of the characters. Though the cast is larger than in Harry Potter, every character is superbly drawn and characterized easily. Most importantly, there is no "good" or "evil" character (entirely). There are characters (Jaime Lannister!) who are thought to be evil from one perspective and then from another are shown in a more positive light. Essentially every character makes life-threatening, stupid mistakes and has a moment of good shine through. It's what makes the characters realistic- there aren't any archetypes. Martin pretty swiftly eliminated my idea of archetypes in the first book, and since then has kept me on my toes, guessing who will die (too many! and the wrong ones!) and who will make it. But what makes me most certain of the reality of the characters is how I can discuss them with my friends who are reading this book like our other friends. I can deplore so-and-so's action and cheer on another person; I can be frustrated with so-and-so for doing something stupid and mourning another's death. I can slip easily into Martin's world because I know the people so well, and I care about what happens to them, unfortunately for me in some cases.

Though it is an easier read (though not short! around 900 pages!!), deep undercurrents run through the story about the nature of good and evil, and if a man can be successful by following the rules. Morals, some characters believe, will only get you killed- it is the evil who violate contracts who live and gain power. Martin doesn't have a definite answer on this yet, as the series hasn't ended, but I'd be intrigued to know what he thinks. The issue is questioned almost with every character's move, but never fully concluded. It leaves food for thought, though: which characters do I hate? Which do I root for? Will anyone I root for be successful if they also have morals and follow the rules?

I'd like to think that you can be successful by following the rules, though I have a feeling that this isn't possible in Martin's world. However, Martin's world is defined by an important assumption: that "success" means winning the throne, winning battles, winning power. In reality, material success isn't the only attainable success- there is the success of helping another, of raising your children right, of doing justice for others. The series isn't finished yet (and I haven't finished reading it), but I can only hope that Martin acknowledges the existence of a different type of success; that power bought at any price is not the only thing worth attaining.