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A Game of Thrones
by

George RR Martin

Ravi Shankar
Semester 1 B
Roll No. 705
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Introduction
A Game of Thrones is the first novel in A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of fantasy novels
by American author George R. R. Martin. It was first published on August 1, 1996.

In the novel, recounting events from various points of view, Martin introduces the plot-lines
of the noble houses of Westeros, the Wall, and the Targaryens . Each chapter is told from
the point of view of one of the characters . This allows the writer to explore the mind and
thoughts of the character .

Genre : High Fantasy ,Medieval politics ,horror .

Age : 18 +
Year of Publication : 1996

The central character is Lord Eddard 'Ned‘ Stark of Winterfell . The

novel focuses on his reign as the Hand of the King as he tries to
maintain peace and stability in Westeros . The parallel plot lines
involve a teenage daughter of a king long dethroned and dead
and the mystical Wall , a 700 foot tall structure carved out of ice
that protects the kingdoms from the ancient monsters beyond it’s
boundaries .

Summary of the Plot

The novel is told from the point of view of 8 different characters in 3 continents which are :
Westeros , The Wall and Essos .

Westeros : Eddard Stark is appointed as the Hand of the King . An honest and
honourable man , he discovers plots and lies that could sabotage the future of Westeros .

Essos : Young Danaerys Targaryen , Daughter of a king who died in a rebellion years ago
aims to conquer Westeros , and restore the rule of the House Targaryen . She is in exile
living in Essos , a continent separated from Westeros by an ocean .

The Wall : Jon Snow , illegitimate son of Eddard Stark join The Night Watch , an
organisation that protects Westeros from the perils beyond the wall . The novel focuses on
his training and adventures of the men of the said organisation .
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Review

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.

Martin’s epic fantasy series, ‘A Song of Ice and Fire,’ has

managed to – in both scope and creativity, – capture and
recreate the story that started in Martin’s head. Some
authors try, and fail miserably. Some capture and recreate
perfectly, but the author’s scope is minimal.
For Martin though, in scope, creativity, and writing ability, A
Song of Ice and Fire is everything you want in an epic
fantasy tale.
The first book, ‘A Game of Thrones,’ was first released in 1996, and since then another 4
books have been released. Set in a world very akin to our own medieval history,
specifically the English War of the Roses, A Game of Thrones introduces us to one of the
greatest (and largest) character lists around.
The story is told from eight perspectives. Each perspective is held within a chapter which,
when the characters move away from each other, allows the author to continually leave
minor cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter.
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While six of the characters from this first book are from the same family, the perspective is
shifted around in preceding books. Death is commonplace, almost to the point of horror,
but conducted in such a way that it, sadly, reminds us of our own bloody histories. Martin
does not shy away from the death, rape and plunder that would have been norm for the
setting and in doing so provides a much more
complete story.
Mindless destruction is often the cause for character
splits and confrontations, and by the end of the book
characters you assumed you would be attached too
for some time are left headless, gutless or simply
gone.
Throughout the entire series Martin focuses almost
primarily upon one continent. However there is one
character, Daenerys Targaryen, who has been forced
to flee to a separate continent as a young girl. At first
I remember feeling disorientated and a little slighted
at seemingly being provided this perspective which
seemed nothing short of pointless. However as I
have continued to read, she has become one of my
favourite characters.
‘A Game of Thrones’ is without a doubt one of the
most involved and simultaneously enjoyable books I have ever read. Dense to the point of
labour, but captivating well past my bed time, Martin knows exactly where to draw the line
between lots of information and tedious boredom.
If you like Tolkien, or if you like the idea of an epic fantasy series, then you must pick up ‘A
Game of Thrones’ as soon as possible. Martin’s ability to create a world both entertaining
and disastrously realistic is nothing short of mind numbingly brilliant.

The novel, A Game of Thrones, begins with an encounter with supernatural beings; this
may give a false impression
as to what will come. As the story begins to unfold, the theme moves strongly into the
area of political intrigue and this forthcoming
war that will happen as a result. The fantasy
element, while always there plays only a
minor role in the majority of the rest of the
book.

A Game of Thrones in not your usual fare, it is

hard-hitting and bad things do happen to the
good people. Two families take centre stage
in a battle for the Throne; the Starks and the
Lannisters. The Stark family live in the cold
hard North, Winterfell is the seat of their
domain. We are, using chapters headlined
with the family names, introduced to the Stark
family. Once we have familiarised ourselves
with the Stark’s, King Robert and his family visit them at Winterfell. King Robert is married
to a Lannister, Queen Cersei. The King’s main reason for visiting is to offer Eddard Stark
the honour of becoming his Hand (most trusted advisor). Eddard unhappily accepts and
he must move to King’s Landing in the South.
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Eddard Stark’s young son Bran is injured during the King’s visit, whilst this is originally
thought to be an accident that occurred when he was climbing it becomes apparent that
the Lannisters played a part in this tragedy.
In an interesting sub-plot Jon Snow, Eddard’s illegitimate son, joins the “Black” or the
“Night’s Watch”, a company of men who’s role is to guard a huge wall of ice in the far
North. He is accompanied there by Tyrion Lannister, a dwarf. Although they do not
become friends they end up with a grudging respect for each other. Once Jon has

pledged himself to the “Black” he must forsake friends, family, marriage and children and
his whole life will be spent in the protection of Land.
With Eddard now in place as the King’s Hand, tensions rise between himself and the
Lannisters. Then, suddenly one day, the King is killed hunting wild boar and Eddard and
the Lannister are drawn into a battle for the throne.
Finally, at the end, the fantasy element once again returns and we are left looking forward
to the second instalment.

The Good

1. Interesting and multi dimensional characters .

2. The world of Westeros and Essos .
3. The unexpected ending . One of the most unconentional takes in a genre suffering
from banality .

The Bad

1. Complex prose . Sometimes too complex .

2. Over indulgence on the part of Martin as far as describing locations , especially
rooms and dinner tables . He spends way too many words describingg the most
mundane details . Overall Rating : 9/10
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About the author George RR Martin

George Raymond Richard Martin (born George Raymond Martin; September 20, 1948),
often referred to as GRRM, is an American novelist and short-story writer in the fantasy,
horror, and science fiction genres, a screenwriter, and television producer. He is best
known for his international bestselling series of epic fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and
Fire, which was later adapted into the HBO dramatic series Game of Thrones.

Martin's work is a combination of complex story lines,

fascinating characters, great dialogue and perfect pacing". It
has been rightly observed as a "fantasy for grown
ups”.Martin's first novel, Dying of the Light, set the tone for
some of his future work; it unfolds on a mostly abandoned
planet that is slowly becoming uninhabitable as it moves
away from its sun. This story has a strong sense of
melancholy. His characters are often unhappy or, at least,
unsatisfied, in many cases holding on to idealisms in spite of
an otherwise chaotic and ruthless world, and often troubled by their own self-seeking or
violent actions, even as they undertake them. Many have elements of tragic heroes or
antiheroes in them . These aforementioned elements can be observed in his subsequent
works including the novel A Game of Thrones .