Game of Thrones Books

8/10/2019 Game of Thrones Books

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IS A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE BY

GEORGE R. R. MARTIN FOR YOU?


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Warning: while there are no real spoilers, there are basic detailsabout the series, to help you make a choice on whether or not it is for

you.


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The hit television series Game of Thrones was derived from a series

of novels by George R.R. Martin, who has created a world of high

fantasy and excitement that remains unrivaled in the world of both

reading and television. The series of novels, entitled collectively A

Song of Ice and Fire, was originally planned to extend to three

volumes, yet the success of the series, and the sheer breadth of the

cast of characters involved, has seen the author extend the series to a

planned seven volumes, five of which have so far been published to

great acclaim.
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The novels mainly cover the ongoing feudal battles and intricacies of thegreat noble houses Westeros, the Wall, and the Targaryens. The many

threads that link these three have their roots in genuine events from history,

and the wonderfully rendered descriptions of the continent on which they

liveWesteros and Essospaint a picture of a time very different to today.

Writing in an engaging and fast paced style, yet managing to keep us

informed as to the minute details that make the land so real, the books add

an aura of sense and understanding that is sometimes lost in the necessarily

compacted world of the TV series.


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BOOK #1

A GAME OF THRONES


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The first book in the series, A Game of Thrones introduces the readerto the main characters and branches out across three central plot

lines: In the Seven Kingdoms tells the tale of the Lord of Winterfell,Eddard Stark, and his convoluted and troubled family. Eddard has six

childrenfive legitimate, one notand the plot involves incest,

murder, and a clutch of Direwolf puppies, which are central to the

story. As with all good yarns, the battle for the head of the house is

the central point.


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The third thread is In the East which is set in the Free City of Pentos,and covers the initial story of the Targaryen. It also introduces us toone of the most important figures in the whole series, Daenerys,sister of mad king Viserys, who uses her to secure an army intended

to overthrow the throne of Westeros. Other themes include magical

treasures, execution and, as is the norm, a battle for the crown.


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It is notable that the book differs from the television series in itsapproach, with the plot lines delivered in a less detailed manner andthe entire story contracted for television; also, elements of the firstbook spread beyond the first series of the TV series, while there are

other elements that we have not yet readthey appear in later

volumeswoven into the opening series. Overall, the books give a

better depiction of the timeline.


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BOOK #2

A CLASH OF KINGS


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At the Wall, the Night Watch has embarked upon a mission toinvestigate the mysterious peoples known as the Wildings'; theydiscover that they have a fortress, and decide to advance. However,the Wildings are too fierce and the Night Watch face defeat. The

result is a failed infiltration attempt, and it is eventually discovered

that the Wall is to be attacked by tens of thousands of Wildings, along

with their collection of magical beings.


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In the East Daenerys has gained a gang of followers and a degree ofpoweras well as some baby dragons, which ensure her notorietyand is set upon the throne of Westeros herself; however,assassination attempts, dragon battles and mysterious happenings

prevail, and Daenerys is ultimately unsuccessful.


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While the second series of the TV adaptation does follow the bookmore closely than the first, it is arguable that, again, it moves forwardtoo quickly and leaves behind some of the more intricate detailedplots from the novel.


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BOOK #3

A STORM OF SWORDS


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The third book in the series, A Storm of Swords, picks up the storywhere we left it at the end of the previous book; the War of the Five

Kings still rages in Westeros, the Wall is under threat from theadvance of the Wildings and their motley army, and Daenerys,

defeated so far, is returning to Pentos.


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In the Seven Kingdoms the action is split into the North and Southregions, with several significant events taking place in each, not tomention a series of fierce and bloody battles. The novel introduces

the Brotherhood without Banners, a revolutionary group hell bent

on revenge and power, and central to the plot in the north is the Red

Wedding. Opposed by many of the families involved, and further

enraging the battles that are taking place, the wedding is the central

theme around which the plot unravels.


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At the Wall the threat of attack by the Wildings is looming, and thesmall army of the Night Watch can do little but wait. Murder and

fighting are prevalent, but through it all Jon Snow is offered the titleof Lord of Winterfell by the surviving and yet week King Stannis;

thanks to a mystical appearance of the ghost of his dead direwolf, Jon

refuses. He instead returns as the new commander of the Night

Watch.


