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George R. R. Martin

A Game of Thrones: Book 1 Mass Market Paperback – 1 October 1997

by George R R Martin (Author)

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The first volume of A Song of Ice and Fire, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. GAME OF THRONES is now a major TV series from HBO, starring Sean Bean. Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

As Warden of the North, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.

The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

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Product details

Publisher : Voyager GB; edition (1 October 1997)
Language: : English
Mass Market Paperback : 864 pages
ISBN-10 : 000647988X
ISBN-13 : 978-0006479888
Dimensions : 11.4 x 4.7 x 17.8 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 4,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 70 in Witch & Wizard Thrillers
- 139 in Men's Adventure Fiction
- 188 in TV, Film & Game Tie-In Fiction

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16,801 ratings

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‘Of those who work in the grand epic fantasy tradition, Martin is by far the best’
Time Magazine

‘Colossal, staggering… Martin captures all the intoxicating complexity of the Wars of the Roses or Imperial Rome’
SFX

‘The sheer-mind-boggling scope of this epic has sent other fantasy writers away shaking their heads … Its ambition: to construct the Twelve Caesars of fantasy fiction, with characters so venomous they could eat the Borgias’
Guardian

About the Author

George R.R. Martin is the author of fifteen novels and novellas, including five volumes of A Song of Ice and Fire, several collections of short stories, as well as screenplays for television and feature films. Dubbed 'the American Tolkien', George R.R. Martin has won numerous awards including the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award. He is an Executive Producer on HBO's Emmy Award-winning Game of Thrones, which is based on his A Song of Ice and Fire series. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Customer reviews

5 star		81%
4 star		12%
3 star		4%
2 star		1%
1 star		2%

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Sarah

A good read

Reviewed in Australia on 1 June 2019

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I am probably I bit young to read this book-I would suggest ages 15+, which was probably why I found it a bit hard to follow. It is the mark of a good writer when they making you feel and deep hatred for the villains, like Viserys and Joffrey, and cry for days after the death of a protagonist, like Lady or Ned.
But a good writer must also make you connect with the characters, care for them, love them. Martin (in my opinion) didn't do as well in this, by building Game of Thrones to have a reputation where everyone dies. This stops people connecting with the characters, and it also scares people off reading it in the first place.
I found the way he describes fights rather annoying, and the History of Westros is VERY unclear. But overall, a good read, although I'm not sure if I'll read it again. I am currently watching the TV series and it's quite good, and seems to stick to the book quite well *cough* *cough* Peter Jackson.
Also, I think he's a bit out of whack with the ages of the Stark children.

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TomWebster

The Start of a Masterpiece

Reviewed in Australia on 30 August 2018

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Not the best book of the series, but the one that hooks your interest and is fascinating from beginning to end. A hugely successful, mammoth, enterprise to write this enormous series and reading them all is a delight for those even slightly interested in medieval history. Sure, this is all fiction, but much of it (the description of the knights,the ultimate power of heraldic kings, the jousting tournaments , the ships, the cottage industries etc are all based closely on historical facts. That is what makes the whole series so popular. It is believable. The use of magic and dragons in the story is the glue that brings it all together for a reader. This sets it apart from being just a a longwinded history lesson. You will love it. Read them all to get the best from a masterpiece of writing.

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RAGirl

A story everyone knows

Reviewed in Australia on 24 June 2019

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It's impossible not to love the Game of thrones with all its twists and turns. Trust no one, not even your own family. I loved this book, it shows the authors true passion for his craft. He has built a world so believable that you feel every flea in flea bottom. The host of characters have fantastic and realistic arcs and for all they are kings and queens they are also very relatable. No wonder it translated to television so well.

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Jackie McC

Just as good as the tv show

Reviewed in Australia on 9 December 2018

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This book is pretty much scene-for-scene like the first season of the TV show, and I can see why people also love to read the books. It's evocative and steeped in intrigue, full of back-stabbing and rolling heads. I could picture each and every scene as it unfolded, and enjoyed each chapter being told from a different character's point of view. Masterfully told, this book will have you hooked from the first page.

