Post originally by Emmit Svenson at 2005-02-14 12:25:26
Converted from Phorums BB System

As an ASOIF fan this review pisses me off because he/she is ripping on my favorite series. As a literate human being this review pisses me off because it sucks. Objectively speaking it sucks.

The first rule of writing a book review is DON'T SUMMARIZE THE BOOK, add one paragraph worth of reaction and call it a review. Didn't you learn this during Middle School English class? Especially if your audience is intended to be people who didn't read the book yet. Even if you hate the book you don't give away the twists and the ending.

The second rule is the if you are going to write a plot summary then GET YOUR DAMN FACTS STRAIGHT. The King did not rape and kill Lyanna. The Dothraki do not live in the South of Westeros. Incest is not considered acceptable by society unless you have a big freakin' dragon standing behind you to eat anyone who gives you lip. All of these points were repeated multiple times during a GoT, yet the reviewer manages to botch them all. Impressive.

I'd be curious to read what types of fantasy the reviewer likes. He complains that the characters aren't really "evil". Apparently the fact that the Lannisters and other assorted bad guys might have had a reason for acting the way they did just blows this guy's mind. He must prefer the bad guys who do evil for no other reason then to prove how evil they are. If that's the type of story you like then fine, but some of us prefer villains whose motivations we can actually understand.

He bitches about how the kids in the book take active roles as commanders, fighters and, yes, "evil-doers". The book only said about a million times that a person was considered a man grown at age 16, so get over it. Martin isn't trying to make any grand statement about the maturity level of kids or the importance of noble blood or anything else. He's telling a story in a fantasy world based upon our high Middle Ages and is trying to keep it as realistic, honest and powerful as he can. Jeez, if this guy has a problem with how children act in ASOIF don't anyone show him Ender's Game. Dude will have a heart attack.

[This response stolen from the Martin fan site http://tinyurl.com/4622f where this review has been greeted with much laughter and head-shaking.]