A Certain Random Guy
There is one fact about this book that perfectly encapsulates its scope, its goals and the experience of reading it: in a book about a war started in 1618, the starting point is almost a century earlier. It takes, in fact, a third of the book for us to reach the inciting incident of the war.
If all you are looking for is a simple narrative or summary, that should make it clear you must look elsewhere. But if you want a full analysis of all factors that led to, fed into and were caused by the thirty years war, this is required reading.
There is one fact about this book that perfectly encapsulates its scope, its goals and the experience of reading it: in a book about a war started in 1618, the starting point is almost a century earlier. It takes, in fact, a third of the book for us to reach the inciting incident of the war.
If all you are looking for is a simple narrative or summary, that should make it clear you must look elsewhere. But if you want a full analysis of all factors that led to, fed into and were caused by the thirty years war, this is required reading.
What was at time of publishing an insightful analysis has, as many great books do, become prophetic indictment. It is an expectedly dry read. But worth it for those interested in the subject.
What was at time of publishing an insightful analysis has, as many great books do, become prophetic indictment. It is an expectedly dry read. But worth it for those interested in the subject.
As a fan of nonfiction history books just like those Martin used as inspiration, Fire and Blood perfectly matches the experience of learning more details about events whose ending you already know. The book's small failings lie mostly in the lack of characterizarion of its in-universe author and the historical figures he discusses — something that could have easily been done via more opinionated narration and more personal in-universe sources.
As a fan of nonfiction history books just like those Martin used as inspiration, Fire and Blood perfectly matches the experience of learning more details about events whose ending you already know. The book's small failings lie mostly in the lack of characterizarion of its in-universe author and the historical figures he discusses — something that could have easily been done via more opinionated narration and more personal in-universe sources.
