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George R.R. Martin on "A Game of Thrones"Merchant Video

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A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1) Mass Market Paperback – March 22, 2011

by George R. R. Martin (Author)

4.7 79,085 ratings

Book 1 of 5: A Song of Ice and Fire

See all formats and editions

Locus AwardWinner, 1997

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NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONES—THE MASTERPIECE THAT BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON

Here is the first book in the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and become a modern masterpiece.

A GAME OF THRONES

In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the North of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

A GAME OF THRONES • A CLASH OF KINGS • A STORM OF SWORDS • A FEAST FOR CROWS • A DANCE WITH DRAGONS

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The major fantasy of the decade . . . compulsively readable."—Denver Post

"We have been invited to a grand feast and pageant: George R.R. Martin has unveiled for us an intensely realized, romantic but realistic world."—Chicago Sun-Times

"A Best Book of 1996: Martin makes a triumphant return to high fantasy . . . [with] superbly developed characters, accomplished prose, and sheer bloodymindedness."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A splendid saga . . . . Inventive and intricately plotted."—BookPage

"Magic . . . George R.R.Martin's first fantasy epic [is set] well above the norms of the genre."—Locus

"Such a splendid tale and such a fantasticorical! I read my eyes out and couldn't stop 'til I finished and it was dawn."—Anne McCaffrey

From the Back Cover

"A Game of Thrones is a contemporary masterpiece of fantasy. The cold is returning to Winterfell, where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime. A time of conflict has arisen in the Stark family, as they are pulled from the safety of their home into a whirlpool of tragedy, betrayal, assassination, plots and counterplots. Each decision and action carries with it the potential for conflict as several prominent families, comprised of lords, ladies, soldiers, sorcerers, assassins and bastards, are pulled together in the most deadly game of all--the game of thrones.

About the Author

George R. R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire—A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons—as well as Tuf Voyaging, Fevre Dream, The Armageddon Rag, Dying of the Light, Windhaven (with Lisa Tuttle), and Dreamsongs Volumes I and II. He is also the creator of The Lands of Ice and Fire, a collection of maps from A Song of Ice and Fire featuring original artwork from illustrator and cartographer Jonathan Roberts, and The World of Ice & Fire (with Elio M. García, Jr., and Linda Antonsson). As a writer-producer, Martin has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The morning had dawned clear and cold, with a crispness that hinted at the end of summer. They set forth at daybreak to see a man beheaded, twenty in all, and Bran rode among them, nervous with excitement. This was the first time he had been deemed old enough to go with his lord father and his brothers to see the king's justice done. It was the ninth year of summer, and the seventh of Bran's life.

The man had been taken outside a small holdfast in the hills. Robb thought he was a wildling, his sword sworn to Mance Rayder, the King-beyond-the-Wall. It made Bran's skin prickle to think of it. He remembered the hearth tales Old Nan told them. The wildlings were cruel men, she said, slavers and slayers and thieves. They consorted with giants and ghouls, stole girl children in the dead of night, and drank blood from polished horns. And their women lay with the Others in the Long Night to sire terrible half-human children.

But the man they found bound hand and foot to the holdfast wall awaiting the king's justice was old and scrawny, not much taller than Robb. He had lost both ears and a finger to frostbite, and he dressed all in black, the same as a brother of the Night's Watch, except that his furs were ragged and greasy.

The breath of man and horse mingled, steaming, in the cold morning air as his lord father had the man cut down from the wall and dragged before them. Robb and Jon sat tall and still on their horses, with Bran between them on his pony, trying to seem older than seven, trying to pretend that he'd seen all this before. A faint wind blew through the holdfast gate. Over their heads flapped the banner of the Starks of Winterfell: a grey direwolf racing across an ice-white field.

Bran's father sat solemnly on his horse, long brown hair stirring in the wind. His closely trimmed beard was shot with white, making him look older than his thirty-five years. He had a grim cast to his grey eyes this day, and he seemed not at all the man who would sit before the fire in the evening and talk softly of the age of heroes and the children of the forest. He had taken off Father's face, Bran thought, and donned the face of Lord Stark of Winterfell.