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In the East Daenerys is becoming more unhinged and, with the gift ofa dragon, secures the services of a slave army to overthrow andransack the city of Meeren. However, she discovers traitors in her

midst, yet offers them a deal. They take up her offer and, with the

help of others, successfully overthrow the city. The rule of Meeros,

she sees as a precursor to her rule at Westeros.


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THE INTERIM

It is at this point that the author came upon a problem; his next book had

originally intended to be set five years after the end of the third novel; this,

he believed, would allow him to concentrate on younger characters who had

no yet had time to develop. However, Martin also faced the problem that his

charactersand there are great many more than the few central ones we

have mentioned so farwere not flung far and wide across the continent.

Hence, he decided eventually to split the next two books to cover different

regions and characters, rather than the three-viewpoint approach of the first

two novels. The result is that readers are able to concentrate on the engaging

action in two different novels, set concurrently at the same time.


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BOOK #4

A FEAST FOR CROWS


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A Feast for Crows, the fourth of the series, covers the happenings inthe Seven Kingdoms and the East; the concurrent book, A Dance with

Dragons, focuses on the goings-on at the Wall and elsewhere.We begin in the Seven Kingdoms with the approaching end of the

War of the Five Kings; however, the prologue introduces an intriguing

character, Pate, who is quickly poisoned, and yet his place n the tale is

as yet unresolved.


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Other central plot themes include the crumbling reign of QueenCersei, who routinely ignores good advice; the increasingly powerful

Tyrell family, and major battles in the closing stages of the war. Animportant section deals with the Iron Islands, which are central to the

theme and to the Daenerys character in this section, as well as many

other running themes of family feuds that have certain

consequences.


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In the East, Jon Snow and his Night Watch make an appearance with astory about assassinations, growing dissent and the importance of

the dragons owned by Daenerys, while things are complicated againby mysterious dreams and odd creatures with magical powers.

It is notable that, at this point in the TV series, the two final books

become entwined, although not to a point where they are

complicated to follow.


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BOOK #5A DANCE WITHDRAGONS


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The fifth book in the series, and so far the final one published, ADance with Dragons begins with Jon Snows election as the

commander of the Nights Watch; however, other factions refuse to

acknowledge this, resulting in the beheading of one of his main rivals.

A reinforcement of the Wall ensues, as well as battles involving the

remaining Wildings and others, and the hunt for a mysterious Three

Eyed Crow is also central to the plot here.


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The television series is now up to date with the story, but it has to besaid that, although the on-screen version features a wealth of

characters, it cannot be as diverse as the books, therefore severalimportant incidences are omitted. The best way to immerse oneself

in the world of Westeros and Essos is to take time with Martins

books.


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The overall sales figures vary. In April 2011, The New Yorker reposted

that more than 15 million of books had been sold worldwide. In May

the same year , The Wall Street Journal reported that 6 million copieshad been sold in North America. In July 2011, USA Today reported that

8.5 million of copies (including digital copies) had been sold.


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In December the same year, 12 million. In September 2013, Reuters

reported than 24 million of copies (including digital and audio copies)

had been sold in North America alone.

The series has been translated in more than 20 languages. The 5thbook

of the seriesA Dance with Dragonsin more than 40 languages,

according to USA Today.


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CONCLUSION

In writing the series of books that make up A Song of Ice and Fire

George R.R. Martin has created a fantasy world as real as any that

preceded his; indeed, his works have been likened to Tolkien, but

with a more involving and less fantastical bent. That his main

characters are clearly influenced byand based uponreal historical

figures, particularly those from British medieval history, makes the

whole seemingly believable, and enables the reader to become more

immersed in the world of the many characters who are well drawn

and engaging.


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Far more than in the television series, which is necessarily abridged inorder to fit some very complex and interesting plot lines into the

short screen time, the novels allow for the imagination to get to gripswith the plot, and for the characters to come to life. It is to the

authors credit that he has managed to carry his characters through,

so far, five volumes, without once losing the readers attention.


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That he needs at least two more novels to apparently conclude thestory shows just how much is going on here, and it must be said that

the above plot summaries are brief and by no means comprehensive.One can only get a true feel of the majesty of Martins writing, and of

the world he has created, by reading these wonderful stories.

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Game of Thrones Books