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Song Of Ice And Fire

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Being a big fan of fantasy genre in general I decided to share some information about one of my favorite series: Song Of Ice and Fire, written by George R.R. Martin.

The Author: George R. R. Martin

George Raymond Richard Martin (born September 20, 1948), sometimes referred to as GRRM, is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for his A Song of Ice and Fire series.

To learn more about the author read George R.R. Martin biography .

Song Of Ice And Fire

The realm called Seven Kingdoms is a stage for a great struggle between noble houses seeking to gain control over it. And while men and women of Seven Kingdoms die in bloody wars and political schemes, in distant lands strange things are taking place.

Up in the North, beyond the Wall, ancient evil stirs. The wraiths called "Others" are coming back to haunt the realms of men. Across the great Sea the exiled queen of Westernos brings to life 3 dragons...

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Song of Ice and Fire is a story of war. Characters introduced in the books have to face many dangers, both on battle field and off. The twists and turns of the plot often take the reader in unexpected directions, which makes the read very entertaining.

The books are definitely not predictable. There is this thrill in the air, you no longer are certain that your favorite character is going to win another battle, or even live another day. It's a very unique feeling that makes Song of Ice and Fire special.

Vividly real world, complex plot and very well drawn characters are the winning attributes of the series. It's a really *epic* fantasy.

Re-reading Song of Ice and Fire blog

With imminent release of "A Dance With Dragons" many readers will hesitate. They will be asking themselves the question "Do I remember the series enough to enjoy the new book?" The most dedicated fans will re-read the entire series before reaching for Dance, but how many will be discouraged? There is no way of telling.

This is why I decided to create a blog where SoIaF fans could refresh their memory of the series without actually going through the thousands of pages of text again. For those of us that can't for one reason or another spend weeks buried nose deep in the books, the Song of Ice and Fire re-read blog should deliver a synopsis of the story, just enough for you to not feel lost when the Dance arrives at your door.

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Song Of Ice And Fire books

Currently there are 4 books published in Song of Ice and Fire series. George plans on writing three more books. Below you can find synopsis of the books released up to date.

Warning! Spoilers ahead!
A Game of Thrones
The peace brought to the Realm by Robert Baratheon ended. The King is dead and it seems that everyone has their own idea who should be the next ruler. The War of the Five Kings erupts.

Lord Renly Baratheon flees to Highgarden and there is declared King of Westeros. Robb Stark is proclaimed the King in the North by all the Stark and Tully bannermen.

Jon Snow becomes a full member of the Night Watch and Old Bear's steward. Sansa becomes a prisoner in Kings Landing, while her sister Arya is taken into protection by Yoren, recruiter of the Night Watch.

Tyrion Lannister, having escaped from the Vale becomes the Hand of the King, constantly fighting for power with his sister, Cersei. Jaimie Lannister is captured by Robb's forces at Whispering Wood.

Beyond the great sea Daenerys Targaryen is married to Khal Drogo of the Dothraki. Her brother, Viserys in a drunken rage insults Drogo, who in turn crowns him with molten gold. Daenerys loses both Drogo and her unborn son to the machinations of a magi, whom Danaerys burns in her late husband's pyre. This pyre awakens the dragons the eggs she received as a wedding gift.
A Clash of Kings
A Clash of Kings picks up where A Game of Thrones ended.

The civil war among the noble families of Stark, Lannister, and Baratheon becomes more complex when the Greyjoys enter the fight. Balon Greyjoy names himself the Iron King.

As the true blood heir to his brother's throne, Stannis Baratheon declares himself King of Westeros, encouraged by Melisandre, a red priestess. Stannis meets with his brother Renly, but they do not reach any agreement and the next day Renly dies in mysterious circumstances.

Theon Greyjoy captures Winterfell, taking Bran and Rickon Stark captive. Later Winterfell is razed to the ground by Boltons and Theon is taken captive. Bran and Rickon manage to escape death and start their journey. Osha takes Rickon to safety, while Bran accompanied by Jojen and Meera moves towards the Wall.

Arya Stark is taken by Lannister soldiers, who bring her to Harrenhal. Jaqen H'ghar, who had been a captive member of the Night Watch, repays Arya, who had previously saved his life, by helping her to take the castle from Lannisters. Roose Bolton becomes new Lord of Harrenhal. Arya serves him as a page before escaping with some of the other Night's Watch recruits.

Stannis Baratheon's army reaches King's Landing. Under Tyrion's command, this force is thrown back by cunning using wildfire. Tyrion is seriously injured during the battle. Stannis barely manages to escape after Tywin Lannister and the Tyrells come to King's Landing aid.

The Night's Watch advances northwards from the Wall to a strong defensive position known as the Fist of the First Men. Lord Commander Mormont sends Jon Snow and Qhorin Halfhand on an advanced reconnaissance of the Skirling Pass.
Halfhand commands Snow to become an oathbreaker in order to infiltrate the wildlings and learn their important secrets. Jon learns that Rayder is already advancing on the Wall with tens of thousands of fighters.

