Game of Thrones literature
William Powers -9/9/13
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin Oftentimes, fantasy or science-fiction novels follow one another, copying some of the landmark concepts that revolutionize the genres. Lord of the Rings was revolutionary, and much of fantasy has followed in its wake, portraying an epic quest of individuals across a perilous land full of many humanoid species like dwarves, elves, orcs, and trolls who may aid or hinder the adventurers. Dune by Frank Herbert was revolutionary in that it introduced the idea of intergalactic government and colonial struggle between planets, which later became one of the main staples in “Star Wars.” Other books and movies, such as Fahrenheit 451, Bladerunner, The Martian Chronicles, Ender’s Game, the Harry Potter series, and much of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne were landmarks in the industry of science fiction, but very few authors have touched the realm of revolutionary medieval fantasy since J.R.R Tolkien. I believe that George R.R. Martin has achieved this, and that a whole new wave of fantasy will follow his precedent.
While I often read science fiction when I was in elementary and middle school, little has captivated me as much as the first of this series, A Game of Thrones, which I read this summer. Over 700 pages, this book has a depth of story and character development which I haven’t seen the likes of since Crime and Punishment, which I read for school last year. I cannot try to remotely compare Dostoevsky’s masterpiece to Game of Thrones, as there are so many differences, but I can assuredly say that in many areas the fantasy had an even greater depth than Crime and Punishment, mainly because of the unique style of storytelling it uses. Game of Thrones, which chronicles the story of a power struggle between ruling families in a fictional medieval land, is told from the viewpoints of several members of one family, the Starks, and a few other characters from other families. Each chapter is headed by a single name,
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin Oftentimes, fantasy or science-fiction novels follow one another, copying some of the landmark concepts that revolutionize the genres. Lord of the Rings was revolutionary, and much of fantasy has followed in its wake, portraying an epic quest of individuals across a perilous land full of many humanoid species like dwarves, elves, orcs, and trolls who may aid or hinder the adventurers. Dune by Frank Herbert was revolutionary in that it introduced the idea of intergalactic government and colonial struggle between planets, which later became one of the main staples in “Star Wars.” Other books and movies, such as Fahrenheit 451, Bladerunner, The Martian Chronicles, Ender’s Game, the Harry Potter series, and much of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne were landmarks in the industry of science fiction, but very few authors have touched the realm of revolutionary medieval fantasy since J.R.R Tolkien. I believe that George R.R. Martin has achieved this, and that a whole new wave of fantasy will follow his precedent.
While I often read science fiction when I was in elementary and middle school, little has captivated me as much as the first of this series, A Game of Thrones, which I read this summer. Over 700 pages, this book has a depth of story and character development which I haven’t seen the likes of since Crime and Punishment, which I read for school last year. I cannot try to remotely compare Dostoevsky’s masterpiece to Game of Thrones, as there are so many differences, but I can assuredly say that in many areas the fantasy had an even greater depth than Crime and Punishment, mainly because of the unique style of storytelling it uses. Game of Thrones, which chronicles the story of a power struggle between ruling families in a fictional medieval land, is told from the viewpoints of several members of one family, the Starks, and a few other characters from other families. Each chapter is headed by a single name,