Agreeing with Anguirel about Martin doing "politics etc" better I'd like to add that there is a clear difference of the culture and "age" he writes - and a different tradition of fantasy-writing (which was more or less non-existent by the time of Tolkien).
Martin looks refreshing in many fronts and that I think makes him good today. And I do agree also on the fact that he lacks some of the artistic stuff, finesse, detail, poetry...
But he doesn't arouse the same or similar feelings. Just because of the differences of time and tradition. And continuing from where Ang led us; who would want to experience the very same in the first place?
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Upon the hearth the fire is red
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are our feet...
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