A Game of Thrones is the first of seven planned novels in A Song of Ice and Fire, an epic fantasy series by American author George R. R. Martin. It was first published on 6 August 1996. The novel was nominated for the 1998 Nebula Award and the 1997 World Fantasy Award, and won the 1997 Locus Award. The novella Blood of the Dragon, comprising the Daenerys Targaryen chapters from the novel, won the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Novella. Image File history File links AGameOfThrones. ... George Raymond Richard Martin, sometimes called GRRM, born September 20, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey is an American author and screenwriter of science fiction, horror, and fantasy. ... Paul and Stephen Youll are brothers and artists. ... For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A Song of Ice and Fire (commonly abbreviated as ASoIaF) is a series of epic fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin. ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ... A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ... Bantam Books is a major U.S. publishing house owned by Random House and is part of the Bantam Dell Publishing Group. ... HarperCollins is a publishing organization owned by News Corporation. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Hardcover books A hardcover (or hardback or hardbound) is a book bound with rigid protective covers (typically of cardboard covered with cloth, heavy paper, or sometimes leather). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... ISBN redirects here. ... A Clash of Kings is the second of seven planned novels in A Song of Ice and Fire, an epic fantasy series by American author George R. R. Martin. ... A Song of Ice and Fire (commonly abbreviated as ASoIaF) is a series of epic fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin. ... High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction that is set in invented or parallel worlds. ... George Raymond Richard Martin, sometimes called GRRM, born September 20, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey is an American author and screenwriter of science fiction, horror, and fantasy. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The Nebula is an award given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the two previous years (see rolling eligibility below). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... First awarded in 1975, the World Fantasy Awards are handed out annually at the World Fantasy Convention (WFC) to recognize outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy. ... The Locus Awards are presented to winners of Locus Magazines annual readers poll, which was established in the early 70s specifically to provide recommendations and suggestions to Hugo Awards voters. ... The 2005 Hugo Award with base designed by Deb Kosiba. ...

The novel lends its name to several spin-off items based on the novels, including a trading card game, board game and roleplaying game. A Game of Thrones is a collectible card game produced by Fantasy Flight Games, the game is based on the A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series by George R. R. Martin. ... A Game of Thrones is a strategy board game created by Christian T. Petersen and released by Fantasy Flight Games in 2003. ... A Game of Thrones is a role-playing game produced by Guardians of Order, the game is based on the A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series by George R. R. Martin. ...

Plot introduction

A Game of Thrones is set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, a land reminiscent of Medieval Europe. In Westeros the seasons last for years, sometimes decades, at a time. Westeros is one of the three continents described in George R. R. Martins fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

Fifteen years prior to the novel, the Seven Kingdoms were torn apart by a civil war, known alternately as "Robert's Rebellion" and the "War of the Usurper." Prince Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped Lyanna Stark, arousing the ire of her family and of her betrothed, Lord Robert Baratheon (the war's titular rebel). The Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen, had Lyanna's father and eldest brother executed when they demanded her safe return. Her second brother, Eddard, joined his boyhood friend Robert Baratheon and Jon Arryn, with whom they had been fostered as children, in declaring war against the Targaryens, securing the allegiances of House Tully and House Arryn through a network of dynastic marriages (Lord Eddard to Catelyn Tully and Lord Jon Arryn to Lysa Tully). The powerful House Tyrell continued to support the King, but House Lannister and House Martell both dragged their feet due to insults against their houses by the King. The civil war climaxed with the Battle of the Trident, when Prince Rhaegar was killed in battle by Robert Baratheon. The Lannisters finally agreed to support King Aerys, but then brutally turned against him, sacking the capital at King's Landing. Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard executed King Aerys and House Lannister swore loyalty to Robert Baratheon. The Tyrells and remaining royalists surrendered and Robert Baratheon was declared King of the Seven Kingdoms. Unfortunately, during the war, Lyanna Stark had died, apparently of illness; Robert Baratheon instead married Cersei Lannister to cement the alliance. Despite Robert's victory, the Mad King's youngest son Viserys and youngest daughter Daenerys were taken to safety across the sea by loyal retainers. After the war House Martell chose a path of isolation, since Prince Doran's sister Elia (Prince Rhaegar's wife) and her young children had been killed by Lannister armsmen during the storming of the capital. The War of the Usurper (circa 282-283 AL), also known as Roberts Rebellion, is a fictional war in American fantasy author George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels. ... Image:Targaryen Sigil. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Baratheon is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... Image:Targaryen Sigil. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Tully is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Arryn is a fictional family in George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Tully is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Arryn is a fictional family in George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Tully is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Tyrell is a fictional family in George R. R. Martins epic fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Lannister is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire book series. ... House Martell is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... The War of the Usurper (circa 282-283 AL), also known as Roberts Rebellion, is a fictional war in American fantasy author George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels. ... The War of the Usurper (circa 282-283 AL), also known as Roberts Rebellion, is a fictional war in American fantasy author George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels. ... House Lannister is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire book series. ... House Lannister is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire book series. ... Image:Targaryen Sigil. ... Daenerys Targaryen is a fictional character from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Martell is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Martell is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ...

