My user name is born from the books, A Song of Fire and Ice, in TV parlance known as Game of Thrones. I started with the show, Stark fan, but the books are what tantalized me.

Twists and turns that are clever, as the books are written point of view style, which leads to being mislead about characters. For instance, while vile on many fronts Jaime Lannister saved the city.

I hate some of the changes from the novels. I doubt I could do better, though.

Any other fans out there?

The North Remembers!

KNJon of the Knight's Watch

KnownothingJon,
Not watched it as I have become less tolerant of violence as I age, but I would have enjoyed the books more when I was able to read (eye probs). When you say 'point of view' do you mean that a character is telling the story, or it is unfolding through one character's eyes? If the former, have you come across The Chronicles of Amber, starting with Nine Princes in Amber, by Roger Zelazny? A great read.

Dave.

We have read the 5 books several years ago.

Book 4 began to become too violent for me.... and when book 5
arrived I was so shocked and disappointed, I refuse now to watch the shows.

Book 5 was so boring, so vulgar, gross, and negative...I became depressed from it. I think R.R. Martin has gone round the bend.

So once we were interested by these books, now I am totally disgusted by them. I don't have the strength or endurance to read them anymore. Perhaps these are "guy" books?

Chapters are told from a certain character's point of view. Jaime Lannister is not POV until book three. Then my mind was kind of blown. Between him and Brienne of Tarth, I was hooked.

I'm trying to be excited about the series as I got my wife hooked, but I'd prefer the sixth book. I feel the story works better with the filter of subjective things being told. The cliffhanger from book five leaves you knowing some of whatbis said is true, some is not.

Mrs. D, I see many of your points. The series has had grit from day one, but it is amping up to conclusion, which is likely to get worse on the violence front. Do you enjoy fantasy on a whole? The Red Wedding made me feel ill.

I enjoy violence less and less as years pass, but I do love this story. I identify with Ned Stark and I truly believe the depth of how amazing he was has yet to be shown.

I read some sci-fi.... I liked the Mars books by Kim Stanley Robinson. I like Orson Scott Card and Ender, this winter I am reading the Mists of Avalon and the other prequels. Actually re-reading Mists, and the prequels are new to me. (Marion Zimmer Bradley) -- The Avalon series is mostly "chick" oriented though.

Another very interesting series, is the Repairman Jack fantasy.
F.Paul Wilson.... these are very good too. My husband and son really like these. Lots of action and hero stuff.

I really like Robert Holdstock and his Mythago series. I read all of those last year. I had some, and bought some used on Amazon. (these are intense adult fantasy)

I also like Edward Rutherfurd...and his historical novels of Britain:
Sarum, London, The Forest and Princes of Ireland
all were really good.

I also got into Pillars of the Earth and the sequel World without End by Ken Follett

When I was younger I read the usual Asimov, Clarke, Niven, etc.

Another very captivating SciFi/fantasy is Connie Willis' Domesday Book. That was very satisfying for me. About time travel.

I also like James Rollins (he is a Veterinarian) and writes adventure fantasy. Lots of science in his plots.
http://www.amazon.com/James-Rollins/...577&sr=1-2-ent
His books are always exciting I think, and I often take them on vacation.

MrsD,
Asimov wrote the best, most complex, complete Time Travel novel in The End of Eternity IMO. I have read all his works a multitude of times.
Another favourite author - when my eyes allowed - was Terry Pratchett, the superb Discworld series. Each book stands alone, but if you like strong female leads in well-crafted, humerous Fantasy I would suggest The Witches Trilogy: Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters and Witches Abroad to start. Then start at the start of the series with The Colour of Magic - a Wizards novel. Pratchett took some time to develop his storytelling style, so it is best to start when he has found it as you are then sympathetic to the Characters in the earlier books despite a few writing problems.
On the whole, the Discworld series takes you on a wonderous journey right up until Terry succumbed to Alzheimer's.

Dave

Hubby just found this one for me last year:
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Omens-Acc...erry+pratchett

It was mostly a guy book IMO. Wasn't spectacular for me though.

I'll check our library for the discworld ones... and give an early one a try. Thanks for the recommendation.

The Connie Willis book was really good. Lots of medical historical stuff in it. The main female character goes back in time and lands in the middle of the Black Death in a small English village. Very well written.

I have one more book to go in the Avalon series and I will be done with those. I am reading now Sword of Avalon, which is mostly a guy book so far. How the sword Excalibur came to be
made.

MrsD,
The Gaiman collaboration IMO was a disaster. The Discworld Witches are akin to Medieval English Witches with covens, headology, herbalism and real magic. They are powerful Lead characters and rank as my equal favourites with their contemporary Wizards - with whom they occasionally interact.
I miss reading

Oh, thanks for that clarification... I don't like the other Gaiman book either...hubby bought it for me...American Gods. I thought that one was awful.

I'll particularly look up Pratchett now...

Favourite of ALL the books from Discworld comes late and is a Wizard story - The Last Continent - set in XXXX (FourEcks) which has a rather Antipodean feel, strange animals, corks hanging from hats cliches.

Dave.