My revived interest in sci-fi/fantasy novels

Other than the Harry Potter series, I haven't read sci-fi since middle school. Does everyone go through a sci-fi phase at that age? It seemed to me that section of the bookstore was always full of shy, bookworm teens like myself back then.

But after I read the last Harry Potter book and was jonesin for some more page-turning fiction, a friend turned me on to George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series.

This is by far the best sci-fi/fantasy series I have ever read (and no, I haven't read them all). And I am somewhat resentful that it is even included in that genre, which is kept separate from all other fiction in most bookstores. I'm not sure if this segregation implies inferiority, but if it does, Martin's books certainly don't belong in any inferior section.

My favorite thing about the series is that no character is entirely pure and lovable. Which is a good thing, since most characters, important or not, could be killed off in any paragraph. But each character is uniquely dynamic.

And I continue to be amazed at the complete unpredictability of the plot! I have found myself rereading pages, just to make sure that I was actually reading the words correctly. "No shit! He really did kill her off!" is a common exclamation when I read these books.

Sadly, I have just started the last published book in the series. I will try my damnedest to read it slowly in the hopes that the last book will be published soon after I finish this one. As you all know, I am not a patient person.