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June 23, 2005
He's Your Pusher Man
George R.R. Martin, that is. And man, have I been feeling that monkey on my back, bad. The wait for his newest book, "A Feast For Crows" has seemed interminable, in no little part because "they" keep announcing release dates, then reneging on them. Cruel they are, the lying publishers. If you like medievalesque fantasy (I usually don't), and have never read Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" books, you are denying yourself a marvelous treat. Even if you don't like medievalesque fantasy you're denying yourself a marvelous treat. I don't know anyone who doesn't like these books. People who hate fantasy and science fiction like these books. People who hate mythology like these books. People's moms like these books. In fact, I can't think of anyone who's read these books who hasn't wanted more. And they all want to know when their next fix is due out. Sadly, all I can tell them is that it won't be published till he finishes it. Why do I like these books so much? Aside from the gorgeous exotic locales and the timeless themes of love, lust, honor, and betrayal? Oh yeah, and revenge. Much, much revenge. Because they play with your head. They are unpredictable yet satisfying because they often (but not to the point of being obvious about it) set the reader up for a predictably cliched situation and then break that implicit contract in a number of interesting ways. Some are amusing, some are horrible, some are both, but the end result is that you can't take anything for granted. Martin has no compunctions about putting his characters through the worst sorts of suffering. Nice people can and do die horribly, with shocking suddenness. I don't think this technique would work so well if Martin was merely displaying contempt for his readers, but his work is clearly informed with a deep and honest love for the genre. When he rings a few little changes, you know it's because he wants to make it better for you. In this, he has certainly succeeded. Fair warning. Once you start these books, you will find yourself wanting to know "What happens next?"... For a storyteller, can there be a finer compliment? posted by Justin on 06.23.05 at 11:27 AM
Comments
The style of that. I'll have to read him when I can. Steven Malcolm Anderson the Lesbian-worshipping man's-man-admiring myth-based egoist · June 24, 2005 02:21 AM |
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One of the things I like about these books is the complexity of the characters. As an example, he sets somebody up to be the basic evil character (as in motivations, not effects) and then later works it so that you actually kind of like the guy— sure, he's a muderous so-and-so, but he's really just sort of a thrall to someone who really IS amoral— and he sells it so well that you wouldn't mind having the guy on your side. That's writing.