Is "A Song of Ice and Fire" the best epic fantasy since "The Lord of the Rings"?

[ShaggySpellsword]

I don't see how half-way through the first book the plot could possibly be transparent to anyone. Martin is, above all else, a master at manipulating his reader into thinking things about his characters, and then, whenever he wants to, changing the reader's perception so utterly and completely you begin to pity and even like the most despicable characters in the series. And he makes it all believable. Jaime Lannister.

I voted yes, but I admit, I have not read too much of many fantasy series out there. Most get dull and repetitive (to me) after the first few pages and don't manage to immediately suck me in. ASoIaF sucked me in.

 

[Endur]

George RR Martin's series is great. It may someday rank as one of the best of modern fantasy, of the second rank of epics released after the Lord of the Rings. There are many great epic fantasy series that compete with the Song of Ice and Fire, such as Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionvar Tapestry.

BUT

The Lord of the Rings is in the first rank of fantasy epics, the classics. Alongside the Lord of the Rings, you have The Chronicles of Narnia, The Wizard of Oz (also a series), and similar fantasy stories from the 50's and before. Conan. etc. These are the classics of the fantasy genre.

 

[Zaukrie]

I really like Martin's books, very entertaining to me, even if some of the decisions by characters are so stupid you doubt they would make them. However, until we get to the end, we can't really judge it. I actually think there are several very good books in the three he's written, but I'm not convinced that he'll finish it before I turn 60 in 20 years.

Even if the end is great in SoFI, Guy Gavriel Kay's books are the best overall. I think the writing is excellent, the stories are always compelling, and his characters are usually smart.

For pure enjoyment, Brust is my top candidate. Kay and Brust are just about the only authors I pay for anymore, though Williams does get my money occasionally.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Jordan self-destructed well before the crap-fest that was his latest update, and Goodkind, which started out as snuff porn in Book I, evolved into right-wing propaganda by book VI

...care to elaborate?

 

[Nosfredatu]

I really love a song on ice and fire, but I wouldn't consecrate it as the best epic fantasy since LotR as yet. First because the serie is not over yet and, with a few books still to go, GRR still has the possibility to destroy or bring perfection to this serie. Second, I would more classify SoIF as the best ever political fantasy than as best epic fantasy, and that's why I love this serie so much.

For the best fantasy (or the one who comes the nearest), I would go with Kay, which some already mentionned. And for dark fantasy I would go with Lovecraft, but that's another story...