Daenerys Targaryen strikes across the forbidding red waste and reaches city of Qarth. An assassination attempt is carried out on Daenerys as she's about to leave the city, but is prevented by two agents of Illyrio Mopatis, who enter Dany's service.
A Storm of Swords
A Storm of Swords picks up the story where A Clash of Kings ended.

Jaime Lannister, freed by Catelyn Stark, is heading back to King's Landing under the protection of Brienne of Tarth. They are both captured by Brave Companions. The leader of the Companions, Vargo Hoat, chops off Jaime's sword hand. Roose Bolton frees Jaime in hopes of gaining Lannister gratitude.

King Robb breaks the word given to Walder Frey of Twins and marries a Jeyne Westerling. Because of this insult Freys enter the alliance with Lannisters and kill Robb along with his direwolf and his men during the wedding of Edmure Tully and Lord Walders daughter.

Arya Stark and her friends encounter Lord Beric Dondarrion and his Brotherhood Without Banners. Arya is captured by Sandor Clegane who decides to take her back to her family in exchange for ransom. After the Red Wedding and after she leaves Clegane to die from his wound Arya goes to Braavos to seek out Jaqen H'ghar.

In King's Landing King Joffrey marries Margaery Tyrell, however he dies of poisoning during the wedding feast. Tyrion is accused of being the poisoner. Sansa Stark, thanks to Littlefinger, escapes her captors the same night. Tyrion is condemned to death, but escapes with the help of Jaime and Varys. On his way out of the castle Tyrion stops to kill his father.

Littlefinger takes Sansa to Vale, where her aunt Lysa is starting to go mad. Finally Petyr throws Lysa through the "Moon door" to her death and blames her minstrel for the crime.

The brothers of Night Watch holding The Fist of First Men are attacked by cold wraiths - Others. Jon Snow climbs the Wall with a group of Wildlings and betrays them before they can fall upon Castle Black. The Gate is defended when Mance Rayder reaches it with his army. The siege is put to an end by arrival of King Stannis. Through the clever machinations of Samwell Tarly, Jon Snow is elected Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.

Bran Stark and Jojen and Meera Reed reach the Wall and cross under it using the secret passage. On the other side they find Coldhands, who has saved Sam and Gilly from the Others.

Daenerys buys an army of highly skilled eunuch warriors called Unsullied. Using this army she moves through Slavers bay and frees all the slaves in conquered cities.

Lady Cately Stark, who was killed in the Red Wedding with her son, King Robb, comes back to seek vengeance. She is seen in the company of knights of Brotherhood Without Banners.
A Feast for Crows
A Feast for Crows picks up the tale where A Storm of Swords left off and runs simultaneously with events in the following novel, A Dance with Dragons.

King Tommen Baratheon, Joffrey's eight-year-old brother, now rules in King's Landing under the watchful eye of his mother, the Queen Regent Cersei Lannister. Tommen is soon wed to Joffrey's widow: Margaery.

To settle the crown's debts to the Faith, Cersei agrees to the restoration of that religion's military order, the Faith Militant. A scheme to have the Faith put Margaery on trial for accusations on adultery goes wrong when the newly-powerful religious leadership arrests and imprisons Cersei herself on similar charges.

Littlefinger named himself Protector of the Vale and guardian of eight-year-old Lord Robert Arryn after he killed his mother Lysa. Sansa Stark poses as his bastard daughter Alayne.

Euron Greyjoy is chosen king on Iron Islands due to his promise that he can summon dragons that will help the islanders conquer all of Westeros. He sends his brother Victarion east to bring him Daenerys Targaryen, but Victarion plans to marry her himself.

Brienne of Tarth is captured by the Brotherhood Without Banners and is sentenced to death by her former ally Catelyn Stark, who wrongly believes Brienne has betrayed her.

Arriving in Braavos, Arya Stark finds her way to the House of Black and White, a temple associated with the assassins known as the Faceless Men.
A Dance with Dragons
This book has not been released yet and as of June 2008 there is no confirmed release date.

A Dance with Dragons picks up where A Storm of Swords left off and runs simultaneously with events in A Feast for Crows. Below is some information gathered from the sample chapters Martin posted on his website.

Tyrion Lannister has been taken by ship across the Narrow Sea to Pentos. His final goal might be Daenerys, as his host in Pentos is Illyrio Mopatis.

Roose Bolton plans to take over North marrying his bastard son with a girl impersonating Arya Stark. At the same time Littlefinger plans to give North to Sansa, once the sickly Robert of the Vale dies.
The Winds of Winter
There is no information about The Winds of Winter yet.
A Dream of Spring
There is no information about A Dream of Spring yet.

Quotes

There are many quotation in the series that will sink into your memory and give you goosebumps every time you read them. To see a comprehensive list visit Song of Ice and Fire Quotes on Fantasy Fan. The quotes below are my personal favorites.

We hold to the belief that the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.

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"Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?" he heard his own voice saying, small and far away.
And his father's voice replied to him. "That is the only time a man can be brave."

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Samwell Tarly stood shaking, his face the same color as the snow that swirled down all around them. "Three," he squeaked to Chett, "that was three, I heard three. They never blow three. Not for hundreds and thousands of years. Three means -"
" - Others."