One person found this helpful

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Reviewer # 5

What’s the big deal?

Reviewed in Australia on 24 March 2020

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I have no idea what’s going on, who these people are, or the point of the novel. Nothing happens, and there’s way too many characters to keep track of. (I haven’t watched the series at all.)

The writing itself is amateurish, but does effectively build a world. I honestly don’t see what the big deal is about this book.

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Kris Talbot

Interesting

Reviewed in Australia on 30 June 2019

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As I have not watched an episode of the TV series I decided to read the books instead. This took a lot to keep reading, as it had so many characters to build stories about at times I could have easily just stopped reading it but I persevered and have enjoyed it and am now reading book 2

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Tom

Would highly recommend for fantasy lovers

Reviewed in Australia on 5 December 2018

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A great fantasy novel with interesting lore and history as well as political elements to keep the story fresh and entertaining. The main, and possibly only downfall I can pick is the changing of perspectives in chapters. While interesting at times it can also become frustrating when removed from the action to a less interesting part of the plot or being forced to read through chapters of characters you don’t care for.

One person found this helpful

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A Reread After Starting to Watch The TV Series

Reviewed in Australia on 22 August 2017

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A sprawling tale of mad kings, treacherous courtiers, not so honourable knights and some decent folks trying to do the right thing. A large cast of characters makes for a complex story but it allows the reader to see what's happening from multiple points of view. The world building is as impressive as any reader would want. One of the things I liked most about this book were the unintended consequences of characters actions, even good people can cause catastrophe by trying to do the right thing. Now on to A Clash Of Kings!

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It was a love hate relationship to be honest.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 December 2018

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Don't get me wrong. I love the series, I really do and there is no doubt that George R.R. Martin is a great mind and writer, but my feelings on this book are mixed. I wanted to love it, I really really did, (i didn't hate it, just found it...dragging) but I'm going to break down what I thought in parts.
For me there wasn't much character development at all. I get there's A LOT of characters, but if I hadn't seen the series, then I would feel literally nothing for these people. Same goes for description of characters. There was too many names and important people to keep track off. I didn't feel any emotion from the characters. Especially when Drogo and Ned died. It was just like... Okay it's over now. Next chapter bye. There were times where I couldn't wait to read it, and times where I wasn't 100 percent sure I was going to finish it.
I made a promise to myself that if I was to write a book review id be honest. But I'm not denouncing this series. I'm actually going on to read the second book in the hopes that I do find I love it and hope that fans of the show (and people looking for an interesting read set in an incredible world) pick this up and give it a go. But it took me 3 attempts to finish this one. I
I gave it a three as for me, while I love the story and the world he had created, I couldn't get rid of the feeling that without the tv show, I wouldn't be able to put a face to a name or feel how the characters felt, which is something I've never had trouble with before.

73 people found this helpful

Charlotte

Like a good chunk of people

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 October 2016

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Like a good chunk of people, I started reading the ASoIaF series because of the TV show based on the books. When I started watching it, s3 was just released on DVD and yeah, I fell in love with it so much I needed to buy the books. They sat on my bookshelf for so damn long (the sheer length scaring me into not picking them up) before I decided to start the series.

I started this, then put it down and just didn't pick it back up. It remained like that for, what?, six-seven months before I picked it up again… and finished it in a week.

I loved this book so much. I think the reason it took me so long the first time 'round was because it was so freaking like the TV series (Gods, do I miss those days) but I pushed on and so glad I did, because there's just little things in the book that they didn't include in the show.

The characters in this series are just so… amazing. I love how well they are fleshed out, how pure their emotions come through the page until you're feeling it with them. I love that whilst reading a Stark chapter, you hate the Lannisters and everyone that sides with them, but then you read a Lannister chapter and you're like… wow, those Starks aren't exactly the best, are they?

You route for whoever you are reading. Sure, you attach yourselves to certain ones because it's still a piece of fiction and that's what you do with fiction - you mark your favourites. But there's no-one in here that's truly hate worthy… except Joffrey. He's just a little s***.

