Product Description

Here is the third volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

A Storm of Swords

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world....

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others--a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords. . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1657 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-04
• Released on: 2003-03-04
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 1216 pages

Amazon.com
Is George R.R. Martin for real? Can a fantasy epic actually get better with each new installment? Fans of the genre have glumly come to expect go-nowhere sequels from other authors, so we're entitled to pinch ourselves over Martin's tightly crafted Song of Ice and Fire series. The reports are all true: this series is the real deal, and Martin deserves his crown as the rightful king of the epic. A Game of Thrones got things off to a rock-solid start, A Clash of Kings only exceeded expectations, but it's the Storm of Swords hat trick that cements Martin's rep as the most praiseworthy fantasy author to come along since that other R.R.

Like the first two books, A Storm of Swords could coast on the fundamentals: deftly detailed characters, convincing voices and dialogue, a robust back-story, and a satisfyingly unpredictable plot. But it's Martin's consistently bold choices that set the series apart. Every character is fair game for the headman's axe (sometimes literally), and not only do the good guys regularly lose out to the bad guys, you're never exactly sure who you should be cheering for in the first place.

Storm is full of admirable intricacies. Events that you thought Martin was setting up solidly for the first two books are exposed as complex feints; the field quickly narrows after the Battle of the Blackwater and once again, anything goes. Robb tries desperately to hold the North together, Jon returns from the wildling lands with a torn heart, Bran continues his quest for the three-eyed crow beyond the Wall, Catelyn struggles to save her fragile family, Arya becomes ever more wolflike in her wanderings, Daenerys comes into her own, and Joffrey's cruel rule from King's Landing continues, making even his fellow Lannisters uneasy. Martin tests all the major characters in A Storm of Swords: some fail the trial, while others--like Martin himself--seem to only get stronger. --Paul Hughes

From Publishers Weekly
The third volume of the high fantasy saga that began with A Game of Thrones and continued in A Clash of Kings is one of the more rewarding examples of gigantism in contemporary fantasy. As Martin's richly imagined world slides closer to its 10-year winter, both the weather and the warfare worsen. In the north, King Joffrey of House Lannister sits uneasily on the Iron Throne. With the aid of a peasant wench, Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, escapes from jail in Riverrun. Jaime goes to the other youthful ruler, Robb Stark, to secure the release of Joffrey's prisoners, Robb's sisters Arya and Sansa Stark. Meanwhile, in the south, Queen Daenarys tries to assert her claim to the various thrones with an army of eunuchs, but discovers that she must choose between conquering more and ruling well what she has already taken. The complexity of characters such as Daenarys, Arya and the Kingslayer will keep readers turning even the vast number of pages contained in this volume, for the author, like Tolkien or Jordan, makes us care about their fates. Those two fantasy greats are also evoked by Martin's ability to convey such sensual experiences as the heat of wildfire, the chill of ice, the smell of the sea and the sheer gargantuan indigestibility of the medieval banquet at its most excessive. Perhaps this saga doesn't go as far beyond the previous bounds of high fantasy as some claim, but for most readers it certainly goes far enough to command their attention. (Nov.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Revenge for old insults and a quest for absolute power, with all the associated battles, have no bounds as the intrigues around the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms continue. The boy king, Joffrey, lives up to his reputation as a budding cruel tyrant, behind whom his grandfather and mother continue to believe they exercise the real power in the kingdom. Roy Dotice reprises his characterization of a long list of important and recognizable characters from earlier books in the series. This proves to be a valuable aid in keeping family relationships clear and maintaining the threads of the plot. Dotrice has the manner of a gruff, old knight, a tone that is well suited to this epic tale. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Of course you have to read this
The first thing I noticed about the first quarter of this book is that it wasn't quite as chronically addictive. I found it less painful to put down, and more predictable than its predecessors. Then it got better, then it went Scorcese...I got emotionally involved, and bummed out for an hour. And then it hit me again, I was hooked and had to read the rest...good save.