There were questions asked and answers given there in the chill of morning, but afterward Bran could not recall much of what had been said. Finally his lord father gave a command, and two of his guardsmen dragged the ragged man to the ironwood stump in the center of the square. They forced his head down onto the hard black wood. Lord Eddard Stark dismounted and his ward Theon Greyjoy brought forth the sword. "Ice," that sword was called. It was as wide across as a man's hand, and taller even than Robb. The blade was Valyrian steel, spell-forged and dark as smoke. Nothing held an edge like Valyrian steel.

His father peeled off his gloves and handed them to Jory Cassel, the captain of his household guard. He took hold of Ice with both hands and said, "In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, by the word of Eddard of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, I do sentence you to die." He lifted the great sword high above his head.

Bran's bastard brother Jon Snow moved closer. "Keep the pony well in hand," he whispered. "And don't look away. Father will know if you do."

Bran kept his pony well in hand, and did not look away.
His father took off the man's head with a single sure stroke. Blood sprayed out across the snow, as red as summerwine. One of the horses reared and had to be restrained to keep from bolting. Bran could not take his eyes off the blood. The snows around the stump drank it eagerly, reddening as he watched.

The head bounced off a thick root and rolled. It came up near Greyjoy's feet. Theon was a lean, dark youth of nineteen who found everything amusing. He laughed, put his boot on the head,and kicked it away.

"Ass," Jon muttered, low enough so Greyjoy did not hear. He put a hand on Bran's shoulder, and Bran looked over at his bastard brother.

"You did well," Jon told him solemnly. Jon was fourteen, an old hand at justice.

It seemed colder on the long ride back to Winterfell, though the wind had died by then and the sun was higher in the sky. Bran rode with his brothers, well ahead of the main party, his pony struggling hard to keep up with their horses.

"The deserter died bravely," Robb said. He was big and broad and growing every day, with his mother's coloring, the fair skin, red-brown hair, and blue eyes of the Tullys of Riverrun. "He had courage, at the least."

"No," Jon Snow said quietly. "It was not courage. This one was dead of fear. You could see it in his eyes, Stark." Jon's eyes were a grey so dark they seemed almost black, but there was little they did not see. He was of an age with Robb, but they did not look alike. Jon was slender where Robb was muscular, dark where Robb was fair, graceful and quick where his half brother was strong and fast.

Robb was not impressed. "The Others take his eyes," he swore. "He died well. Race you to the bridge?"

"Done," Jon said, kicking his horse forward. Robb cursed and followed, and they galloped off down the trail, Robb laughing and hooting, Jon silent and intent. The hooves of their horses kicked up showers of snow as they went.

Bran did not try to follow. His pony could not keep up. He had seen the ragged man's eyes, and he was thinking of them now. After a while, the sound of Robb's laughter receded, and the woods grew silent again.

That was when Jon reappeared on the crest of the hill before them. He waved and shouted down at them. "Father, Bran, come quickly, see what Robb has found!" Then he was gone again.

Jory rode up beside them. "Trouble, my lord?"

"Beyond a doubt," his lord father said. "Come, let us see what mischief my sons have rooted out now." He sent his horse into a trot. Jory and Bran and the rest came after.

They found Robb on the riverbank north of the bridge, with Jon still mounted beside him. The late summer snows had been heavy this moonturn. Robb stood knee-deep in white, his hood pulled back so the sun shone in his hair. He was cradling something in his arm, while the boys talked in hushed, excited voices.

The riders picked their way carefully through the drifts, groping for solid footing on the hidden, uneven ground. Jory Cassel and Theon Greyjoy were the first to reach the boys. Greyjoy was laughing and joking as he rode. Bran heard the breath go out of him. "Gods!" he exclaimed, struggling to keep control of his horse as he reached for his sword.

Jory's sword was already out. "Robb, get away from it!" he called as his horse reared under him.

Robb grinned and looked up from the bundle in his arms. "She can't hurt you," he said. "She's dead, Jory."

Bran was afire with curiosity by then. He would have spurred the pony faster, but his father made them dismount beside the bridge and approach on foot. Bran jumped off and ran.

By then Jon, Jory, and Theon Greyjoy had all dismounted as well. "What in the seven hells is it?" Greyjoy was saying.

"A wolf," Robb told him.

"A freak," Greyjoy said. "Look at the size of it."

Bran's heart was thumping in his chest as he pushed through a waist-high drift to his brothers' side.