The magical elements are unlike most fantasy books I've read in the sense they're hidden deep down and haven't started stirring yet. I've already read the 2nd book and know that as the series goes on, the more magic comes out. And it's amazing that way.

There's not just one plot going on, there's a million different little ones, that somehow all steer towards the End Goal which I have no idea what it'll be because GRRM hasn't finished. But still! You can see plainly that whilst these little plots seem interesting in their own right, you reach a point in the book where you realise that because of that little plot, the entire story is blown open.

It's incredible. Simple incredible.

81 people found this helpful

Ryan

Great start to the story, and fascinating characters. Highly addictive from about halfway onwards

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2016

Verified Purchase

Wow! What a book. This was a bit of a gamble for me, as I don't tend to read fantasy-based books. Generally speaking, I like a good crime novel or thriller, but with all the hype surrounding the Game of Thrones TV show, I wanted to dip into the first book in the series and see if it was worth reading. It really took some time for me to adjust to the idea that the plot wouldn't be wrapped up within 300 pages like many novels. In fact, after 300 pages of this book, the plot was only just beginning to take shape. Another 500 pages later and I was ready for Book 2!

Although this is indeed a gripping story, it took a long time for me to gain momentum. In fact, twice I left the book alone for a couple of months and then started again, or backtracked through a few chapters. It was probably just past the halfway point in the book that I felt the pace developed and I was hooked.

The book's chapters are named after each of the key characters in the story, which I find adds an unusual sense of anticipation when you see which character's story is about to unfold. The curse of me coming to this book so long after it was written (would you believe the book is 20 years old already?!) is that all of the key plot-lines have been spilled through the TV show. I love the TV show, but I can't help but feel a sense of lost excitement, as I see the name of a character at the beginning of a chapter and think "I wonder if this is the part where he dies". Grrrr! Regardless of the self-inflicted spoilers, I've enjoyed this so much, I've already bought the rest of the books and look forward to ploughing through them as time allows.

The enhanced features in this version of the book are a pleasant addition but I wouldn't say they have been essential. There are audio narration clips scattered throughout the book, but after a while the novelty wore off, and I skipped many of them. The most useful feature, was the ability to click on a character name and to be taken to a summary in the book's appendix. This is particularly useful for this book, as it hosts a huge number of characters that are hard to keep track of. However, a more advanced version of this feature appears to be built into the Kindle's X-Ray feature, making the book's hyperlinks less essential.

31 people found this helpful

Melanie

Brilliant read. A must for GOT fans

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 October 2018

Verified Purchase

Saw the TV series before I read the book. The TV series remains faithful to the first book in the series and you can actually visualise the TV characters when reading through the dialogue (especially Tyrion). Enjoyed this book immensely and found it easy to read, although all the different houses and characters are sometimes difficult to keep up with. It definitely makes it easier to follow if you've seen the programme first. I like how the author fleshed out the characters right from the start. This is fundamentally a fantasy novel, not a genre I'd usually opt for but is very much a character novel centred around the main players and their motivations/plots. Brilliant writing. Looking forward to reading the second to see if that measures up.

7 people found this helpful

BobH

‘When you play the Game of Throne you win or you die’

