Sample
  • 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
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (145,910 ratings)

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A Game of Thrones

By: George R.R. Martin
Narrated by: Roy Dotrice
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Editorial review


By Seth Hartman, Audible Editor

A GAME OF THRONES IS A MASTERFUL START TO AN EPIC DARK FANTASY

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.

Continue reading Seth's review >

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)

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What listeners say about A Game of Thrones

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    4 out of 5 stars

The narration alone is incredible

Well worth it. The story is great and the voice acting really brings you into the story.

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Love Game of Thrones

Loved the story. However I did not care for the narrator. Voices he used were hard to understand at times and too similar to distinguish exactly whom he was trying to speak for.

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Awesome

Great story, good reading. Would recommend to any fantasy enthusiasts. Game of thrones. Game of thrones

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The best epic tale in 100 years!

Stop reading this and buy the book already! Its worth every penny. It's amazing how such an epic tale can be told from the multiple 1st person perspectives of so many different characters.

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Must get

I started with the HBO show, and that was a mistake. Amazingly done,a must have for the collection.

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Great book!

What a great book that the reader was able to understand the characters and the different voices each character had. Loved thia book and all the stories. Little longer than the average book read but great non the less.

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Excellent!

I came to the audiobook after watching the television series and absolutely loving it. The audiobook is outstanding and lived up to my lofty expectations. Great story and a wonderful performance.

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Could not put it down!!!

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

His voice captures you in time... it is TOTALLY AWESOME

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Game of Thrones?

The second I started to listen... and from there on

Which scene was your favorite?

Every one. Each character is so well depicted, the whole story is so engrossing.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It almost cost me a Divorce... was so enthralled, my husband got jealous....LOL

Any additional comments?

I have purchased and listened to, A game of thrones, A clash of kings and I am on A storm of swords and cannot wait to get on to the next one. I purchased A game of thrones to listen to on vacation. I was instantly addicted. I have purchased season one and season two of the DVD's of the HBO series and have pre ordered season three which comes out in February of 2014.... cannot wait

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So Hooked

I am glad that this is available as an audio book. I listen to it while I'm driving to work. It would be hard to get through it for me as a book because of all the names of this and that person. I'm amazed by the diversity of the characters that Roy Dotrice can produce! I'm so hooked on this story. I don't know what I'll do when it's over. Thank goodness I'm only on book three.

My husband is always saying I need to read fiction every now and then, because I mostly read non-fiction. This is one series that I have throughoughly enjoyed and am addicted too! What a great and amazing story! Thank you George R.R Martin for this wonderful story that you have given us!

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great book

Great book but the sexual descriptions were unnecessary. they were too graphic. could do without them.

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