Half-buried in blood stained snow, a huge dark shape slumped in death. Ice had formed in its shaggy grey fur, and the faint smell of corruption clung to it like a woman's perfume. Bran glimpsed blind eyes crawling with maggots, a wide mouth full of yellowed teeth. But it was the size of it that made him gasp. It was bigger than his pony, twice the size of the largest hound in his father's kennel.

"It's no freak," Jon said calmly. "That's a direwolf. They grow larger than the other kind."

Theon Greyjoy said, "There's not been a direwolf sighted south of the Wall in two hundred years."

"I see one now," Jon replied.

Bran tore his eyes away from the monster. That was when he noticed the bundle in Robb's arms. He gave a cry of delight and moved closer. The pup was a tiny ball of grey-black fur, its eyes still closed. It nuzzled blindly against Robb's chest as he cradled it, searching for milk among his leathers, making a sad little whimpery sound. Bran reached out hesitantly. "Go on,"Robb told him. "You can touch him."

Bran gave the pup a quick nervous stroke, then turned as Jon said, "Here you go." His half brother put a second pup into his arms. "There are five of them." Bran sat down in the snow and hugged the wolf pup to his face. Its fur was soft and warm against his cheek.

"Direwolves loose in the realm, after so many years," muttered Hullen, the master of horse. "I like it not."

"It is a sign," Jory said.

Father frowned. "This is only a dead animal, Jory," he said. Yet he seemed troubled. Snow crunched under his boots as he moved around the body. "Do we know what killed her?"

"There's something in the throat," Robb told him, proud to have found the answer before his father even asked. "There, just under the jaw."
His father knelt and groped under the beast's head with his hand. He gave a yank and held it up for all to see. A foot of shattered antler, tines snapped off, all wet with blood.

A sudden silence descended over the party. The men looked at the antler uneasily, and no one dared to speak. Even Bran could sense their fear, though he did not understand.

His father tossed the antler to the side and cleansed his hands in the snow. "I'm surprised she lived long enough to whelp," he said. His voice broke the spell.

"Maybe she didn't," Jory said. "I've heard tales . . . maybe the bitch was already dead when the pups came."

"Born with the dead," another man put in. "Worse luck."

"No matter," said Hullen. "They be dead soon enough too."

Bran gave a wordless cry of dismay.

"The sooner the better," Theon Greyjoy agreed. He drew his sword.

"Give the beast here, Bran."

The little thing squirmed against him, as if it heard and understood.

"No!" Bran cried out fiercely. "It's mine."

"It be a mercy to kill them," Hullen said.

Bran looked to his lord father for rescue, but got only a frown, a furrowed brow. "Hullen speaks truly, son. Better a swift death than a hard one from cold and starvation."

"No!" He could feel tears welling in his eyes, and he looked away. He did not want to cry in front of his father.

"Lord Stark," Jon said. It was strange to hear him call Father that, so formal. Bran looked at him with desperate hope. "There are five pups," he told Father. "Three male, two female."

"What of it, Jon?"

"You have five true born children," Jon said. "Three sons, two daughters. The direwolf is the sigil of your House. Your children were meant to have these pups, my lord."

Bran saw his father's face change, saw the other men exchange glances. He loved Jon with all his heart at that moment. Even at seven, Bran understood what his brother had done. The count had come right only because Jon had omitted himself. He had included the girls, included even Rickon, the baby, but not the bastard who bore the surname Snow, the name that custom decreed be given to all those in the north unlucky enough to be born with no name of their own.

Their father understood as well. "You want no pup for yourself, Jon?" he asked softly.

"The direwolf graces the banners of House Stark," Jon pointed out. "I am no Stark, Father."

Their lord father regarded Jon thoughtfully. Robb rushed into the silence he left. "I will nurse him myself, Father," he promised. "I will soak a towel with warm milk, and give him suck from that."

"Me too!" Bran echoed.

The lord weighed his sons long and carefully with his eyes. "Easy to say, and harder to do. I will not have you wasting the servants' time with this. If you want these pups, you will feed them yourselves. Is that understood?"

Bran nodded eagerly. The pup squirmed in his grasp, lickedat his face with a warm tongue.

It was not until they were mounted and on their way that Bran allowed himself to taste the sweet air of victory. By then, his pup was snuggled inside his leathers, warm against him, safe for the long ride home. Bran was wondering what to name him.

