A Clash of Kings.

A CLASH OF KINGS. George R.R. Martin. 1999/2004. Read by Roy Dotrice. 21 tapes. 37 hrs. Books on Tape. 0-7393-0870-X. $54.95. Vinyl; plot notes. SA

This installment of Martin's exciting Song of Fire and Ice series, of which A Clash of Kings is the second volume (the other volumes are I: A Game of Thrones, III: A Storm of Swords, and IV: A Feast for Crows), is a marvelous listening experience. The intricate web of backstabbing and double-dealing that began in the first volume of the series continues, but to the mixture is added a good dose of sorcery and lesser magic. While the factions are fighting it out in the Seven Kingdoms, the threats are growing stronger from otherworldly creatures in the frozen North and from dragons across the sea.

Dotrice's masterful semi-voiced reading brings the various main characters to life effectively. His wide range of accents, tones, and voices perfectly captures the oleaginous, cold-hearted, haughty, and foolish voices of the various characters. Listeners will have a hard time waiting to see how the weave of this fine narrative tapestry works out in later volumes. (Note: Contains crude and vulgar language and describes some fairly explicit sex.) Hugh Flick Jr., Silliman College, Yale Univ., New Haven, CT