Martinis perhaps the preeminent titan of contemporary fantasy.
HisA Song of Ice and Firebooks captured the world’s imagination like nothing since the heyday ofHarry Potter.
He’s certainly earned this success.
Image by Federico Napoli
This means there’s a wealth of Martin goodness for fans to dive into.
Here are his ten strongest works, according to the users of the book review site Goodreads.
For example, all the action places on a steamboat chugging along the Mississippi River.
The book has been memorably described asBram StokermeetsMark Twain.
However, his mysterious benefactor, Joshua York, is later revealed to be an immortal bloodsucker.
This is an inherently tense premise, with Marsh trapped on the ship with the vampires.
His motives are mostly altruistic, and he’s far from a stock villain.
It clocks in at almost 1000 pages.
An HBO show based on the novellasis currently in development.
If done right,it has the potential to be great.
The fourthASOIAFbook shifts its focus to the aftermath of the War of the Five Kings.
Cersei Lannister grapples with her newfound authority, facing threats from within and outside the capital.
A Feast for Crowsis notable for not featuring primary viewpoint characters like Jon Snow, Daenerys, and Tyrion.
This is both the book’s blessing and curse.
6’Sandkings' (1979)
Rating: 4.22/5
“I detest cute animals.”
This sci-fi novella tells the eerie tale of Simon Kress, a wealthy and callous collector of exotic pets.
When he loses control of the critters, all hell breaks loose.
This isGremlinson steroids.Sandkingsis dark, gory, and gruesome; Martin at his most unrestrained.
Readers who appreciate this aspect of his work are likely to enjoy it.
The highlight is the fascinating description of the sandkings.
They’re also capable of evolving and adapting to their environment, gaining in intelligence and ability.
They’re like mini versions ofStarcraft’s Zerg.
“The Hedge Knightis the first entry in theDunk and Eggseries.
As Dunk competes in the tournament, he becomes embroiled in a conflict between noble houses.
Along the way, he also encounters Egg, who becomes his squire.
It builds up to a satisfying conclusion, while also planting the seeds of future adventures.
Indeed, Martin is said to be planning more installments in the series.
“A Dance with Dragonspicks up whereA Storm of Swordsended and runs concurrently withA Feast for Crows.
However, it focuses on the major characters, like Jon, Daenerys, and Tyrion.
In the North, Jon struggles with his role as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.
Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys grapples with ruling Meereen.
With the Iron Throne up for grabs, multiple factions vie for power.
In the North, Robb Stark is declared king and seeks vengeance.
Daenerys, likewise, plots her return to Westeros from across the Narrow Sea.
In terms of viewpoint characters, this book also introduces fan favorites Theon Greyjoy and Ser Davos Seaworth.
The infamous beheading of hero Ned remains one of the most hard-hitting moments in the entire series.
The book is just so finely constructed.
Martin’s highest-rated book on Goodreads is the third entry inASOIAF.
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