Halfway across the bridge, Jon pulled up suddenly.

"What is it, Jon?" their lord father asked.

"Can't you hear it?"

Bran could hear the wind in the trees, the clatter of their hooves on the ironwood planks, the whimpering of his hungry pup, but Jon was listening to something else.

"There," Jon said. He swung his horse around and galloped back across the bridge. They watched him dismount where the direwolf lay dead in the snow, watched him kneel. A moment later he was riding back to them, smiling.

"He must have crawled away from the others," Jon said.

"Or been driven away," their father said, looking at the sixth pup. His fur was white, where the rest of the litter was grey. His eyes were as red as the blood of the ragged man who had died that morning. Bran thought it curious that this pup alone would have opened his eyes while the others were still blind.

"An albino," Theon Greyjoy said with wry amusement. "This one will die even faster than the others."

Jon Snow gave his father's ward a long, chilling look. "I think not, Greyjoy," he said. "This one belongs to me."

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0553593714
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Worlds; Media tie-in edition (March 22, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 864 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780553593716
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0553593716
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 830L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.14 x 1.31 x 6.85 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #197,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,273 in TV, Movie & Game Tie-In Fiction
- #6,783 in Fantasy Action & Adventure
- #8,494 in Epic Fantasy (Books)

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4.7 79,085 ratings

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George R. R. Martin

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George R.R. Martin is the globally bestselling author of many fine novels, including A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons, which together make up the series A Song of Ice and Fire, on which HBO based the world’s most-watched television series, Game of Thrones. Other works set in or about Westeros include The World of Ice and Fire, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. His science fiction novella Nightflyers has also been adapted as a television series; and he is the creator of the shared-world Wild Cards universe, working with the finest writers in the genre. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Customers find the story engaging and interesting. They praise the writing quality as rich and descriptive, with perfect language. The characters are described as engaging and well-developed, making them feel like real people. Readers appreciate the mix of fantasy and horror elements, describing the book as impressive and unique. They describe it as enthralling, entertaining, and delightful. The imagination is also praised, with the world coming to life vividly in surreal detail.

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4,527 customers mention "Story quality"4,504 positive23 negative

Customers find the story engaging with vivid characters and a crisp, brisk plot. They appreciate the detailed storytelling and the fact that the tale holds together on a rational level without resorting to supernatural elements. The book is described as spectacular and epic in scope.

"...Worth a read on ever conceivable mature reading level, Game of Thrones as a single book ranks among the best fantasy works ever produced and could..." Read more

"...They're so well fleshed out and have so many realistic motivations, feelings, and actions that it could be easy to forget that they are fictional..." Read more

"...(which other reviewers have mentioned) is that though the bulk of the story is very adult and a major theme seems to be loss of innocence, the sex..." Read more

"...But it's relevant to the story, or so it seems... most of the time, so it's kind of worth talking about...." Read more

1,415 customers mention "Writing quality"1,161 positive254 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality. They find it rich, descriptive, and detailed. The language is perfect, with good prose and descriptions. There is a lot of important dialogue, plotting, and intrigue. Characters are realistic and dialogue is natural. It's easier to read and more engaging throughout.

"...And plot-lines aren't just multiple, they are interwoven and richly detailed featuring a host of interesting characters...." Read more

"...Martin manages to keep his world richly detailed while avoiding info-dumping by slipping in brief descriptions of how Westeros works in dialogue or..." Read more

"...It's refreshing to be able to read a book so beautifully written and with such perfect detail that is current and published within my lifetime...." Read more

"George R. R. Martin is a literary crackerjack. His episodic, massively detailed, completely fleshed-out, throughly chronicled world of Westeros..." Read more

1,316 customers mention "Character development"1,123 positive193 negative

Customers find the characters engaging and well-developed. They mention the author takes time to make the major characters seem realistic and believable.

