Song of fire and Ice

So i recently started a new series by George R.R. Martin. The series is called a Song of Fire and ice and i believe has three or four entries so far. I had always heard people recommend this series as an amazing achievement of fantasy. Like most things i take such grand statements with a full salt shaker. However, recently I ran into someone who once again claimed this series his favorite of all time. Intrigued by the growing track record of positive responses I suspended my suspicion momentarily. I then asked if these novels were so great what was the plot? He then unfolded a highly intriguing tale involving feudal families, a north and south continental divide, a wall similar to China's, a race forgotten for thousands of years, people living across the main lands over vast oceans, dragons, seasons that lasted not months, but lifetimes, and battles on a lord of the rings scale. Even more intrigued at this point i hurried to my nearest half price bookstore and picked up a copy for 3.98. I havent put it down since. For anyone interested in the credibility of George R.R. Martin, he has won numerous hugos, nebulas, and countless other awards. if you didnt register that last sentence then this probably isnt your cup of tea lol. Otherwise i encourage you to take a look asap. By the way the first book is called "A Game of Thrones".