Six years later King Robert proved his resolve by defeating a rebellion by Lord Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands. Balon's two eldest sons were killed and his youngest son, Theon, was given to the care of Eddard Stark as a ward. The fictional history of George R. R. Martins fantasy epic A Song of Ice and Fire includes a number of major wars. ... House Greyjoy is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Greyjoy is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ...

Plot summary

A Game of Thrones follows three principal storylines as they develop in tandem with one another. The novel begins in the year 298 AL (After Landing) and continues for many months, probably into the early months of 299 AL.

In the Seven Kingdoms

Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and the North, attends the execution of a man of the Night's Watch who has betrayed his vows and fled from the Wall. His sons Robb and Bran, his bastard son Jon Snow, and his ward Theon Greyjoy all attend. After the beheading, Robb finds a dead direwolf (the symbol of House Stark), killed by the antlers of a stag (the symbol of House Baratheon), which had given birth to five pups before it died. Robb and his brothers ask to keep them and Eddard consents, on the condition that the children themselves take care of them, rather than leaving the matter to the servants of House Stark. There are five pups, one for each of Eddard's trueborn children: Robb names his Grey Wind and Bran names his Summer, whilst Eddard's daughters Sansa and Arya name theirs Lady and Nymeria respectively. Eddard's youngest, three-year-old Rickon, names his Shaggydog. Unexpectedly, Jon finds a sixth pup lying separately nearby: an albino runt with white fur and red eyes. Jon claims this one, Ghost, for himself. The Nights Watch is an organization dedicated to defending the realms of man in George R.R. Martins epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Greyjoy is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... Binomial name Canis dirus Leidy, 1858 The dire wolf (Canis dirus) is an extinct member of the genus Canis (wolves, coyotes, jackals, and domestic dogs), and was most common in North America during the pleistocene. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Baratheon is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... Albinism is a genetic condition resulting in a lack of pigmentation in the eyes, skin and hair. ...

King Robert Baratheon arrives at Winterfell with his court and many retainers, including his wife, Queen Cersei of House Lannister, and his children: Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen. The queen's twin brother, Ser Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard, and their younger brother Tyrion, the Imp (so named for his dwarfism), also accompany the group. Robert asks Eddard to become the new Hand of the King after the death of the previous office holder, Lord Jon Arryn. Eddard and his wife Catelyn learn from Catelyn's sister Lysa Arryn that the Lannisters had Jon Arryn murdered. Bran witnesses Jaime and Cersei having sex, so Jaime pushes Bran from a high window. Eddard reluctantly agrees to become the new Hand of the King and travels south with his daughters Sansa and Arya, leaving Catelyn, Robb, Bran (now in a coma) and Rickon at home. Jon Snow elects to travel north to the Wall to join the Night's Watch and is joined by Tyrion, who is eager to see the fabled construction for himself. House Lannister is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire book series. ... House Baratheon is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Baratheon is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Baratheon is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Lannister is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire book series. ... For other uses, see Coma (disambiguation). ...