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Mercy, thought Theon as Luwin dropped back. There's a bloody trap. Too much and they call you weak, too little and you're monstrous.

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A good act does not wash out the bad, nor a bad act the good. Each should have its own reward.
- King Stannis

Characters

It is said that readers of epic fantasy series are: (1) patient - they are left in suspense between each volume, (2) persistent - they reread or at least review the previous book(s) when a new installment comes out, (3) strong - these 700-page doorstoppers are heavy, and (4) mentally agile - they follow a host of characters through a myriad of subplots.

The last point is especially true for Song of Ice. To help you get a basic understanding of who-is-who, I've created a short guide.
Eddard Stark
Eddard "Ned" Stark is the Warden of the North, and Lord of Winterfell. You will follow the lives of his children as the story unfolds.
Robb Stark
Robb was the eldest legitimate son of Lord Eddard Stark, and heir to Winterfell. When Lord Eddard was called to King's Landing to become the King's Hand, Robb remained at Winterfell to rule in his father's stead. Later on, Robb was declared King in the North by his father's liegemen, drawing the banners of the north and of the riverlands to his cause.
Jon Snow
Jon Snow is the bastard son of Eddard Stark. Jon followed Benjen Stark and took the Black becoming a member of Night Watch, guarding The Wall. Later on Jon is voted the next Lord Commander of the Night Watch.
Brandon Stark
Bran is the son of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn Stark, the fourth eldest child but second eldest boy, therefore heir to Winterfell after his brother Robb. Bran was pushed out a tower window by Jaime Lannister after catching Jaime and Cersei together. During his coma, Bran had visions of a three-eyed crow. He can also project his consciousness into his direwolf, Summer.
Sansa Stark
Sansa is the elder daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and Lady Catelyn Stark. When her father became the Hand of the King, Sansa was betrothed to the Prince Joffrey. After King Robert's death Sansa is being held prisoner in King's Landing.
Arya Stark
Arya is the younger daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and Lady Catelyn Stark. After King Robert's death Arya escapes King's Landing and meets Jaqen H'gar, a Faceless Man, who arranged for her travel to Braavos.
Jaime Lannister
Jaime Lannister is one of the Kingsguard, sworn protectors of the King. Two years after becoming member of the Kingsguard he murdered Mad King Aerys, earning him the epithet "Kingslayer".
Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion Lannister, brother to the greatest knight in the realm, is a misshapen dwarf nicknamed "The Imp" and "The Halfman". Though Tyrion shares his father's talent for political maneuvering, he receives little respect from Tywin because of his deformity, sharp tongue, penchant for whoring, and the death of his mother during his birth.
Daenerys Targaryen
Daenerys Targaryen is younger sister of Viserys, the Targaryen king-in-exile, and hence heir to the Targaryen crown. Dany receives three petrified dragon eggs as a wedding gift. The eggs hatch and Dany becomes mother of the only 3 living dragons in the world.
Cersei Lannister
Cersei is the twin sister of Jaime Lannister. After Robert's Rebellion she married the new King, Robert Baratheon, and became Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Cersei has shared an incestuous relationship with her brother Jaime since they were youths. Her three children were all a product of this incest.

Song of Ice and Fire Trivia

If you have read the series and you want to check your knowledge take a look at the Song of Ice and Fire Trivia available on Fantasy Fan website. Currently there are two sets of questions available. Both of them contain questions about the heraldry of the Great Houses of Seven Kingdoms.

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Other books by Martin

George R.R. Martin is a very versatile author. His early days as a writer were marked by the only stories he could sell: science fiction and horror. Before he moved to Epic Fantasy he created great many worlds and tales that any of his fans should read.
The Hedge Knight
The Hedge Knight contains an all new exclusive short story by George R. R. Martin. An adaptation of Martin's hit novel, bringing the world of A Song of Ice and Fire to life in comic book form.
The Ice Dragon
The Ice Dragon marks the highly anticipated children's book debut of George R.R. Martin. Illustrated with lush, exquisitely detailed pencil drawings by acclaimed artist Yvonne Gilbert, The Ice Dragon is an unforgettable tale of courage, love, and sacrifice by one of the most honored fantasy writers of all time.
Dreamsongs: Volume I
First volume of the GRRM stories selected by Martin himself along with the creators commentary.
Dreamsongs: Volume II
Second volume of the GRRM stories selected by Martin himself along with the creators commentary.

Similar authors

It's hard to find a similar books to the unique style Martin has. The closest seem to be Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen and Glen Cook's Black Company.

Song of Ice and Fire on Amazon

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Other Fantasy Authors

Terry Brooks - Glen Cook - Steven Erikson - Raymond E. Feist - Terry Goodkind - Robin Hobb - Robert Jordan - George R.R. Martin - Christopher Paolini - Terry Pratchett - Joanne K. Rowling - Robert A. Salvatore - John R.R. Tolkien - Tad Willams - Roger Zelazny
Wheel of Time Book 12 - A Feast for Crows - discworld movies - fantasy news - Fantasy avatars - Song of Ice and Fire sample chapter - Wheel of time artwork - Warcraft: old hatreds - Warcraft avatars - Harry Potter avatars

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