Why it's essential
It goes without saying that George R.R. Martin’s fantasy epic A Song of Ice and Fire is nothing short of a generation-defining work. This book is the one that started it all and makes for a perfect entry point into the series.
Featured in the top 100 screen adaptations of all time.
What is A Game of Thrones about?
A Game of Thrones takes place in a medieval fantasy world and mostly deals with the bitter rivalry between House Lannister and House Stark, two noble families that find themselves at opposing ends of the king’s line of succession. While tension mounts in the royal capital, a third contender begins consolidating power. Will the throne be claimed by a girl named Daenerys Targaryen?
Editor's review
I wasn’t properly introduced to A Song of Ice and Fire until my freshman year in college. My roommate at the time was a bona fide superfan of the series—when I told him that I hadn’t yet given it a try, he could barely contain his excitement. A week after this discovery, I had already watched the first season of the television series and was hungry for more. Instead of binging the remaining seasons, I elected to crack open the first book in order to get the "definitive" experience. Even at the time, I could already tell that this series would leave a strong impact on me.
A Game of Thrones mostly follows House Stark, a noble family controlling the northern portion of the great kingdom of Westeros. Ned, the Lord of House Stark, is asked to join his old friend King Robert Baratheon in court as his new right-hand man. Shortly after arriving in the royal capital, Ned begins to unravel a conspiracy involving Queen Cersei Lannister and her family. Far to the North, Ned’s bastard son Jon Snow joins the Night’s Watch, a group of banished soldiers tasked with defending The Wall, a massive chunk of ice that keeps the mysterious White Walkers confined. To the East, a young girl named Daenerys Targaryen, the last of her line and heir to the previous regime, begins her bid for the throne with little more than a couple of dragon eggs.
While this series becomes increasingly complex book to book, the first entry is delightfully streamlined. Rather than introducing a million characters and locations, A Game of Thrones focuses on the three major families in the series, devoting a lot of time to fleshing out the main cast. On my first read, I was struck by the subversive nature of Thrones. Despite its setting, this is not a triumphant tale of knights and dragons. Rather, George R.R. Martin has created a world of betrayals and backstabs, one that values information and subterfuge far more than swords and shining armor. Veteran voice actor Roy Dotrice brings his highly adaptable voice to the audiobook, giving even more color to Martin's writing.
It can be argued that A Song of Ice and Fire and its HBO adaptation were the most impactful pieces of media through the 2010s. Despite Martin’s style of subversion and shock, this series reached as wide of an audience as juggernauts like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Despite the tragic fact that the book series may never be finished, A Game of Thrones will always be an essential piece of the fantasy genre.
Did you know?
A Game of Thrones is inspired by the real-life War of the Roses, a conflict between the warring houses of Lancaster and York in Great Britain.
The line that includes the phrase "game of thrones" was spoken by Cersei Lannister.
The series A Song of Ice and Fire has been translated into 47 languages and sold more than 90 million copies around the world.
At its time of airing in 2011, the HBO adaptation of A Song of Fire and Ice was given the highest budget for a television show of all time.
What listeners said
"If you enjoy fantasy, this is a must read. Even if you usually don't like fantasy, you may very enjoy this one." —Brent, Audible listener
"This book is just epic! I am still reeling from the captivating storyline and the amazing narration! This is what mature fantasy literature is all about, it is magical and yet feels so realistic. The vast array of characters are engaging and beautifully developed. The characters age so realistically in the book and the many sub-plots and intertwining leaves you just wanting more and more." —Theodore, Audible listener
"Wow. George R. R. Martin has renewed my faith in the Fantasy genre. I enjoyed this book so much I was pulling my hair out waiting for the month to end so I could download the next 2 books in the series. The writing is excellent. The dialogue is wonderful. The setting is dark, intriguing and original. The narrator, an experienced actor, is exceptional and he easily allowed me to immerse myself in the story." —Arthur, Audible listener
Quotes from A Game of Thrones
"Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness."
"Fear cuts deeper than swords."
"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives."
"Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it."
"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."
Adaptations
The HBO adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, titled Game of Thrones (2011-2019), was created and produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. This show was nothing less than a global phenomenon, reaching a state of cultural ubiquity rivaled by the likes of Harry Potter and Star Wars. Its conclusion was followed by a prequel series, the critically acclaimed House of the Dragon.
About the author
George R.R. Martin is the global bestselling author of many 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. Martin 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.
About the performer
Roy Dotrice was a British actor. He played the antiquarian John Aubrey in the solo play Brief Lives. He won a Tony Award for his performance in the 2000 Broadway revival of A Moon for the Misbegotten, also appearing as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's father Leopold in Amadeus (1984), Charles Dickens in Dickens of London (1984), and Jacob Wells/Father in Beauty and the Beast. Late in life, he narrated a series of audiobooks for George R. R. Martin's epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, for which he holds the Guinness World Record for the most character voices by an individual for an audiobook.