After Eddard leaves for the south, an attempt is made on Bran's life, thwarted only by the direwolf Summer. Catelyn realizes that Bran must have seen something and been pushed from the window deliberately, and that the would-be murderers are trying to cover their tracks. She travels by sea to King's Landing and is informed by her childhood friend Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish that the dagger used in the assassination attempt was his own before he lost it in a bet to Tyrion Lannister. Traveling north again, Catelyn and her retainers encounter Tyrion by chance in an inn (as he returns south from the Wall) and take him captive to the Eyrie, where Lady Lysa places him on trial. Tyrion outwits Lysa to win his freedom in trial by battle when one of the mercenaries that helped capture him, a sellsword named Bronn, becomes his champion and kills Lysa's champion. Many of the major and minor characters in George R. R. Martins series A Song of Ice and Fire belong to one of the major houses of Westeros, and are described on the page for that house. ... For other uses, see Mercenary (disambiguation). ... Many of the major and minor characters in George R. R. Martins series A Song of Ice and Fire belong to one of the major houses of Westeros, and are described on the page for that house. ...

In the capital at King's Landing, Eddard investigates Jon's death and learns that Jon Arryn and King Robert's brother, Lord Stannis Baratheon, had discovered that King Robert's three children were actually the products of an incestuous liaison between Queen Cersei and her twin brother Jaime. Spurning the advice of Robert's other brother Renly to take Cersei into custody, Eddard instead tries mercy by offering Cersei the chance to flee. King Robert dies of a mishap engineered by Cersei whilst hunting and Cersei's eldest son Joffrey is proclaimed King before Eddard can pass the crown to Stannis, Robert's true heir. When Eddard moves against him, he is betrayed by Littlefinger. Eddard reluctantly agrees to sign a false confession of treason in return for Sansa and Arya's lives and the chance to go into exile on the Wall. Joffrey promises Sansa that he will show mercy, then reverses course and has Eddard brutally executed. Whilst Sansa is retained in custody, Arya manages to escape with the help of Yoren, a recruiting agent for the Night's Watch. House Baratheon is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Baratheon is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... The Nights Watch is an organization dedicated to defending the realms of man in George R.R. Martins epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. ...

A civil war, later dubbed the War of the Five Kings, erupts. Robb Stark leads an army of northmen into the Riverlands to support Lord Hoster Tully, whose forces came under attack by Lord Tywin Lannister after Catelyn took Tyrion prisoner. Riverrun, the Tully stronghold, is besieged by an army under Jaime Lannister, whilst Lord Tywin holds a large army south of the River Trident to prevent Robb's advance. Robb and Catelyn win the support of House Frey by agreeing to a dynastic marriage among numerous other concessions. This allows him to detach his cavalry and cross the Green Fork whilst his infantry carries on to the Trident under Lord Roose Bolton, one of Robb's bannermen. Tywin, joined by the liberated Tyrion (who has won the support of the mountain clans of the Vale), defeats the Stark footmen before learning that Robb has outmaneuvered him. Shortly afterwards Robb's forces surprise and capture Jaime Lannister before smashing the Lannister army at the Whispering Wood outside Riverrun. Tywin falls back on the strong castle of Harrenhal and orders Tyrion to go to King's Landing where he will effectively rule using Tywin's authority as Hand of the King. The War of the Five Kings is a fictional war that takes place in American fantasy author George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels. ... House Tully is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Frey is a fictional family in George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Bolton is a fictional family in George R. R. Martins epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. ...

Lord Renly Baratheon flees south from King's Landing to Highgarden, stronghold of the powerful House Tyrell, and there is declared King of Westeros by acclamation, becoming the second of the war's five kings. Robb Stark becomes the third, when he is proclaimed the King in the North by all the Stark and Tully bannermen present.

