A Game of Thrones is the premier fantasy novel of the post-Tolkien era. Expounding the Tolkien view of the use of magic in the text -- namely that less is more -- and painting the complex relationships that underlie the various rivalries and factions in the text, Martin has created a believable world that is fascinating and engaging. The only problem is the long wait between the first and second volumes of what will likely be a four or five-book series.