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)

Awesome

How he writes this well is beyond me. GRRM is to Fantasy as Daenerys is to dragons.

narration is awful

story is amazing the narrator pronounces names different in the same sentence. it is incredibly distracting and I have no idea why this was allowed to slide by editors

4th time and still a great listen!

This book is the best of the series and stands on its own as a masterpiece, but knowing what's in the other books made this listen ever so sweet.

Far better than most reviews said

I expected a train wreck of a performance in this audiobook, as most of the reviews had convinced me I would hate it. Turns out it’s just a goofy old man doing the narration; who at times sounds too nasaly and makes bad decisions with the character voices, but what old man doesn’t do that? Listen to the 5 minute preview and you’ll be able to tell if Roy Dotrice bothers you, but at least give it a try

Greatest literary accomplishment of all time.

To only be able to give this series 5 stars physically hurts my soul. So gripping, so vibrant, so deep and developed. Every character is so cunningly crafted, and the vocal preformance of Sir Roy Dotrice is the definitive choice to tell the story. If you go through your entire life without reading or hearing this series, did you ever truely live? You owe it to yourself to experience this.

The Show Did This Book Justice

Other than subtle deviations from the show, the first season of Game of Thrones really did this justice. It was a fun book, very good, but what I'm looking for is another bad guy to really take fancy and horror to like Ramsay did in the show. I know that he is different in this series, so I am hoping that there is another somewhere in the pages. I am not ready to jump into the next book. There is a bit to take in, and I felt like I had already experienced all of this while watching the show. I think that says wonders about the show, at least the first season, but I am ready for new adventures into this world, yet I am not ready to wade through the familiarity to get to that point.

Narration makes this book

Mr Dotrice is really why this audio book is as good as it is. With so many characters and complex story lines a good narrator is essential. I just realistically would never read these books - my brain struggles to keep straight al the names etc but hearing it while I drive to and from work is perfect. Highly recommended.

The very BEST of Fantasy Fiction

What did you love best about A Game of Thrones?

The world that George R.R. Martin sucks me into. My friend had been trying to get me to read the books for a while but I put him off, then I watched the first season of the HBO series (I know, I know) and then went through these books sooo fast! The complex characters, their development and the events in this book that set up for the sequence of events in the rest of the series are all hallmarks of great fantasy and great reading.

What other book might you compare A Game of Thrones to and why?

You could compare the intricate world with Tolkein's middle earth, that I think is the most common comparison.

What about Roy Dotrice’s performance did you like?

It feels like I'm sitting by a fire listening to a wizened old man weave a tale of deception, corruption, love, revenge, and lust.

This is the only British person to read this book!

Love the story. Cannot stand the performance. Mr. Dotrice's voice is awful. Didn't like performance

Great story, poorly narrated.

This is a great story, if not for the poor narration the experience would have been too.