On the Wall

In the prologue, three men of the Night's Watch, led by Ser Waymar Royce, are ranging in the lands beyond the Wall. They stumble across the massacred bodies of several wildlings. They are confronted by several creatures of ice, the fabled 'Others' of legend. Ser Waymar fights one, but is killed. The second man, Will, investigates Royce's corpse only for it to come to life and strangle him. The third, Gared, is so terrified of what he sees that he flees south to the Wall and then beyond. He is the deserter executed by Ned Stark in the first chapter of the book proper. The Nights Watch is an organization dedicated to defending the realms of man in George R.R. Martins epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. ...

Jon Snow chooses to join the Night's Watch after his father departs for King's Landing and travels north with his uncle Benjen Stark, the First Ranger of the Watch. At the Wall Jon finds that the Watch is beset with problems. A new King-beyond-the-Wall has arisen in the northern lands to rally the wildlings to his banner. This man, Mance Rayder, was once a brother of the Watch before fleeing to join the wildlings. Jon also learns that the Watch is grievously under strength, mustering barely a thousand men to cover the three hundred miles of the Wall, and its manpower is now made up of murderers and criminals who chose the Wall over execution or imprisonment. Some time after Jon's arrival, Benjen vanishes whilst on a ranging beyond the Wall. House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... Many of the major and minor characters in George R. R. Martins series A Song of Ice and Fire belong to one of the major houses of Westeros, and are described on the page for that house. ...

Jon and many of the other younger men are remorselessly bullied by the master-at-arms, Alliser Thorne, but Jon concocts a plan for them to stand up to him. Jon wins the friendship of Samwell Tarly, a craven but intelligent boy from the Reach, and also that of Maester Aemon. Jon is startled to learn that Aemon is a member of House Targaryen, the grand-uncle of the now-deposed Mad King Aerys II, and (according to A Feast for Crows) the oldest man alive in Westeros. Many of the major and minor characters in George R. R. Martins series A Song of Ice and Fire belong to one of the major houses of Westeros, and are described on the page for that house. ... Cowardice is a vice. ... Image:Targaryen Sigil. ... A Feast for Crows is the fourth of seven planned novels in A Song of Ice and Fire, an epic fantasy series by American author George R. R. Martin. ...

Jon is eventually promoted to the status of full brother of the Night's Watch, but is dismayed that, instead of being sent to the rangers, he has been made a steward, servant to the Lord Commander of the Watch, Jeor Mormont. Sam points out that this is not an insult; "the Old Bear" is going to keep Jon close, as fathers keep their heirs nearby. Jon is being groomed for command. While Jon (and Sam) say their vows just beyond the Wall, Ghost returns with evidence that the corpses of two of Benjen Stark's men are nearby. The corpses are carried back to Castle Black, where they come back to life and attack the Commander's Tower, including Mormont. Jon succeeds in (re-)killing the wight by burning it. Shaken, Mormont resolves to lead the Watch beyond the Wall in strength to test Mance Rayder's strength. Although news of his father's death causes Jon to doubt his calling, he decides his place is with the Watch. Mormont takes this time to pass down the Valyrian-steel sword of House Mormont, Longclaw, which Jon will bear henceforth. Many of the major and minor characters in George R. R. Martins series A Song of Ice and Fire belong to one of the major houses of Westeros, and are described on the page for that house. ... Wight is a Middle English word for a creature or a living being, especially a human being. ...

In the East

In the Free City of Pentos, Magister Illyrio Mopatis and the exiled Prince Viserys Targaryen conspire to sell Viserys' thirteen-year-old sister Daenerys in marriage to Khal Drogo of the Dothraki. Drogo commands a clan of forty thousand mounted warriors whom Viserys plans to use to reclaim his homeland from the usurper Robert Baratheon. Among the wedding gifts are three petrified dragon eggs from Ilyrio. Unexpectedly, Daenerys and Drogo find love as they journey east into the vast grasslands of the Dothraki sea, and Daenerys becomes pregnant with a son, to be named Rhaego after her dead brother. Ser Jorah Mormont, son of the Lord Commander of the Watch and a knight exiled from Westeros for dealing in slaves, joins Viserys' entourage as an advisor on the current state of the Seven Kingdoms. Many of the major and minor characters in George R. R. Martins series A Song of Ice and Fire belong to one of the major houses of Westeros, and are described on the page for that house. ... Many of the major and minor characters in George R. R. Martins series A Song of Ice and Fire belong to one of the major houses of Westeros, and are described on the page for that house. ...

