If you hated the first they only get worse… much, much worse. I actually quit in book 3 when I was so fed up with his masturbatory style I threw it across the room in disgust. It's not like Potter where you can actually watch JK become a decent writer with every book. Martin actually gets worse and more unfocused. You'd be much better off just watching and hopefully enjoying a what might be a nice looking series.

Devin, you are out of your mind. You are really trolling with this one. A Song of Ice and Fire is "truly terribly written"? No, Martin isn't Tolkien, but ASOIAF has a pulpy economy and clarity, and it's riveting, evocative stuff. The fourth book, A Feast for Crows, is the weakest of the series, but that's because it's only half the story.

Only a child abandoned by his father could hate A Song of Ice and Fire.

Only Chud is dissing this…what does that say…

Devin is a classic nerd self loather, always has been, his opinions have no merit. I mean, come on… this is fucking CHUD for god's sake, they regularly say: "chest rape" here and think it's funny, so who cares?

How can anyone possibly defend those books? They were like he got paid by the word. There was so much potential, too, it was a shame they were so boring. Wish there was a Wheel of Time adaptation in the works, the first 5 books or so were gold, too bad that series got off track, too. Ah well, people have to milk their cows, I guess.

#6 so you say "They were like he got paid by the word" then you wish for a Wheel of Time adaptation in the same post??? Astounding.

Devin hates anything that even hints that one should exhibit strength. He hates alphas with a passion and promotes the hell out of the Michael Ceras of the world. Lets just call him our little Ellsey.

Holy shit who called the nerd convention in the comments section? Hey nerds instead of arguing about which dragon book has the best elves why not take your fat pale hairy asses out of your parents basement and try finding a date. There is a whole world out there and quite frankly once you discover pussy you won't really care about ogres, rock trolls and magic wizards!

Yeah… anyone here actually believe this douchebag "Chudfan" actually gets any? Nope. Me neither.

Ice and Fire is written well enough stylistically, but the story does meander, and it is rather disconcerting how much GRR Martin seems to enjoy making his characters suffer. Still, worth a read for anyone with a half-decent attention span and a good chunk of spare time.

Peter Dinklage is funny because he's short! This is funny CHUD humor!

I don't get it. Why the "Crap. This means I'm going to have to try and read the truly terribly written A Game of Thrones again" if you already think it's terrible, just for the sake of reading it before the TV show starts? When the show hits and you give your opinion on it, how about just letting us know what you think of it based on its own merits and NOT giving us a fucking book report while you're at it. After all, you already don't like the source material, so why do you care if it stays faithful to the book anyway? If anything, you might go into the show with an *gasp* open mind! Crazy…

Have to agree with 13. I'm a fan of the books, but if you don't like them, Devin, don't read them, and just watch the show on its own merit. You might enjoy it more if you don't know what's going to happen anyway.

Don't you see, nos. 13 & 14? Devin only said that so he could work in a cheap shot and troll the series' fans. If he does actually read the books it'll only be because he wants to disparage them in comparison to the TV series.

Wow. it's becoming more and more apparent as time goes on that Devin has absolutely zero taste. I could see if you said that the books were simply not your thing but to say they're 'truly terribly written' is just the other side of batshit crazy. I know I should just skip articles with your name on them anymore but there's a macabre curiosity that draws me, much the same reason people stare at car crashed and watch public hangings. It's horrible, but you have to look anyway.

Well there's always at least one Chudfan present to suck at the dick of Devin and prove they're above everything too. This is a geek site, and if you're posting on it you're a geek (me too!). Being a Chudfan is not going to get you laid.

I'll be surprised if GRRM lives long enough to finish the series.

This article (and subsequent thread) is actually the first time I've heard anyone say anything disparaging about ASOIAF. I love the books, and every single person I've ever seen or spoken to (until now) has loved them too. Given the dire state of modern fantasy, Martin's books are definitely a cut above the rest of the dreck. Always good to see a differing opinion, though. Personally, I can't wait for this, and I think the "no character is safe" scenario that Martin created with this series will make for some top notch television.

