A Game of Thrones
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| A Game of Thrones | ||
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| Novel by George R. R. Martin | ||
| Released | 1996 | |
| Original publisher (U.S.) | Bantam Spectra | |
| Genre | Fantasy | |
| Professional reviews | ||
| SF Reviews.Net | T. M. Wagner | link (http://www.sfreviews.net/gameofthrones.html) |
| SF Site | James Seidman | link (http://www.sfsite.com/09a/game16.htm) |
| SFF World | Steven H. Silver | link (http://www.sffworld.com/authors/m/martin_george/sffreviews/gameof.html) |
| Awards | ||
| Locus Award | Best Novel (Fantasy) | 1997 |
A Game of Thrones is the first book in A Song of Ice and Fire, a fantasy series by George R. R. Martin. It is an immensely popular work, and has spawned a successful trading card game and board game.
A Game of Thrones is set in a fictitious world reminiscent of Europe in the Middle Ages (primarily on a continent called Westeros), except that in this world, seasons can last decades. The story is told through the point of view of the following main characters:
- Lord Eddard Stark, Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell, husband of Catelyn Stark
- Lady Catelyn Stark, of House Tully, wife of Eddard Stark
- Sansa Stark, eldest daughter of Eddard Stark and Catelyn Stark
- Arya Stark, youngest daughter of Eddard Stark and Catelyn Stark
- Bran Stark, middle of three sons of Eddard Stark and Catelyn Stark
- Jon Snow, bastard son of Eddard Stark
- Tyrion Lannister, a dwarf, son of Tywin Lannister (Martin has named Tyrion as his favorite character)
- Princess Daenerys Targaryen, Stormborn, heiress to the Targaryen Dynasty
Plot
In the first book of A Song of Ice and Fire, Martin introduces us to Lord Eddard Stark and his wife, Catelyn Stark. Eddard Stark is lord of the castle Winterfell. Eddard has a surprise visit from the king of all the realm, Robert Baratheon and his queen, the treacherous Cersei Lannister. Cersei has designs upon the throne for her loathsome son, Joffrey, and will stop at nothing to achieve her ends. King Robert asks Eddard to take the position of King's Hand — a position similar to a prime minister — as the previous hand, Jon Arryn, has met with an untimely death. Eddard accepts only out of duty, for his wife Catelyn has told him that her sister, Arryn's widow, is convinced Cersei is behind Jon's poisoning. Lord Eddard invesitages, and learns that Arryn had discovered a troubling secret just before he was murdered. Catelyn Stark, meanwhile, attempts to find the person who crippled and attempted to murder one of her sons, and in the process she increases the tensions between her house and House Lannister. With the kingdom's houses distracted by petty squabling, an ancient foe emerges unnoticed in the far north.
External links
- chapter-by-chapter summary (http://members.aol.com/vbkorik27/summary/AGOT.htm) by Vincent Briscuso
| A Song of Ice and Fire |
| A Game of Thrones | A Clash of Kings | A Storm of Swords | A Feast for Crows The Hedge Knight |
| Books | Places |