But you know what, Martin either needs an editor or should send his current one to the Black. There were several forgiveable errors, but the one that says "Maybe I need to do a little more than just run a spellcheck" all over it is on p. 495 "...to rape their windows." And this was translated into how many languages? I wonder how that turned out. Raping windows...hmmm. I think some of Martin's TV-writing experience is reflected in these books as well. Is it me, or does each of these chapters/viewpoints typically end as if it were anticipating a commercial break?

Too bad Martin didn't stick with his original intent of a trilogy, because the story is going all over the place , and doesn't seem to have the same solid direction that A Game of Thrones was going. Nevertheless, the majority of the characters retain a high level of interest. It's still worth reading if you read and enjoyed the previous two.

Fantasy that goes Mainstream -- Very enjoyable
What do I mean by mainstream? I suppose you could also define it "literary fantasy." What drives all of George R.R. Martin's magnificent segments in his epic are the characters and how they develop across this colorful tapestry of war, greed, lust -- all the standard themes of truly great literature. He handles it oh-so-well and without a doubt Books 1-3 of A Song of Ice and Fire are among my favorites, at least the equal of The Lord of the Rings (Tolkien) and my new favorite Derek Armstrong's Song of Montségur trilogy (although so far I've only read/reviewed the first book The Last Troubdour.)The Last of the Troubadours, Carl Michael Bellman (1740-1795), although I'm about to order book 2, The Last Quest.The Last Quest: Song of Montsegur A fantastic journey, and I would recommend this to anyone over the age of 14 (after all it is a lusty, violent tale). This is one book you almost want to read on your Kindle or E-Ink reader simply due to the sheer weight of paper, even in the mass paperback, but I'd take it anyway I can get it. Just for the record, the first book in the series (separately reviewed) is actually my top favorite in this series. A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)

Wickedly-Entertaining, Breathtakingly-Captivating
George R. R. Martin has outdone himself in this, the third tome in his wickedly-entertaining "A Song of Ice and Fire" fantasy series. Yes, the series started off at a ploddingly slow pace with "A Game of Thrones", but the second book, "A Clash of Kings" picked up the pace and the plot got better. This third book improves on the previous two, on just about every aspect. The pacing is faster, the plot is "tighter", and the story is finally moving forward.

The land of Westeros is still in chaos and turmoil. The smallfolk continue to suffer as the Great Lords play their "game of thrones". Meanwhile, against this epic backdrop of war and political maneuverings, characters both great and small gradually reveal their own desires and motivations. Through many twists and turns, the plot will delight you, surprise you, shock you, and might even anger you. Old values, beliefs, alliances, and friendships will be shattered. New alliances are built. The old Gods now give way to the powerful flame god from overseas.

Jon Snow returns to Castle Black, with a wildling woman he has taken under the sheets. Meanwhile, his trusty side-kick, the self-described craven, Samwell Tarly has taken it upon himself to rescue a wildling woman from a band of rebel crows. The Young Wolf, having made a very foolish mistake attempts to right his wrong and repair a broken, and vital, alliance. The Kingslayer, under the escort of Brienne the Beauty, slowly reveals himself through a series of conversations with the maiden from Tarth. Tyrion, ever-clever, slowly tries to regain his political power within King's Landing, and gains himself a new paramour in the process.

Daenerys Stormborn, the last of the Targaryens, continue to gather followers, admirers, soldiers, and enemies. As her power grows, so do the list of those who would stop her. Stannis, the King in the Narrow Sea, has been broken, with no one to turn to but the priestess and sorceress, Melisandre.

Many, both high and low, will fall. And the dead will rise again. Winter is coming. The long night is coming. Old heroes will die and new ones will rise to take their place to face the new evil that is about to unleash itself unto the world. And your friend and reviewer, the ever-humble Citan, can only look forward to the next installments in the series with great hope and excitement.