To put it simply, A Game of Thrones is possibly one of the best fantasy books to have ever been written.  Not only does it stack up to the heavyweights, it demolishes most of them.  George R.R. Martin’s main focus, however, is not the plot but the characters in his book.  Martin successfully brings the characters in his book to life unlike any other author, and the cast is no small one with its size rivaling that of Steven Erikson’s.  Martin’s characters have their own ambitions and motives, and they are so life-like that you will begin to believe in the characters and you may find yourself liking the wrong character several times.  Along with their life-like ambitions, Martin’s characters represent shades of gray that I didn’t even know existed.  Martin uses his characterization to drive the plot forward, with the differing motives and ambitions of the characters driving the plot forward.  Make no mistake, the plot is no slouch as it could be a superstar on its own, but coupled with the characterization it becomes a champion.  Oh just a warning.  Martin does not pull any of his punches.  You could potentially find one of your favorite characters dead in a matter of pages.  Just for added measure, any character could turn into a villain by the next page.  Additionally, the world Martin creates in A Game of Thrones is large, sprawling, and engrossing with several different races and nations.  It is a medieval setting with knights, horses, and tournaments reminiscent of the Middle Ages.  Curiously, magic is not as prevalent in A Game of Thrones as you would expect, especially considering this is a fantasy book.  Magic is only hinted at throughout the book and, unlike many others, Martin does not rely on magic to get one of his characters out of a difficult situation.  The character either dies or survives with injuries.  This is a refreshingly new approach to the fantasy genre, one that is very rarely taken by other authors.  I cannot say enough good things Martin’s debut book so definitely check it out for yourself and you yourself will be singing praises.