Viserys becomes angry about how long he must wait before Drogo decides to invade Westeros and, in a drunken rage, insults Drogo grievously. Drogo decides to crown him right there—with molten gold. Daenerys picks up her brother's quest to reclaim the Iron Throne, but Drogo is just as obstinate with the moon of his life as he was with the Beggar King. The tables turn when a Westerosi assassin, in the pay of King Robert, nearly kills her and their unborn child; a furious Drogo agrees to invade Westeros. However, during a warm-up raid on the peaceful Lhazareen, Drogo takes a wound which festers. Daenerys loses both Drogo and her unborn son to the machinations of a Lhazareen witch, who Danaerys has burned in her late husband's pyre. Daenerys had previously felt the eggs and found them warm to her touch, though no one else could feel the warmth. Before she had placed them in a small fire and thought that the flames made something in the eggs alive. While the witch was being burned she placed the eggs in the very hot fire. Incredibly, the eggs hatch, and Daenerys Targaryen, the Stormborn, becomes mother to the first three dragons seen in the world for one hundred and sixty years.

Viewpoint characters

All of the novels in the series use a system whereby each chapter concentrates on one character in a third person limited point of view. Correspondingly, each chapter bears the name of the current POV character (ex. "Bran," "Catelyn," "Daenerys") with the story flipping back and forth between the main characters. In literature and storytelling, a point of view is the related experience of the narrator — not that of the author. ...

The tale of A Game of Thrones is told through the eyes of 8 POV characters and a one-off prologue POV.

• Prologue: Will, a man of the Night's Watch.
• Lord Eddard Stark, Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell, Hand of the King.
• Lady Catelyn Stark, of House Tully, wife of Eddard Stark.
• Sansa Stark, elder daughter of Eddard and Catelyn Stark.
• Arya Stark, younger daughter of Eddard and Catelyn Stark.
• Bran Stark, middle of three sons of Eddard and Catelyn Stark.
• Jon Snow, bastard son of Eddard Stark.
• Tyrion Lannister, a dwarf, Queen Cersei's brother and son of Lord Tywin Lannister.
• Daenerys Targaryen, Stormborn, the Princess of Dragonstone and heiress to the Targaryen throne through her older brother Viserys.

The Nights Watch is an organization dedicated to defending the realms of man in George R.R. Martins epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... Much of the action in George R.R. Martins epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire takes place in and around various strongholds of note on the continent of Westeros. ... House Tully is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Tully is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Stark is a fictional noble family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... House Lannister is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire book series. ... House Lannister is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire book series. ... House Lannister is a fictional family from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire book series. ... Daenerys Targaryen is a fictional character from George R. R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire. ... Image:Targaryen Sigil. ... Image:Targaryen Sigil. ...

Allusions/references to other works

One of Martin's earliest attempts at writing a fantasy story was 'Dark Gods of Kor-Yuban', which was never published. The two heroes of the short story are the exiled 'Prince R'hllor of Raugg' and his boisterous, swaggering companion 'Argilac the Arrogant'. In an abandoned sequel Argilac teams up with Barron, the Bloody Blade of the Dothrak Empire, to slay the winged demons who killed Barron's grandfather Barristan the Bold. Most of these names reoccur in A Game of Thrones: R'hllor is the red god worshiped in the east (although not specifically named until A Clash of Kings); Argilac the Arrogant was the last Storm King thrown down by the Targaryens; the Dothrak Empire became the Dothraki horse-riders of the eastern plains; and Barristan the Bold was recast as Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard. Martin covers the origin of these characters and names in his essay 'The Heirs of Turtle Castle' in Dreamsongs: A RRetrospective.

