A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin

Like the TV adaptation that first piqued my interest, I found this huge book to be almost addictive, but on reflection I have decided to continue with the TV version rather than read further books in the series. The screen version works extremely well for the complex story's combination of the brutal and the salacious (made likeable by some strangely charming characters), and also brings to life the epic world-building that the author does excellently but I lack the visual imagination to appreciate as a reader.