A Game of Thrones

A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1

By: George R.R. Martin

Narrated by: Roy Dotrice

Length: 33 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Now the acclaimed HBO series Game of Thrones - the masterpiece that became a cultural phenomenon

Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King's Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert's name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn; his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon; his daughters Sansa and Arya; and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse - unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season. Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert is riding north to Winterfell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold Cersei, his son, the cruel, vainglorious Prince Joffrey, and the queen's brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the powerful and wealthy House Lannister - the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind.

All are heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms. Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys, heir of the fallen House Targaryen, which once ruled all of Westeros, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian Dothraki - whose loyalty he will purchase in the only coin left to him: his beautiful yet innocent sister, Daenerys.

©1996 George R.R. Martin, (P)2003 Books On Tape, Inc., published in arrangement with Random House Audio Group,a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Locus Award, 1997

"Martin's trophy case is already stuffed with major prizes...He's probably going to have to add another shelf, at least." (Publishers Weekly)

"The first volume in Martin's first fantasy saga combines intrigue, action, romance, and mystery in a family saga." (Booklist)

"Grabs hold and won't let go. It's brilliant." (Robert Jordan)

"This novel is an absorbing combination of the mythic, the sweepingly historical, and the intensely personal." (Chicago Sun-Times)

love it fam voices are fine

the voice work is fine is why people are complaining they aren't the same from the book but it's just got dotrice voicing them all

Simply Wonderful

The narration truly captures the atmosphere of the fantastical world that is A Game of Thrones. So much more than the television series and ever so worth a listen!

Amazing writing and storytelling.

Loved it even more than the show. George R R Martin is incredible. 5 stars

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT!?!?

Any additional comments?

You get engaged to the characters and grow to love them. Then things slowly get worse, people start dying. Ones that you have invested time to think how awesome they are, and they are gone! The people are individual and not mass molded. Each one has a view, each one has a story and depending on their cunning, the politics or out of sheer luck, you really wonder how anyone survives and wonder if you pray if the author will spare your favorites.

If you want to get addicted to a series and don't have HBO, then you should read this series, because there is a character for everyone and a storyline, plot and scheme that they will conquer or ruin all!

Second ONLY to The Lord Of The Rings!

I fell in love with this epic fantasy, like many, because of the HBO series. However, the last few seasons have been rather disappointing and I decided to turn to the books instead and it has been GREAT!

OUTSTANDING!!

Aside from an amazing story (Mr. Martin has truly created an entire world!) Mr. Dotrice's reading was INCREDIBLE!!

A master piece deserves more than one narrator

Since I'm a very avid viewer of the television series I decided to purchase at once all of the audiobooks of Game of thrones, hoping to quench my sad addiction between tv seasons. Sadly, I've tried to listen to the first book at least 4 times already, and I've come to the conclusion that this isn't a book that can be easily adapted to audio narration. I won't blame Roy Dotrice like others have done. He tries the best he can to make subtle distinctions between each character, but there are too many of them, so eventually they all start to sound the same. I know of other books that have been adapted using a full cast of narrators and I'm not sure why the same hasn't been done with this series. I've recently bought the ebook version of A Song of Ice and Fire, and I've found it much easier to follow than the audio version. As it's often said, the book is much better than the movie/tv adaptation, so I definitely recommend reading the original novel.

One of the best

If you could sum up A Game of Thrones in three words, what would they be?

I want more.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Eddard Stark. A complex man, whose sense of honor is also his biggest flaw.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Indeed, it made me wish for a longer commute!

love for G O T

the narration was well done but I was not fond on the narrators voice. a less raspy voice would be my prfrance. the world created by George R.R Martin will forever be one of my most loved. shot outs for tyrion much love to Peter dinklige.

I loved it.

this was first audio book and I'm hooked now. Roy Dotrice does a great job.