A Game of Thrones

by George R.R. Martin, George R. R. Martin

Paperback, 704 pages

English language

Published March 4, 2011 by Spectra.

ISBN:: 978-0-553-38168-9
OCLC Number:: 551650731

(128 reviews)

Here 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 THRONES

Long 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. --back cover

46 editions

Anirudh S reviewed George R. R. Martin`s Game of Thrones Colouring Book by George R.R. Martin

Review of 'George R. R. Martin`s Game of Thrones Colouring Book' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Characters in grey abound in this book. There are few characters (like Lord Ned) who are in white or black. That's part of the beauty of this book. Don't expect spells and enchantments in this book. The Magic is understated and oft hidden. The magic bearers mostly choose to work behind the scenes here. George R R Martin weaves a strong story around his strong characters. In essence the book is what the title says - a Game of Thrones. People fight for the right to rule - the events in the story are a consequence of this hunger. It has everything that you could ask for - betrayal, sex, murder. It's set in a Universe where knights and lords rule over the land.

Brilliant start to the series. I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series and find out what happens next.

AnotherRebecca reviewed George R. R. Martin`s Game of Thrones Colouring Book by George R.R. Martin

Review of 'George R. R. Martin`s Game of Thrones Colouring Book' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

What a fantastic read--I'm anxiously awaiting the next volume in the saga and hoping the library queue moves quickly. I may wind up buying these.

chadkoh reviewed George R. R. Martin`s Game of Thrones Colouring Book by George R.R. Martin

Review of 'George R. R. Martin`s Game of Thrones Colouring Book' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Took a little while to get used to the narrator, but then I couldn't stop listening. I am glad I saw the tv series first, which helped me get over the narrator's style.

windchime reviewed A Game of Thrones: The 20th Anniversary Illustrated Edition [Hardcover] [Jan 01, 2016] George R. R. Martin by George R.R. Martin

Review of 'A Game of Thrones: The 20th Anniversary Illustrated Edition [Hardcover] [Jan 01, 2016] George R. R. Martin' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This is the first book in one of the best epic fantasy series around, A Song of Ice and Fire. It has also recently been adapted into the first season of an equally epic TV series, Game of Thrones, which I highly recommend watching if you haven't already. And if you're coming to the book series as a fan of the TV show, then the books will give you plenty of additional details and background to feast on.

The characters and places that George R R Martin introduces us to in this book are richly and lovingly rendered in believable detail. The world of the books is a dark and often brutal one; good things do not necessarily come to good people simply because they are good, and the game of thrones of the title is a bloody one where every action has its consequences. The characters are rarely black and white, good and evil; what they are is people, with all the flaws and failings that real people have. They are also fascinating, interesting people, and you care about what happens to them.

If you like your fantasy dark, gritty, political, epic and on occasions downright grim - and, obviously, I do - then I cannot recommend these books highly enough.

fiainros reviewed George R. R. Martin`s Game of Thrones Colouring Book by George R.R. Martin

Review of 'George R. R. Martin`s Game of Thrones Colouring Book' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

What a very dense book! I'm not sure if I really liked it or not, actually. I don't like how you aren't always sure what happens at the end of a chapter. In one case I thought Bran was dead, in another, Ned. But I was mistaken. A friend said she thought Martin tends to throw characters away. I am displeased with the fate of who appeared to be the main character, the driving force, of this book.

There are a lot of characters, which is okay. Unfortunately, if several chapters have gone by since visiting them last, it takes me a bit to remember what was going on. A book this size could take maybe 3 weeks to read, but it took 2 months! I don't know if that speaks to my very busy schedule with work and life and training, or if that speaks to the not quite as easy read that is Martin.

My other complaint is that the book does not feel ended at the ending. I have waiting books, due to rings, and just some stand alone books I was going to read interwoven with this series, and instead, I went right to the next book to read to see if anything gets wrapped up early in the novel.

However, it is a very well written book and engaging. Even on the characters that I don't much like, I'm interested in finding out more about them. Also good when you go from liking a character to disliking to liking again and vice versa. There are tons of twists and there isn't much the reader sees coming. I highly recommend this book.