A Clash of Kings (Martin, George R. R. Song of Ice and Fire, Bk. 2.)

More of the solid world-building and character development that we saw in its predecessor, Game of Thrones, but with a darker, bleaker setting. Where GoT had many innocent or naive characters that eventually got their hands dirty (or bloody), A Clash of Kings starts out with wary, harried, broken characters trudging through a broken world with only the faintest hopes of ending up somewhere better someday... and it works really well as a book that pulls you in and keeps you invested.

There are touches of deus ex machina via weak supernatural events, but I'm not yet sure of how important Martin may allow them to be. If they continue to simply be small devices that occasionally move the plot along, I won't mind too much. But if they become crucial to any major plot line, I'm skeptical that Martin will do so without losing some of my respect for the story.

On to the next book!

I love this book, as much as I love Game of Thrones. As someone who strongly dislikes fantasy novels, this proclamation still surprises me. Sure, the most bothersome elements of the genre - magic and dragons - are mostly present in the background of the story, but in the end George Martin's sage is still a pseudo-medieval display of swords and sorcery. So what makes it so enjoyable?

The reason is quite simple. Martin is an extremely gifted writer and Clash of Kings, like its prequel Game of Thrones, is oozing with examples of his amazing skills. He has mastered the art of description, alternating between clear, concrete prose and smart and lively analogies to instill a vivid image in the mind of the reader. He carefully constructs the development of his characters, allowing you to read their minds if you're not given access to them, and manages to equip all of them with unique psychologies and manners. A writer who manages to have my recognize his characters by voice alone, is indeed a master of the craft. Although he overuses rape as a device to introduce characters of low moral caliber, most personality traits are introduced through subtle and clever means.

Similarly, the story itself is cleverly constructed. Convincing schemes and military strategies tie together countless subplots, to arrive at an epic narrative that holds the middle between Bronze Age war poems and historic non-fiction. Martin has truly created an alternative world, and takes the time to tell the readers some of its more interesting events.

In contrast to the rich descriptions and intricate plot, however, the work is thematically poor. Themes like loyalty, war and morality show up, but the only thing that separates it from medieval fiction in that regard is the use of multiple perspectives, and the accompanying blurring of boundaries between good and evil. In the end, the book just tells an engaging story and does not serve as food for thought. Maybe that's not important in fantasy novels - they're supposed to be escapist, after all - but that then may be the reason that I typically dislike works in the genre.

Clash of Kings is an exceptional read in that it can be recommended regardless of your opinion on fantasy novels. Just marveling at the techniques that George Martin uses makes the book worth your while - the entertaining story makes for a great bonus.