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)

Spectacular.

It is no wonder why the adaptation was so well received. It was a wonderfully preformed and am beyond excited to continue the tale.

Excellent and engulfing

The sorry which brings the epic of Fire and Ice. This would have been a flawless reading if the reader hadn't only been Dutrice. The few vices he does are done well until you get to the female characters and children. He has a hard time remembering the proper pronunciation of key character names. If a strong female reader had been added I'm certain the result would have been a sublime partnership and the story would have been completely immersive. Alas, we do not so there are times where the performance causes snaps back to reality.

Refreshing and engaging, could'nt stop listening

Would you listen to A Game of Thrones again? Why?

If you are a fan of the cable series, this book will take you in a slightly different direction. It turns out to be much more character centric. The character voices pull you in and keep you wanting to hear more of their exploits. Dotrice is a wonderful narrator, and makes this tale come to life.

Great Story!

Would you consider the audio edition of A Game of Thrones to be better than the print version?

Yes

What does Roy Dotrice bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has so many different voices that it makes it easier to visualize the story in my mind.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Easy one, Ned getting killed. I was upset!!!

love it

I started with the show now I have moved to the books; it's like I'm learning the truth little by little it's a lot of fun!!

loved it!

Such a great story. The narrator was very clear. I got lost in the story.

Enthralling

I had thoroughly enjoyed the Game of Thrones series on HBO. At first, I was afraid having seen the series, I would be less involved with the audio version. Admittedly, I had trouble adjusting to the voice characterizations as portrayed by Mr. Dotrice, having a preconceived perception of them from the series. However, the longer I listened, the more involved I became with the ones chosen by the narrator. As the story progressed, I ceased to be aware of it. I became totally immersed in the story and amazing visualization his performance evocted. I am anxious to start the next book in the series and am thankful the same narrator will be performing throughout the rest of the books. George R.R. Martin is an amazing story teller, weaving a stunning array of plots and characters together to ensnare his readers. I love his detailed description of the varied landscapes and seasons. Some people seem to dislike this indepth detailing, but I find it enhances my ability to "step into" the story and become an eager bystander. Applause, applause! Highly recommended listening choice!

Excellent

What an excellent story. The narration was the best of any I have heard. I listened to the last 7 hours straight through.

Great book.

I really enjoyed this book. Started with the show and I liked that. But the books are far and away superior. Can't recommend this one enough.

Complex and excellent, very absorbing

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

Like Medieval Sopranos

What did you like best about this story?

It's long, complex, has multiple story-lines, convincing characters and plot, excellent environmental descriptions, good backstories, and a plot that hangs together perfectly and believably. It's hard to believe one person wrote this.

Have you listened to any of Roy Dotrice???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not. But I enjoyed his performance greatly. He has a great, elderly sounding voice that goes well with the subject, and he doesn't try to do (or overdo) female voices, which to me can be quite creepy.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Well, see the HBO series, it's a scene for scene reproduction of the book, and very good.