"...both larger ideas of behavior, mixed with unique and well sustained character traits, wrapped up in the unique attributes of their fictional world...." Read more

"...are wonderfully developed and fleshed out so well that they could easily be real people, and the different points of view throughout the novel offer..." Read more

"...war, the love, the struggle, the brotherhood, the symbolism, the character detail, the world detail, and the gigantic scope set up for this series..." Read more

"...It reads like some fantastic part of history yet the characters are certainly living and breathing at your ear, over your shoulder, while you go..." Read more

1,080 customers mention "Fantasy content"1,037 positive43 negative

Customers enjoy the fantasy content of the book. They appreciate the mix of fantasy and horror, as well as the ingenious fictional feudal world. The book bucking the trends and cliches of modern fantasy novels, it offers something unique and memorable. It's one of the best series they've started and an unforgettable beginning to an ever-evolving tale.

"...level, Game of Thrones as a single book ranks among the best fantasy works ever produced and could go toe to toe with any traditional novel out..." Read more

"...It bucks the trends and cliches of modern fantasy novels and offers up something that is unique, but still contains the mystical flavour of the..." Read more

"...my review title I think this book is hands down one of the most intelligent fantasy books I've yet read apart from the Lord of the Rings series...." Read more

"...This book has a touch of fantasy but it doesn't go overboard...." Read more

789 customers mention "Enthralling"649 positive140 negative

Customers enjoy the book's captivating and entertaining story. They find the structure delightful and kaleidoscopic, making every moment feel alive and vibrant. The characters are passionate and devoted, stirring emotions in readers. Overall, they describe the book as a feast for the brain and heart-stirring.

"...The primary focus may be on political intrigue, but the book is hardly boring or overly mired solely in scheming...." Read more

"...I like that there are so many character POVs but nothing seems overdone at all...." Read more

"...7. Engaging plot: All three main plotlines are exotic and entertaining: the fight for power over Westeros' throne, the exile of the last Targaryen..." Read more

"...epic called A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE is immediately captivating, enthralling, entertaining, and even shocking. This is epic fantasy at its best...." Read more

625 customers mention "Imagination"593 positive32 negative

Customers enjoy the vivid imagination of the book. They find the world and characters detailed, with a subtle approach to magic. The political structure and noble houses are elaborated upon in surreal detail, making the book feel true to life. Readers appreciate the author's pure imagination unfettered by deadlines and production costs.

"...creedence to old re-used characters like the hardened veteran, the good knight, the noble hero, and the men turned to redemption by making them as..." Read more

"...The characters are wonderfully developed and fleshed out so well that they could easily be real people, and the different points of view throughout..." Read more

"...struggle, the brotherhood, the symbolism, the character detail, the world detail, and the gigantic scope set up for this series is all top notch...." Read more

"...His episodic, massively detailed, completely fleshed-out, throughly chronicled world of Westeros complete with a multitude of characters is an..." Read more

478 customers mention "Detail"415 positive63 negative

Customers appreciate the book's depth and detail. They find the plot fascinating and the characters well-developed. The research into medieval times is appreciated.

"...They're real, but in their own ways. It also helps lend creedence to old re-used characters like the hardened veteran, the good knight, the noble..." Read more

"...The characters in "Game of Thrones" are so well fleshed out and realized that they sometimes seem as realistic as flesh-and-blood people, and like..." Read more

"...Thank you, Mr. Martin for creating such a rich and surprising world. I am along for the ride, wherever it leads, and for however long it lasts!" Read more

"...the features many times throughout the book and it definitely aided my understanding and allowed me to further appreciate the depth of the..." Read more

527 customers mention "Violence level"336 positive191 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the violence level in the book. Some find it deftly illustrating political intrigue with real people and politics. They appreciate the dialogue, plotting, and intrigue, including jousting and battles. Others mention the plot is very plot-driven, non-linear, and confusing at times. The multiple storylines are interwoven and richly detailed, but some feel the story is too long and the storylines don't really conclude.

"...fleshed out and have so many realistic motivations, feelings, and actions that it could be easy to forget that they are fictional characters rather..." Read more

"...And plot-lines aren't just multiple, they are interwoven and richly detailed featuring a host of interesting characters...." Read more

"...the death, the war, the love, the struggle, the brotherhood, the symbolism, the character detail, the world detail, and the gigantic scope set up..." Read more

"...The sex and violence is quite graphic and Martin's descriptions of battles is wonderfully vivid, something Tolkien skimps on in The Hobbit; I have..." Read more

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Denton56
Quite Simply, What You've Heard is True
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2011
Verified Purchase

I've never been a big reader of fantasy. I read the Hobbit in school, The Dark Elf Trilogy sometimes after that, and Lord of the Rings when the films came out. I am, however, an avid reader in general and was shocked when I was this great ad for a new HBO show based on a best selling series and had never heard of it.