Editions

In June 2000 Meisha Merlin released a limited edition of the book, fully illustrated by Jeffrey Jones. For other uses, see June (disambiguation). ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Meisha Merlin Publishing is an independent publishing company founded in 1996 by Stephen Pagel, Kevin Murphy, and Brian Murphy. ...

Foreign language editions

• Bulgarian
• Catalan: Devir Contenidos (2006): "La mà del rei"
• Chinese
• Croatian
• Czech
• Dutch: Luitingh-Sijthoff (1997): "Het spel der tronen"
• Estonian: Varrak (2006): "Troonide mäng"
• Finnish: "Valtaistuinpeli" (2003)
• French: Two volumes (hardcover: Pygmalion (1998, 1999); paperback: J'ai Lu (2001)) "Le trône de fer", "Le donjon rouge".
• German: Single volume, Fantasy Productions (2004): "Eisenthron". Two volumes, Goldmann (1997, 1998): "Die Herren von Winterfell", "Das Erbe von Winterfell"
• Greek
• Hebrew: משחקי הכס
• Hungarian: Single volume, Alexandra: "Trónok harca"
• Italian: Two volumes, Mondadori (hardcover: 1999, 2000; paperback: 2001): "Il trono di spade", "Il grande inverno"; as a single volume titled "Il gioco del trono" in the collection Urania Fantasy. Le grandi saghe (July 2007)
• Japanese
• Korean
• Polish: Zysk (1998): "Gra o tron"
• Portuguese: Two volumes: Saída de Emergência (2007): "A Guerra dos Tronos", "A Muralha de Gelo". Partial and pirate edition: Entre Letras Editora (2002): "A Muralha" (1st part only)
• Romanian: : Two volumes: "Urzeala tronurilor" (2007)
• Russian: Single volume, AST (2001, 2004, 2007): "Игра престолов". Two volumes, AST (1999): "Игра престолов. Книга 1", "Игра престолов. Книга 2".
• Serbian: "Igra Prestola" (2003)
• Slovenian: "Igra Prestolov" (2007)
• Spanish: Gigamesh (2002): "Juego de tronos"
• Swedish: Two volumes, Forum: "I vargens tid", "Kampen om järntronen". Single volume, Forum (2005): "Kampen om järntronen"
• Turkish: Buz ve Ateşin Şarkısı Serisi: "Taht Oyunları" (2005)

Catalan IPA: (català IPA: or []) is a Romance language, the national language of Andorra, and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia, and in the city of LAlguer in the Italian island of Sardinia. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... “Hebrew” redirects here. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... First number of Romanzi di Urania Urania is an Italian science fiction magazine published by Mondadori since October 10, 1952. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... This article is about the year. ... Serbian (; ) is one of the standard versions of the Shtokavian dialect, used primarily in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and by Serbs in the Serbian diaspora. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Literary significance & criticism

• Wagner, T. M.. SF Reviews.Net.
• Seidman, James. SF Site.
• Silver, Steven H.. SFF World.

Awards and nominations

• Locus Award – Best Novel (Fantasy) (Won) – (1997)
• World Fantasy Award – Best Novel (Nominated) – (1997)
• Hugo Award – Best Novella for Blood of the Dragon (Won) – (1997)
• Nebula Award – Best Novel (Nominated) – (1997)
• Ignotus Award – Best Novel (Foreign) (Won) – (2003)

The Locus Awards are presented to winners of Locus Magazines annual readers poll, which was established in the early 70s specifically to provide recommendations and suggestions to Hugo Awards voters. ... First awarded in 1975, the World Fantasy Awards are handed out annually at the World Fantasy Convention (WFC) to recognize outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy. ... The 2005 Hugo Award with base designed by Deb Kosiba. ... The Nebula is an award given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the two previous years (see rolling eligibility below). ...

External links

• Book Summary by Vincent Briscuso