Yet another example of support for my standard motto for reading CHUD these past 6 months:

"If Devin hates it, it must be good"

Devin, I actually agree with a lot of what you say, but on this.. your smokin a chode dude.

Terribly book? lol really? Try reading your articles or just looking at your face, Devin.

Just remember, Delvin gave GI Joe 8.5/10 and wears Star Trek T-shirts. So no need to get worked up if he doesn't like things you like.

Putting the fanboy hyperbole and/or trolling aside for a sec, for those of you that have read the series, is it worth reading? I picked up the first book when I heard HBO was shooting the pilot, but was only able to get a few pages in before giving up on the clunky prose. I just kept imagining it being read out loud in Stephen Colbert's 'Tek Jansen' voice. Does it get better?. The premise sounds interesting, but it's a large time investment to make if it will only end up disappointing. Thanks!

"why not take your fat pale hairy asses out of your parents basement and try finding a date."

Sun-tanning your ass isn't necessarily a turn-on.

To 24, prose aside, the books are worth reading. Most of the characters are interesting enough to keep you on board and the plot does build, even if it's spastic at times, to a rewarding conclusion. No one who has read these books will say they have much if any artistic merit, but Martin tells a good story. People pretending to have some kind of critical eye, whether it be in literature or film, are attempting to act as if they are above it, to rather hilarious results, as you can see above.

To 24:

If you can make it past the 2nd Bran chapter you'll be hooked.

To #24: The prologue of the first book goes overboard on imagery. The last friend I recommended the books to struggled through the prologue, set the book aside, gave it a second try a month later and proceeded to tear through the series. I don't know whether or not it's well written; the only books I've ever read that have been known for their writing were required by my high school. But for what it's worth, I loved the books, and so, obviously, do many others. Definitely worth reading them, and if you're not captivated after the first hundred or so pages, you can set it aside knowing you gave it a shot.

First time I have ever read anything by anyone who disliked GRRM's series. ASoIaF is a great series.

Devin you're a tard for writing this article.

Yeah, the books are overlong, and Martin is wordy (he could use a better editor), but he _does_ know how to tell a very good story. Stylistically, there are better writers. But as a storyteller, with dynamic, fascinating characters that are really put through the meatgrinder emotionally, that have varying shades of morality, where characters on opposing sides of a situation both make sense– Martin's very hard to beat. You end up rooting for almost everyone, and that's what makes it hard– they're all fighting each other.

I'd say, read the first 100 pages. You'll know where things get interesting. If that sequence of events doesn't get you past his stylings as an author, then you probably wont dig him. Otherwise, you'll be in, whatever your opinions of his prose.

Atleast, that was my experience. Martin is what Martin is as a writer– he's published a number of other books before he did this series, so he's not changing. You're not going to get that Rowling experience, of watching her get better with time. Rather, you're in pretty good hands from the get go.

Yeah, the books are overlong, and Martin is wordy (he could use a better editor), but he _does_ know how to tell a very good story. Stylistically, there are better writers. But as a storyteller, with dynamic, fascinating characters that are really put through the meatgrinder emotionally, that have varying shades of morality, where characters on opposing sides of a situation both make sense– Martin's very hard to beat. You end up rooting for almost everyone, and that's what makes it hard– they're all fighting each other.

I'd say, read the first 100 pages. You'll know where things get interesting. If that sequence of events doesn't get you past his stylings as an author, then you probably wont dig him. Otherwise, you'll be in, whatever your opinions of his prose.

Atleast, that was my experience. Martin is what Martin is as a writer– he's published a number of other books before he did this series, so he's not changing. You're not going to get that Rowling experience, of watching her get better with time. Rather, you're in pretty good hands from the get go.

Congratulations Devin: you got yourself some new readers today, since your mindless drivel was mentioned on WIC. Try all you like, but certain stuff is truly not meant to be enjoyed by everyone – heavy books, for example. Better stick to the funnies where they don't write so terribly much.

I agree. The books are terribly written, anyone who didn't know what would happen from the first few chapters wasn't paying attention.