Elves, Dragons, Wizards, and Dwarves and all I decided to venture from my comfort zone and give it a shot. If this sounds like you so far read no further. Just read the book without a knowledge in the world about it. Then come back and see if you agree.

If you've done that or are just looking for a general review, there is only one word for it. Epic. Not as in "I just teabaged the leader in Halo" epic, but as in The Odyssey epic. And it's not so much fantasy as altered history. The fantasy stuff is always somewhere lurking in the back, threatening your comfort zone but keeping a respectful distance. Then you start to become curious about it's ways as it slowly creeps in. Before you know it, you want less and less lords and ladies, and more and more demons and beasts.

Now, you may have heard the series has morally grey characters, multiple plot lines, and shocking twists by now. You may thing between your Pulp Fictions and Sixth Senses and network television you may have gotten used to some of those things by now. But no, believe me you haven't.

Characters aren't just grey, they're real....but in their own world. They reflect both larger ideas of behavior, mixed with unique and well sustained character traits, wrapped up in the unique attributes of their fictional world. They're real, but in their own ways. It also helps lend creedence to old re-used characters like the hardened veteran, the good knight, the noble hero, and the men turned to redemption by making them as interesting as they were when you first saw them in youth.

And plot-lines aren't just multiple, they are interwoven and richly detailed featuring a host of interesting characters. The only thing better than when they all work together, is when they start to branch in their own unique directions. George R.R. Martin weaves a tapestry of the finest plot threads here, and leaves you dangling on every new verse and character. With every new chapter comes a new perspective and a new way to look a the world. It's a unique structure that is a little challenging at first, but pays off richly in the end. Plus hey, if Martin was going to create a detailed new landscape, why not explore all of it?

Finally those twists. All I'll say is this. You haven't guessed them. Sure you're smart and too cool to be fooled, and you may have guessed a couple of them, but don't get cocky kid. You have no idea what's coming. Because it's not just great big twists, it's little developments along the way. The "shocking reveal" isn't just used for the endgame but rather keeps the story fresh and moving along through all of it's exciting escapades. My jaw literally dropped while reading this book, and I highly doubt I'm unique in that.

Overall, not only is this a great book but it kicks off a fantastic series. That said though, I could see this one easily becoming most peoples favorite. Later works can get bogged down in details and side stories, therefore requiring a little slogging to get through. This first installment, however, is as tight as it is intricate. The pages fly by and you read on just to see what happens next to your favorite character (an ingenious by product of the design). Worth a read on ever conceivable mature reading level, Game of Thrones as a single book ranks among the best fantasy works ever produced and could go toe to toe with any traditional novel out there for sheer entertainment.

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Katrin von Martin
Refreshing and Edgy with Great Characters
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2014
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I love fantasy; ever since I was a kid, stories set in creative worlds featuring varied groups of characters fighting to save the world, overcome evil, or even resolve some political matter have always captivated me. As such, I've read many fantasy novels over the years...and doing so has made me notice a rather unfortunate trend: the genre as a whole often relies too heavily on the same cliches and plots, which makes many of the stories presented seem tired, predictable, and overdone. As a result of this, I decided to take a break from fantasy; one can only read the same story so many times before getting fed up. I started "A Game of Thrones" very tentatively, partially because of the all the hype around the series and partially due to my own wariness regarding fantasy novels. My fears were completely unfounded; "A Game of Thrones" is a breath of fresh air for the genre, and is easily one of the best books I've read in recent years. Spoilers follow.

The novel contains three story lines. The first and most heavily focused on is that of the Kingdom of Westeros, its political structure, the ruling family's potentially reputation-destroying secret, and the beginning of conflict after the king dies. The second plot is that of the Wall and the constant struggle of the Night Watch to defend Westeros against the wildlings and more sinister creatures that reside beyond the Kingdom's border. The third takes place away from Westeros and follows the story of Daenerys, the last of the Targaryen family, and the start of her rise to power. The first story is clearly the main plot, while the second and third receive a little less attention, yet are no less important to the overall story.

