En estas fechas tan señaladas*, como diría cierto monarca, en las que el tiempo libre a veces llega a ser un problema acumulado, es necesario encontrar algo con lo que matar el tiempo. Porque sí, la televisión actual no merece la pena, en la calle hace demasiado frío, las actividades bajo techo fuera de casa son cada vez más caras y, aunque cueste creerlo, los videojuegos llegan a cansar. Así que, qué demonios, ¿por qué no buscar en los libros una alternativa? Si no te gusta demasiado leer, créeme, es porque no has encontrado una buena novela. Por suerte, lo que estoy a punto de recomendaros es una auténtica obra maestra que engancha desde el primer capítulo y, por suerte, es una saga de siete novelas. ¿Quieres saber de qué estoy hablando? Adelante, adelante…
The saga of novels *Song of Ice and Fire (A Song of Ice and Fire, 1996 – present), written by the American George R. R. Martin, takes us to a universe of medieval epic fantasy, to a fictional continent called Westeros. Three perfectly differentiated plot lines stand out: a civil war that breaks out between the different Great Houses of Westeros for control of the Iron Throne; the strange threat that extends in the north, on the other side of The Wall, a colossal barrier of ice defended by the Night’s Watch that separates the civilized world from the inhospitable lands; and the exile of the only two living descendants of the previous dynasty in power, the Targaryens.
In Westeros nothing is what it seems. An alliance between families, a lifelong friendship or a deadly rivalry is of no use when what is at stake is survival or the struggle for power: a secret handshake can provoke a stab on the other side of the kingdom. The characters are extremely complex, the plot is violent and full of surprising twists, the political intrigues are masterfully plotted and the war campaigns transport you to the center of the battlefield, becoming just another soldier.
This is not a fight between Good and Evil, so to speak. Nobody is good. Nobody is bad. Everyone fights for their own personal interests, going over whoever is necessary. This is achieved in a surprising way: in each chapter the protagonist is a different person. The point of view changes continuously, without interrupting or making incongruous jumps in the argument. You are both in the shoes of the hunter and in that of the prey, making the reader identify with each character, with each side, wanting him to achieve his goal at all costs, even though pages ago he wished for his death.
And the author knows how to integrate perfectly into these characters, since depending on who it is, he adopts one narrative tone or another. This is how, for example, with the dwarf Tyrion Lannister the vision is full of irony, and with the girl Arya Stark the perspective is more childish. A very original narrative that immerses you in the plot, making it difficult for you to hate or love one side or the other for more than one chapter. And let no one think that being an important character guarantees success, or survival: in pursuit of preserving realism, the author is not afraid to end the fate or life of any character. Any.
Of the seven novels that will make up A Song of Ice and Fire, the first four are currently published: Game of Thrones (A Game of Thrones, 1996), Choque de Reyes (A Clash of Kings, 1998), Storm of Swords (A Storm of Swords, 2000) and Feast for Crows (A Feast for Crows, 2005). Its author has received dozens of awards, prizes and praise, and there are millions of fans of the saga around the world. So much so, that in the spring of 2011 the premiere on the American cable network HBO of the series “Game of Thrones” based on the acclaimed saga is expected. Actor Sean Bean (whom you will remember for his role as Boromir in The Lord of the Rings) plays Eddard “Ned” Stark, Lord of Winterfell. And things look wonderful:
So don’t hesitate. If you are still not completely clear about your gift list for the Three Wise Men, order the first novel in the saga. You will immerse yourself in a exciting world of fantasy, war and intricate medieval politics. You will see how you end up adoring George R. R. Martin for the genius of the universe created and its characters. Although you will also hate him, a lot. The fifth installment of the saga, A Dance with Dragons (which still does not have an official title in Spanish) is already four years late. Although everything indicates that 2011 will be the year in which its fans finally see the end of the bitter wait.
EDIT 03/03/11: We already have a date, A Dance with Dragons, the fifth book in the saga, will be published in the United States on July 12 in English.
Winter is coming…