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Hello everyone o7

Since this is my first article I`d like to tell you what this newspaper will be about.
It`s going to be about books, mangas, movies, tv-series and animes to read/watch and sometimes about things that happened or are happening in the eWorld but mostly focused on the first things I said. Also they won`t be in that order.

So sit back and hopefully enjoy my opinion on the subject.

Also subscribe, vote and leave a comment (criticism is gladly accepted). And I need 25 comment for quest so please comment on the article THANK YOU

So this edition will be about a series of fantasy books. My personal favorite books.

A Series of total 7 books but only 5 are published and hopefully the next 2 will be published in the next few years(the 6th book in the series is rumored to be published this year, 2018 but that has been rumored every year after the publishing of the 5th book so don’t get your hopes too high) so if you have read this books you know what I`m talking about, it’s the series called “A Song of Ice and Fire” - ASOIAF (a.k.a The Game of Thrones books known by its series(but I`ll talk about that in some other article)for now I`ll stick to the books), they are written by American author George R.R. Martin.

So as I said there will be total of 7 books. In this article I`ll analyze the 5 published books.

Here is why you should read the books if you have watched the tv series and liked it. Because a lot and when I say this I mean A LOT of plots and characters are missing in the tv series including few who have a chance to win the Iron Throne, I really don’t know why the series writers didn’t include them but I speculate is because of low budget (I know they have around $10 millions per episode), or maybe they are lazy.
Also if you like fantasy books, you are going to love ASOIAF because the series follows Greater and Smaller houses and their banners of Westeros fighting for the Iron Throne, the lands of Essos with their own ways of lifestyle, the seas in between and the land beyond The Wall with its secrets, and last but not least Dragons. Each chapter concentrates on the third person limited point of view of a single character or characters.

About the author:
George Raymond Richard Martin(GRRM) is born September 20, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey, USA, he is novelist and short-story writer in the fantasy, horror and science fiction genres, screenwriter and tv producer. He is best know for his epic fantasy novels “A Song of Ice and Fire”.


Front pages of all published books

The First book is called “A Game of Thrones” (hence the name of the tv-series).

It was publish on August 1, 1996. It has been nominated and has won few awards.
Nominations: Locus Award(1997), World Fantasy Award(1997), Hugo Award(1997), Nebula Award(1997) and Ignotus Award(2003).
Won: Locus Award for Best Novel(Fantasy), Hugo Award for Best Novella for Blood and Dragon and Ignotus Award for Best Novel(Foreign).

This book follows three principal storylines simultaneously.
In the Seven Kingdoms, On the Wall and Across the Narrow Sea.

The edition I own is a 2011 print from Bantam Books and it has 807 pages to read, detailed maps of The North and The South of Westeros, Appendix* for few great and small houses and a preview of the next book.

*Appendix – this shows a little bit of history about the houses, region or a King`s/Queen’s army, a list of known living and dead members of that house, or King/Queen and their banners and allies.


About the plot of the book:

In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the North of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom`s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family harsh and unyielding as the land the were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Here are a few thing people said about this book and GRRM.

“ I always expect the best from George R.R. Martin, and he always delivers.” – Robert Jordan
“Such a splendid tale and such a fantistorical.” – Anne McCaffrey
“It is perhaps the best of the epic fantasies.” – Marion Zimmer Bradley
“The major fantasy of the decade… compulsively readable.” – The Denver Post

My opinion: If you like and enjoy fantasy books you should definitely read it because it has a great entrance and show of characters and their features, no matter if you like “the good” or “the bad” guys in the books, there are plenty of both, it really visually shows their surroundings, their feelings and their intentions, has a great plots and counter plots.


Front page of the first book

WARNING!!!
Do NOT read further if you are not up-to-date because it contains SPOILERS!!!
You have been WARNED continue on your own risk.

The Second book is called “A Clash of Kings”.

It was published on November 16, 1998. It has been nominated and has won few awards.
Nominations: Locus Award(1999), Nebula Award(1999) and Ignotus Award(2004).
Won: Locus Award for Best Novel(Fantasy) and Ignotus Award for Best Novel(Foreign).

This book follows three principal storylines simultaneously.
In the Seven Kingdoms, Beyond the Wall and Across the Narrow Sea.

The edition I own is a 2011 print from Bantam Books and it has 969 pages to read, detailed maps of The North and The South of Westeros and King`s Landing, Appendix for the 4 Kings and the Queen, few great and small houses and the men of the Night`s Watch and a preview of the next book.

About the plot of the book:

A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. And from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and the women possessed of the coldest steel… and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.

Here are a few thing people said about this book and GRRM.

“Martin amply fulfills the first volume’s promise and continues what seems destined to be one of the best fantasy series ever written.” – The Denver Post
“A colorful, majestic tapestry of characters, action and plot that deserves a spot on any reader`s wall… the pages seem to pass in a blur as you read.” – Albuquerque Journal
“Grabs hold and won`t let go. It`s brilliant.” – Robert Jordan

My opinion: If you like a great war with elaborate plans and battles then you will definitely enjoy this book, because its full of war plans, battles, betrayals and more things. The show of characters and their features continues with even more new and intriguing characters.


Front page of the second book

The Third book is called “A Storm of Swords”.

