Book One of Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin.....WOW

Book One of the Game of Thrones series is called A Song of Ice and Fire.  I don't really get the ice part but I have to say it's full of fire!  This book is so full of characters, plots, sub-plots, locations, sub-locations, action, betrayal, death, violence, passion, tragedy and intrigue it boggled my mind!

George R. R. Martin

Their must be a million characters!  Ok, I am exaggerating about the character numbers but there are a lot of them and at least 7 are the storytellers.   They aren't first person telling but the story is told from their point of view.  There is more violence in this novel than in a Freddie Krueger movie!  Then there is the ending!  Really?!  George R. R. Martin must take cat naps only because his head it too busy to let him sleep more than and hour or so.  His imagination is run amok!

Roy Dotrice

I have to let you know I listened to this book and I am glad I did.  Roy Dotrice is amazing as the narrator. He is a Tony award winning actor with an extensive resume. He has a terrific range of accents and vocal tones including the children and women.  He uses the drama of his voice to give life to the words Mr. Martin put on the page.  He was totally believable without using falsetto or baby voices.  It was like listening to a radio drama and the were several scenes when I found myself holding my breath for the outcome.  Bravo Mr. Dotrice!
The actual story is in it simplest concept a medieval political thriller. Don't mistake me, this is not a simple story.  It has more layers than Kim Kardashian's wedding cake! King Robert dies and his beloved right hand man, Eddard, is accused and convicted of his death.  Relatives begin declaring themselves the rightful heir.
Meanwhile an exiled heir Viserys, sells his thirteen year old sister Daenerys into a barbaric marriage to raise the money and army to reclaim his throne. Daenerys discovers barbarians aren't so bad and ends up being the biggest barbarian of them all.  Eddard's family isn't aware he has been executed and goes on the march to rescue their Lord.  This is the simplest description of this story and it no where near encompasses the whole.

Game of Thrones is now an HBO Series

There is no one hero or good guy.  The guy I was pulling for at the beginning appalled me by his arrogance and stupidity midway through.  Drogo, the barbarian who disgusted me turned into a sexy lover who had me thinking very bad thoughts.  The women are no easier to pin down.  The queen Cersei, who seemed just spoiled and perverted turns out to be a black widow, literally.  I wouldn't want her to be my mother.  Catelyn, a mother who is torn by the harm committed against her son turns out to be a woman of hidden stories and resentments.  Her actions are determined by her emotions and I don't expect her to do well as we go forward.  Then there are the children.  John, a bastard son sent to a desolate place to become a monk-like soldier because his step-mother resents him so much.  The oldest son Rob who is placed into a position of leadership and doing the best he can.  Bran, the younger brother who is almost killed and left as a cripple has a brighter future ahead than, I think, anyone knows.  Sansa, the sister who is an innocent and yet spoiled with dreams of becoming queen is dealt traumatic blows at the hands of her future husband and king.  Arya is the other sister who is a wild thing and her future is still undetermined but of all the characters is the one I hope becomes the baddest, toughest ass-kickingest heroine of them all.
I have only touched the surface of this story.  There are all the other support and secondary characters, (at least they are in this installment), who play important parts but are too numerous to list at this time.  There are plots beneath plots beneath plots and there were times when I wasn't always sure I knew what the heck was going on but didn't want to stop listening either. When I got to the end my mouth literally fell open and I was so shocked and surprised I had to listen again!  It was fantastic! I loved it!
There have been some other reviews that compare this series to J. R. R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Ring ". Other vehemently reject that notion.  I would say that while there are similarities between Middle Earth and the 7 Kingdoms in the grandeur of both tales that is the end of it.
Tolkien's tale was high melodrama with clear cut standards of good and bad. You knew from the beginning who was the hero and who was the villain.  There was violence but it was honorable and the good guys ultimately trounced their enemies.  Romance was important but it was more a concept than it was an actual physical thing.  Magic was integral to the story and was everywhere.
Martin has created a world that is much more real for its grit and lack of true hero versus true villain. He doesn't shy away from graphic details whether it is of a murder, war or sex act.  His characters have bad teeth and foul mouths.  There is nothing Arthurian about the Seven Kingdoms.  It's more like a medieval gangster novel.  All the factions are run by their own and there is always someone trying to run the whole show.  Magic is mentioned in the past tense and not believed in any more.
I know I haven't given a lot specific storyline but truth be told I don't know what parts to share that won't give away the parts I shouldn't.  Suffice it to say I have already downloaded the next installment "A Clash of Kings". I just want to know what winter is going to be like!