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 April 2016

Verified Purchase

I must confess to being surprised how much I enjoyed ‘Game of Thrones’ (on Kindle) by R.R. Martin. My sole contact with the TV series was, in error, viewing half an episode without knowing who was doing what and why – but recognising the quality of production, By some freak inclination I bought the Kindle version – as usual after reading several 5 stars & 1 star reviews.
After 30 minutes reading I wondered if some 1 star reviewers had been reading the same book as myself as it was galloping along at a great pace. To be fair I wasn’t put off by strange names (I’ve used enough in my own writing) or ‘nasty goings-on’ (again mea culpa). Furthermore, I’m very experienced in the study of Medieval History so well at home with the period. Indeed, the Lannisters are clearly based on the family of Elizabeth Woodville (c. 1440-92), the queen of Edward IV (1461-83); in King Robert (‘..Six and a half feet tall, he towered over lesser men..... ) the reader has Edward IV (as in the last 5 years of his life); surely in Joffrey (‘pouty lips... disdainful walk...’) there is Thomas Grey, Elizabeth’s son, who shocked the Court by marrying the dowager Duchess of Dorset (old enough to be his grandmother) in 1478. Perhaps I stray too far in linking the ‘mad king’ (killed by Jaime Lannister) with Henry VI (1422-61 – died 1471) or Ned Stark and family with that of Richard Neville, Earl of York. As for identifying Tyrion Lannester ‘The Imp’ with the SHAKESPEARIAN image of Richard III (1483-5) I’m at a loss.
For the critics of the ‘seamier’ episodes, may I point out History records murders on the battlefield, rushed beheadings, witchcraft and wholesale cruelty and spite as making up much of life in 15th century ‘Merry England’. The major HISTORICAL criticism I’d make is the absence of organised religion in the events: I’d excuse direwolves, Others and other supernatural features as but the imagination of a good writer at work.
There is no doubt R.R. Martin is a gifted writer. He’s far less elaborate than Tolkein but then he’s far less ambitious – no aim of providing a multiplicity of languages in a world of differently formed creatures (including talking tees) just aiming to produce a dramatic tale of human ambitions, rivalries and treacheries with an added spice of ‘wyrd’ (as the Anglo-Saxons would have understood it) and ‘weird’ as enjoyed by lovers of Gothic novels and ‘colourful’ films. The writing canters along through speech, thoughts, pen-portraits and dramatic encounters. It’s not so ‘down to earth’ as that of Terry Pratchett and yet surprisingly simpler than that of J.K. Rowling. Martin matches the pleasure given me by the other three authors over decades.
As always I’d read a selection of both 5 star & 1 star reviews. Here are some of the latter with my comments. ‘I don't think it helped that it jumps about from person to person/scene to scene.’- a standard way by thriller writers of maintaining tension. ‘So many pointless characters with so many stupid names’ – such may add atmosphere and also remove the reader into a different world; those that count will be repeated as so become familiar. ‘Why no resolution?’ - because it’s part of a SERIES; I must confess I dislike villains ‘surviving’ to reappear in an entirely separate work for another dose, but such is not true here. ‘A story that doesn't make sense and characters about whom I couldn't care less’ – I recommend reading a DETAILD history of English history 1455-85 (or even 1399-1499) to get the same effect.
In the book there are several engaging episodes such as the journey by Catelyn up to the Eyrie, the escape of Arya from the Lannister coup, the battle featuring Tyrion and the struggle of Jon with the ‘undead’ . Such are frequently described from the viewpoint of participants with some success.
My favourite character in the book is Tyrion Lannester (‘The Imp’) – much smarter than any of the other characters and with a macabre, self-deprecating sense of humour (perhaps based on the Shakespearian Richard III) - Petyr Baelish is a similar, if paler, character. Arya Stark, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen are close behind, possibly because they make more of themselves than either the reader or the other characters expect. A couple of characters I found almost ‘nauseating’ - Joffrey Baratheon and Robyn Arryn, both spoilt and given power when grossly unfitted. Enigmatic characters, such as Sandor Clegane (‘The Hound’) and POTENTIALLY Sansa Stark intrigue me. Disappointing for me, because of plot potential, are Jaime Lannester (apart from ‘the things I do for love’ incident). My title is voiced by Queen Cersei to Eddard Stark in a scene when I was wondering if any man could be so stupid – he’s so disappointing that perhaps his termination proves welcome. I should stress here that I know nothing of what happens in the saga in subsequent books so my opinion may drastically change.
Any criticisms? The chapters are simply titled according to the key personality therein. Especially using a Kindle, this makes it more difficult to access the previous scene; adding numbers would help – e.g. Jon1, Jon2, Jon3 & the use of ‘Search’- deal with the confusion felt by some readers. AT THE MOMENT the episodes involving Daenerys Targaryen among the Dothraki are very detached but clearly there for future developments . Even so I must admit the appearance of a pair of dragons doesn’t offer an ‘attractive ‘ story line – direwolves are the limit for me.
Anyway I award the book 5 stars and look forward to reading the sequel.

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