The story presented here isn't that which is typically found in your common fantasy fare. This is not a tale of sword and sorcery, wizards and heroes enacting the traditional yarn of Good versus Evil, or of an impoverished farm boy discovering that he comes from a lofty background and is destined for greatness. Instead, this is largely about politics and political intrigue with a dash of magic and the unknown thrown in to give the novel a unique flavour. Perhaps the most noticeable element of the plot when compared to other fantasy books is the lack of magic; it does exist in Martin's world and he indicates that it can be a very powerful force, yet its role in this particular book is very small. This makes the few instances where it does appear very significant. Martin has said that he based "A Song of Ice and Fire" on the War of the Roses, and as such, more attention is given to the politics and the crisis of succession when Westeros' king dies. This makes for a story that avoids the traditional fantasy cliches while still having a distinctly fantasy feel.

The primary focus may be on political intrigue, but the book is hardly boring or overly mired solely in scheming. With all this political conflict come battles, fights, beheadings, and conquest, and Martin writes all of them exceedingly well and believably. This is a very gritty world that Martin has created, and he certainly doesn't shy away from showing how brutal life can be for his characters. Both rape and violence are present and are portrayed in a much blunter, starker light than in most novels. If there is a battle, you will see characters suffer gruesome ends, and the spoils of conquest are not glossed over. Yet, the use of such elements doesn't come off as gratuitous nor do they seem unnecessary; instead, they serve to characterize the world in which the characters go about their lives. Indeed, this is a dangerous place with far-reaching consequences and risks. It certainly puts a darker spin on the plot, but as someone who quickly bores of overly optimistic characters and stories, this darker, grittier fantasy very much appeals to me and gives the book a certain edge that sets it apart from others.

Accompanying this dangerous, sometimes terrifying world is the idea that no one is safe...and that includes main characters. Martin doesn't hesitate to take characters you've grown close to throughout the book and run them through the wringer, sometimes going as far as to kill them off. One of the main point of view characters is beheaded toward the end of the book, not because he is a terrible person or because he is in some way marked as being a "bad" character. On the contrary, he's the most honest, reasonable character in the book, and it's his own honesty that leads to his demise. This is the point that makes you realize that "A Song of Ice and Fire" will pull no punches or give anyone immunity based solely on whether they are a positive or negative character, a primary character or a background character. When characters, regardless of their role in the story, enter into a conflict, whether it's physical in the form of a fight or battle or more complicated through scheming and deceit, you genuinely fear for their safety. While the traditional fantasy novel may put the main character through trials and hardships, you know he'll make it through in the end, but that's not the case here. The reader is always on edge, worrying for their favourite characters or rooting for the demise of their most hated, but you never know how it's really going to play out. It's a completely different reading experience from most books out there, putting a real sense of danger into the book's events and a feeling of suspense into the story.

Another standout aspect of "A Game of Thrones" is the world building. Martin has not only created an intriguing world of politics, kings, deceit, battles, conquest, magic, and gritty reality, he has done it in a masterful manner. It's become something of a pet peeve of mine when authors are so proud of the world they've built that they dump pages and pages of their world's landscape, history, government, culture, etc on the reader in the middle of the story; it's a heavy-handed, clunky way of developing the backdrop of a novel. Martin manages to keep his world richly detailed while avoiding info-dumping by slipping in brief descriptions of how Westeros works in dialogue or when the subject in question appears. He doesn't appear to be in a hurry to reveal everything and instead lets things unfold in their own time. He knows his world from front to back, and he knows when it is appropriate to explain something and when it isn't.

The character setup of "A Game of Thrones" is also pretty different. Instead of having one protagonist whose story is the focus of the book, we get 8 different characters that provide 8 unique points of view. The perspective switches in every chapter, so we often see one event thoroughly told from two or three different characters. This is a great way to keep the story from getting stale or repetitive, as all of the characters have a distinct voice or bias and no character ever receives two chapters back to back. On the downside, however, it can be a little frustrating to be enjoying the perspective of one character, only to turn the page and see that you'll be finishing the issue at hand through the eyes of a different figure. That aside, having 8 point of view characters works very well for the novel because it keeps each chapter fresh and allows the reader to thoroughly get to know multiple characters rather than just one.

