IS A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE BY

GEORGE R. R. MARTIN FOR YOU?

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




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.




The world in which the novels are set is inspired greatly by medieval
European history; indeed, Martin traveled the many ancient sites of
Europe especially those in Great Britain and studied historical
events carefully to lay the groundwork for the books. The detail is
impressive, and scholars of English history will notice that the main
plot lines are very much drawn from the Wars of the Roses, which
took place between the feuding houses of York and Lancaster.






The novels mainly cover the ongoing feudal battles and intricacies of the
great 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
live Westeros and Essos paint 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.




BOOK #1 A GAME OF THRONES





The first book in the series, A Game of Thrones introduces the reader
to 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
children five legitimate, one not and 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.





On the Wall makes up the entrance to the novel, and introduces us to
the wonders of the magical, 300 mile long wall of ice and stone that
protects the Seven Kingdoms from the wilderness beyond, and the
Night Watch, who are detailed to man the defense. Eddards bastard
son, Jon, joins the Night Watch, which allows the reader to see its
many flaws.




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 to
one 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.





It is notable that the book differs from the television series in its
approach, with the plot lines delivered in a less detailed manner and
the entire story contracted for television; also, elements of the first
book spread beyond the first series of the TV series, while there are
other elements that we have not yet read they appear in later
volumes woven into the opening series. Overall, the books give a
better depiction of the timeline.





BOOK #2 A CLASH OF KINGS






As with the first novel, the second A Clash of Kings takes us
through the three main plot lines of the Seven Kingdoms, the Wall
and the East. In the former, a civil war rages with the North and South
at loggerheads; Rob Stark son of the now dead Eddard is declared
King of the North, while three of the Baratheon family all have
designs on the throne of Westeros. The war that ensues is bloody and
tireless, and results in many changes in the family hierarchy.





At the Wall, the Night Watch has embarked upon a mission to
investigate the mysterious peoples known as the Wildings'; they
discover 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.





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






While the second series of the TV adaptation does follow the book
more closely than the first, it is arguable that, again, it moves forward
too quickly and leaves behind some of the more intricate detailed
plots from the novel.





BOOK #3 A STORM OF SWORDS






The third book in the series, A Storm of Swords, picks up the story
where 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 the
advance of the Wildings and their motley army, and Daenerys,
defeated so far, is returning to Pentos.






In the Seven Kingdoms the action is split into the North and South
regions, with several significant events taking place in each, not to
mention 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.





At the Wall the threat of attack by the Wildings is looming, and the
small army of the Night Watch can do little but wait. Murder and
fighting are prevalent, but through it all Jon Snow is offered the title
of 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.






In the East Daenerys is becoming more unhinged and, with the gift of
a dragon, secures the services of a slave army to overthrow and
ransack 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.




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
characters and there are great many more than the few central ones we
have mentioned so far were 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.






BOOK #4 A FEAST FOR CROWS






A Feast for Crows, the fourth of the series, covers the happenings in
the 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.




Other central plot themes include the crumbling reign of Queen
Cersei, who routinely ignores good advice; the increasingly powerful
Tyrell family, and major battles in the closing stages of the war. An
important 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.





In the East, Jon Snow and his Night Watch make an appearance with a
story about assassinations, growing dissent and the importance of
the dragons owned by Daenerys, while things are complicated again
by 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.





BOOK #5 A DANCE WITH
DRAGONS






The fifth book in the series, and so far the final one published, A
Dance 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.






In Pentos, the Free City, much is happening, with Daenerys still the
focus of attention; she remains in Meeren, as ruler, still hoping this is
the precursor to her tenure as the ruler of Westeros. Her Dragons
also play a prominent part in this section of the story, and Drogon
the senior is important to the plot, as is a marriage plan intended to
bring her to the side of an opposing family. The main plot theme
surrounds the ongoing downfall at Westeros where incompetence
and family feuds rule, as well as the many threads involving Jon Snow
and his ruling of the Wildings.





The television series is now up to date with the story, but it has to be
said that, although the on-screen version features a wealth of
characters, it cannot be as diverse as the books, therefore several
important incidences are omitted. The best way to immerse oneself
in the world of Westeros and Essos is to take time with Martins
books.




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 copies
had been sold in North America. In July 2011, USA Today reported that
8.5 million of copies (including digital copies) had been sold.


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 5
th
book
of the series A Dance with Dragons in more than 40 languages,
according to USA Today.



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 by and based upon real 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.





Far more than in the television series, which is necessarily abridged in
order to fit some very complex and interesting plot lines into the
short screen time, the novels allow for the imagination to get to grips
with 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.




That he needs at least two more novels to apparently conclude the
story 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.