In fact, it is ancient. Now, that might sound a little ludicrous, because that is all people ever talk about these days.

There are individuals who will not leave their houses for days because they have not watched the latest Game of Thrones episode and they need to avoid spoilers like their lives depend on it. In truth, the books were first published in the mid-1990s. However, it was not until the 2007 HBO television adaptation became such a hit that people began to flock to the novels en masse.

But here is the thing; there is a reason George R.R. Martin’s literary works went unnoticed in the years before HBO made him famous.

The author has great concepts but his books are, well, not that good. The TV show has everyone convinced that the Game of Thrones books are masterpieces. Comparisons with The Lord of the Rings have been made – which, by the way, could not be more ridiculous.

And in truth, the novels upon which the Game of Thrones TV show is based are alluring. They boast all the ingredients of great fantasy literature: a massive, in-depth cast, great action, amazing emotional stakes, and a decent amount of magic.

But then you actually read them and realize that the novels are a bloated mess. Every Game of Thrones novel is at least 300 pages longer than it should be. And I say that as someone who has read Brandon Sanderson’s 1,200-page tomes.

Martin is overly descriptive. Every chapter seems to go on and on. And I won’t even get into how over-indulgent he can get with all the violence and sex. People cannnot just die. They have to suffer horribly. And the man won’t stop throwing rape scenes at us.

The gross factor is through the roof; what, with all the gore and vivid description of bodily functions. I won’t even get into the incest, which while tactfully deployed in some areas, can get gratuitous in others.

Is Game of Thrones terrible? Well, to say ‘yes’ would be to lie. The books have so much potential. The ideas are revolutionary. But the execution is sloppy.

George R.R. Martin needs a filter. The television show only works because it trims so much of the useless fat with which he pads his books.