A Game of Thrones
by George R R Martin
A Song of Ice and Fire series, Book 1
A Game of Thrones is the first book in George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series, first published in 1996. The book achieved cult status, though Martin did not start hitting the bestseller lists until later in the series (In fact, Martin joked in an interview that at one book signing for A Game of Thrones, rather than attracting a crowd, he actually drove four customers out of the bookstore). The book is nearly 800 pages long and creates a world that is essentially medieval. Different families vie for power—the ‘game of thrones’—in a world of horses and knights, jousting tournaments, castles for the aristocracy and huts for the masses. Across the sea, there is also a Mongol-style empire with horsemen living out on the grasslands. The story is told through multiple perspectives, mostly though not exclusively members of one artistocractic family, the Starks. It’s a brutal world, where no one can trust anyone.
Recommendations from our site
“There’s just so much to this story, so many wonderful characters. Early on, he introduces some very dark villains, and then pulls the rug out from under the reader by shifting to their point of view – and suddenly they’re not dark villains. They’re people, with goals and ideas and ideals and a morality, which perhaps does not match our current morality or the morality of the other characters. But suddenly these are really fully-fledged, well-rounded characters. You have a kaleidoscope view of this world, because we are shifting between loyalties and between point-of-view characters.” Read more...
The Best Medieval Fantasy Books
Robin Hobb, Novelist
“If you want to get a perspective on how the politics of power and ruthlessness work, or simply see some of the thinking behind Game of Thrones, this short, slightly fragmentary book, written in the 16th century, is still the best around. Machiavelli, after a successful career as a diplomat in Florence, was tortured and exiled by the Medici after they came to power in the city state. He wrote The Prince from his exile, possibly as a way of gaining favour with those who could bring him back to Florence.” Read more...
Philosophy Books to Take On Holiday
Nigel Warburton, Philosopher
