A Game of Thrones
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Author Description
NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONESHere is the first volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.A GAME OF THRONESLong ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.From the Paperback edition.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
As the seasons fall into a chaotic, unpredictable cycle, the noble houses of Westeros engage in a lethal struggle for control of the Iron Throne. The narrative follows the Stark family of Winterfell as they are drawn into the dangerous political machinations of the capital, King's Landing, while simultaneously facing an ancient, supernatural threat rising in the frozen north. The story utilizes a multi-perspective framework, shifting between various characters across vast distances to reveal the complex motivations and betrayals driving the conflict. Each character must navigate a world where honor is often a liability and survival depends on ruthless pragmatism and strategic alliances.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Multi-perspective narrative structure utilizing rotating third-person limited viewpoints
- World-building centered on a unique, erratic seasonal cycle
- Political intrigue and complex power dynamics between noble houses
- Inclusion of supernatural and eldritch elements emerging from the northern wastes
- Gritty, realistic depiction of medieval-style warfare and social hierarchy
- Extensive cast of characters with conflicting moral alignments
- Focus on the consequences of political ambition and betrayal
- Detailed descriptions of heraldry, geography, and cultural history
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
This work is widely recognized for its subversion of traditional high fantasy tropes, favoring political realism and moral ambiguity over clear-cut heroism. Readers and critics frequently highlight the intricate plotting and the willingness of the author to place central characters in genuine peril. The narrative style is noted for its dense world-building and the stark, often brutal consequences of the characters' choices. It has established a significant cultural footprint, influencing the trajectory of modern fantasy literature through its focus on human fallibility and the high cost of power.
Page Count:
672
Publication Date:
1996-08-01
Publisher:
Bantam Books
ISBN-10:
0002245841
ISBN-13:
9780002245845
Fantasy
Adventure
Epic Fantasy
Science Fiction
Political fiction
Epic
