It is time to discuss my favored character in all Martin's books. Strength of his novels lies in great characterization, his heroes are beautifully pictured, none of them being flawless, but more humane than in any other work of fantasy ever. There are many great point of view characters in his books, but one stands out from the crowd - Jon Snow.

Jon is bastard son of Eddard Stark (or so it seems), raised in his house stronghold Winterfell beside his legitimate children. His last name Snow is given to bastards in the North, and, although his father treats him as equal to his children, his stepmother Cathelyn newer lets him forget his background.

Jon's first memorable scene is when Stark children adopt dead direwolves pups. After all the pups are divided among Eddards legitimate children, Jon finds albino pup, separated from it's siblings. This strongly reminds him of his destiny, and he adopts the pup.

Because of feeling of being lost, since he is not Stark, but is raised among them as Lord's son. Jon decides to join Night's Watch, a organization established with the purpose to defend the realms against Others and all sort of threats from the far north. He joins his uncle, and leaves home to join the Watch. Knowing that when he takes the vows, he can never return to the previous life.

Through his life Jon tries to do the right thing, and slowly learns that it is sometimes hard to know what a right thing to do is. He loves his father, and understands that he did extremely rare thing with excepting him in family and raising him as his own. And Jon tries his hole life to live up to his fathers ideals. But events force him to make decisions opposite to his beliefs, and that deeply troubles him.

As I grown up, many of things which were so clear when younger, seemed to convert in some shade of grey. And it troubles me, because life force us to renounce of many ideals of youth. This allows me connect with Jon and his story. It is universal, as many of us made tough choices, and then lived with them.

In Martins books Jon is one of carriers of the plot. Many more characters with their stories told in great fashion by GRRM, but this is one that myself, and many of fans of Martins writing put above all others. Simple, honest and realistic in the way that he does what must be done, Jon is avatar for most of people that read the book, and identify with him.