What is particularly great about Martin's characters is, as I said above, that they're completely distinct. They're so well fleshed out and have so many realistic motivations, feelings, and actions that it could be easy to forget that they are fictional characters rather than real people. While some characters may seem to fall into a broad archetype of character, pretty much none of the characters can be summed up on one or two words. Equally as impressive, whether you'll like or dislike a character will be dependent on how well they or part of their personality resonates with you personally, instead of whether they are "good" or "bad." Even the characters that seem to be cast in a more negative light have positive personality traits that make them likable and relatable. It also seems that what one reader appreciates about one character, another reader may dislike. The characters in "Game of Thrones" are so well fleshed out and realized that they sometimes seem as realistic as flesh-and-blood people, and like real people, your reactions to and liking of the characters will be based almost entirely on their complex personalities.

The secondary and side characters also receive a lot of care. Although we don't get to know them as intimately as the point of view characters, we still often see enough of them to get a sense of who they are. There are a lot of side characters in the novel, with possibly hundreds of names being tossed around depending on whose point of view the chapter is told through...so you do have to pay attention to who is who. Most characters, however, appear fairly frequently and are distinct enough that it's easy to keep them straight. And those who aren't seen as often tend to come with a little reminder of who they are when they do show up. Even though there are a lot of secondary and side characters, they are given a lot of thought, making for a rich variety of figures to populate the novel's setting.

To reiterate what I mentioned earlier, no one is safe. This can make for some emotional reading when the characters are so unique and well thought out. It must always be remembered that anything can happen to the characters and any chapter could be their last. Characters can meet their end very quickly or very slowly, and there's really no way of predicting if a figure will survive or not.

As a side note, despite the length of "A Game of Thrones," it is only the first book of a long series. This means that while this novel contains its own well-told story, it also does a lot of setting up for the overarching plot and leaves more questions than it answers at its conclusion. If you begin to read this series, you will likely become hooked on it and rush out to get the second book after you finish this one.

Overall, "A Game of Thrones" is one of the best books I've read in recent years. It bucks the trends and cliches of modern fantasy novels and offers up something that is unique, but still contains the mystical flavour of the genre. The world presented is violent and gritty with a no-one-is-safe policy that leads for some edgy, often tense reading. The characters are wonderfully developed and fleshed out so well that they could easily be real people, and the different points of view throughout the novel offer unique perspectives on the story's events. This is perhaps the first book I've read in a long time about which I can't come up with something I don't like, aside from a couple characters...but, as I said earlier, not liking certain characters for aspects of their complex personalities is part of what makes the novel so, well, likeable. Five stars happily given for the above and for reviving my interest in fantasy.

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Teresa
GOT GOAT
Reviewed in Canada on February 9, 2025
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love this book! just a pity it came with the rip on the spine like that but i honestly don’t care lol

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Teresa

GOT GOAT

Reviewed in Canada on February 9, 2025
love this book! just a pity it came with the rip on the spine like that but i honestly don’t care lol

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anil
"An Unforgettable Epic: A Review of *Game of Thrones*"
Reviewed in India on February 15, 2025
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*Game of Thrones* by George R.R. Martin is a brilliant blend of intricate world-building and complex characters. The story is full of unexpected twists and suspense, with every chapter revealing more political intrigue and depth. The detailed settings, from the icy North to the vibrant cities, draw you in, making it an unforgettable read for any fantasy lover.

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Mehmet Güngör
Orijinal, temiz
Reviewed in Turkey on December 9, 2024
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2017 basımı olmasına rağmen oldukça temizdi.

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Esen
Great!
Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on November 15, 2024
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Story

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kyyora
وش تتوقع من ابو مارتن يعني؟
Reviewed in Saudi Arabia on September 1, 2024
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الاعظم

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A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1) Mass Market Paperback – March 22, 2011

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5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing and Edgy with Great Characters

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5.0 out of 5 stars GOT GOAT

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5.0 out of 5 stars "An Unforgettable Epic: A Review of *Game of Thrones*"

5.0 out of 5 stars Orijinal, temiz

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!

5.0 out of 5 stars وش تتوقع من ابو مارتن يعني؟

Quite Simply, What You've Heard is True

Refreshing and Edgy with Great Characters

GOT GOAT

"An Unforgettable Epic: A Review of Game of Thrones"

Orijinal, temiz

Great!

وش تتوقع من ابو مارتن يعني؟