I’m writing to talk about my favorite song. I’m confident
most everyone has heard of it. It’s called “A Song of Ice and Fire.”
But to many, it’s simply known as “Game of Thrones.”
My first run in with fantasy was in the late ‘90s, when my
mom would read me “Harry Potter” before bed. But I truly fell in love with the
genre after I saw the first movie in “The Lord of the Rings” series in
theaters.
From then, at 9 years old, I loved being able to “step away”
and experience for a while the impossible become possible, whether it was from
watching movies or reading.
I completely devoted all of my free time not only to “The
Lord of the Rings,” but anything and everything written by the author, J.R.R.
Tolkien. I explored the incredibly expansive universe he created. In middle
school I learned to speak simple phrases in Elvish (an actually fully developed
language). From age 11, when I first finished the book series, through my
sophomore year in high school, I read “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy once a
year, and watched the movies five times as many.
I was enamored with Tolkien’s world; Tolkien, who is
referred to as “the father of high fantasy.” So for me to say that I believe
someone now rivals his work is a big testament on my part. And as you can guess
by now, it’s not J.K. Rowling (“Harry Potter” is incredibly entertaining, a
page-turner, but, ironically despite being about wizards and witches, not “magical,”
as far as literature goes).
George R. R. Martin’s series “A Song of Ice and Fire” is the
pinnacle of fantasy. It is shockingly captivating. In the (highly debated)
words of Time magazine, “This is as
good a time as any to proclaim him the American Tolkien.” I know a lot of
people who watch “Game of Thrones” but don’t read, but decided to pick up the
first book and are now hooked. Why?
The first of the five books released at this point, titled “A
Game of Thrones,” (two more to come) starts with a masterpiece of a prologue.
If anything, just take 15 to 20 minutes to read the prologue at Barnes &
Noble, and if you don’t like it, put it back on the shelf.
There are a few different factors that make “A Song of Ice
and Fire” stand out above the rest in the genre, but the first one I would like
to address is one I think is one of the most important. Not because it’s the
most interesting, but because it allows the books to be appealing to multiple
audiences.
The way the books are written, starting right from the
prologue all the way through, is phenomenal. J.K. Rowling (“Harry Potter”) is
very easy to read. And “Harry Potter” is technically classified as children’s
books, but that bores some who want more intellectual stimulation. J.R.R.
Tolkien (“The Lord of the Rings”) is much more intricate and delivers advanced
writing. I’ve often been told, though, and I can understand why, he goes too in
depth into details and descriptions. George R. R. Martin has somehow struck the
perfect balance between Rowling’s “easy reading” and Tolkien’s level of meticulousness
- combination that makes the story seem as real as can be, yet not hard or
tiring to read.
I have yet to meet someone who did not like “A Game of
Thrones” (the book). I’ve met people who did not like “The Lord of the Rings”,
because it was too dry and was difficult to read, and I’ve met those who did
not like “Harry Potter” because it was too cliché with the simplistic “overtly good
versus overtly evil” plotline.
I have much more to say on the topic, but I want those who
don’t read to understand what I am talking about when I do post more and be
able to join the conversation, so this is my pitch.
Whether you watch the show or not, whether you’re a reader
or not, go to a book store, spend 15 minutes reading the prologue of “A Game of
Thrones,” and then decide.
I wouldn’t have spent my time writing this if I didn’t think
getting at least one person to read the series would make one more happier
person in the world.
But hurry and go read, because winter is coming.
