A Game of Thrones.

A GAME OF THRONES. George R.R. Martin. 1996/2003. Read by Roy Dotrice. 22-1.5 hour tapes, Books on Tape, 0-7366-9593-1. $176.00.Vinyl; plot notes. SA

This first volume of Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series is a gripping and engaging tale of intrigue, politics, murder, and even some heroism. The various threads weave together well to form an intricate web of backstabbing and double-dealing. In the background of all this intrigue are a magical threat from the frozen North and a threat of barbarian force from the windswept plains across the sea to the East. Dotrice's excellent semi-voiced reading adds a great deal to enjoyment of this marvelous tale. His wide range of accents, intonations, and voices perfectly captures the unctuousness, the gruffness, the haughtiness, and the foolishness of the various characters. Listeners will have a hard time not rushing to see how the final tapestry of the tale comes together. Warning: this is not recommended for all listeners, as it contains crude and vulgar language and includes some fairly explicit sex. Hugh Flick, Jr., Silliman College, Yale Univ., New Haven, CT