It was published on August 8, 2000. It has been nominated and has won few awards.
Nominations: Hugo Award(2001), Locus Award(2001), Nebula Award(2001), Geffen Award(2002) and Ignotus Award(2006)
Won: Locus Award for Best Novel(Fantasy), Geffen Award for Best Fantasy Book and Ignotus Award for Best Novel(Foreign)

This book follows three principal storylines simultaneously.
In the Seven Kingdoms(The North/The Riverlands and The South/King`s Landing), On the Wall and Across the Narrow Sea.

The edition I own is a 2011 print from Bantam Books and it has 1128 pages to read, detailed maps of The North, The South, Beyond the Wall and Valyria, Appendix for the 4 Kings and the Queen, few great and small houses, the Night`s Watch, the Brotherhood without Banners, the Wildlings(the Free Folk) and a preview of the next book.

About the plot of the book:
Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis. Stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons left in the world. And as opposing forces maneuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by 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…

Here are a few thing people said about this book and GRRM.

“High fantasy doesn`t get any better than this.” – The Oregonian
“A riveting continuation of a series whose brilliance continues to dazzle.” – The Patriot News
“One of the more rewarding examples of gigantism in contemporary fantasy…richly imagined.” – Publishers Weekly

My opinion: If you love unexpected things then you must read this book, the most unexpected things happen in the least expected moment. Great new plots and betrayals, new exiting characters and a real page turner. If you got attached to a character then I have bad news for you.


Front page of the third book

The Fourth book is called “A Feast for Crows”.

It was published on October 17, 2005. It has been nominated, but it has not won any awards.
Nominations: Hugo Award(2006), Locus Award(2006), British Fantasy Award(2006) and Quill Award(2006).

This book follows two principal storylines simultaneously.
In the Seven Kingdoms(Oldtown, King`s Landing, Riverlands, The Vale, Iron Islands and Dorne) and Across the Narrow Sea.

The edition I own is a 2011 print from Bantam Books and it has 978 pages to read, detailed maps of The North, The South and Iron Islands, Appendix for the Queen and the 2 Kings, few great and small houses, Rebels and Rogues, Smallfolk and Sworn Brothers and Beyond the Narrow Sea and a preview of the next book.

About the plot of the book:

After centuries of bitter strife, the seven powers dividing the land have beaten one another intro an uneasy truce. But it`s not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades and carrion eaters of the Seven Kingdoms gather. Now, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed while surprising faces – some familiar, others only just appearing – emerge from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges of the terrible times ahead. Nobles and commoners, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and sages, are coming together to stake their fortunes…and their lives. For at a feast for crows, many are the guests – but only a few are the survivors.

Here are a few thing people said about this book and GRRM.

“[A] once-in-a-generation work of fiction that manages to entertain readers while elevating and entire genre to fine literature.” – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“A fantasy series for hip, smart people, even those who don`t read fantasy.” – Detroit Free Press
“The American Tolkien.” – Time

My opinion: The new path the events take is something no one can have predicted. Even more intriguing characters and plots. Like Detroit Free Press said a book even for those who don`t read fantasy.


Front page of the fourth book

The Fifth book is called “A Dance with Dragons”.

It was published on July 12, 2011. It has been nominated for few awards and won one award.
Nominations: Hugo Award(2012), Locus Award(2012) and World Fantasy Award(2012)
Won: Locus Award for Best Novel(Fantasy)

This book follows three principal storylines simultaneously.
In the Seven Kingdoms(The North, The Stormlands, Dorne, Riverlands and King`s Landing), Across the Narrow Sea(In the Free Cities and Slaver`s Bay) and At the Wall.

The edition I own is a 2011 print from Bantam Books and it has 1051 pages to read, detailed maps of The North, The South, Beyond the Wall, The Free Cities and Valyria, Appendix for Westeros (the 3 Kings, few great and small houses, the Night`s Watch, the Wildlings and Beyond the Wall) and Essos/Beyond the Narrow Sea (the Queen, few cities and the Sellswords of the Free Companies) and a preview of the next book.

About the plot of the book:

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, Daenerys Targaryen rules with her three dragons as queen of a city build on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies and many have set out to find her. Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way east – with new allies who may not be the ragtag band they seem. And in the frozen north, Jon Snow confronts creatures from beyond the Wall of ice and stone, and powerful foes from within the Night`s Watch. In a time of a rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics lead a grand cast of outlaws and priests,soldies and skin-changers, noble and slaves, to the greatest dance of all.

Here are a few thing people said about this book and GRRM.

“Long live George Martin…a literary dervish, enthralled by complicated characters and vivid language, and bursting with the wild vision of the very best tale tellers.” – The New York Times
“Filled with vividly rendered set pieces, unexpected turnings, assorted cliffhangers and moments of appalling cruelty, A Dance with Dragons is epic fantasy as it should be written: passionate, compelling, convincingly detailed and thoroughly imagined.” – The Washington Post

My opinion: The greatest plots of the series are in this book, with new characters from forgotten times. The power of the Free Companies combined with the lifestyle of the rich citizens of Free Cities with their slaves is pretty exciting, not to forget the cliffhangers with will make your brain “explode”.


Front page of the fifth book