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A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One Audiobook
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Plot Summary
Winter is coming...
Sinister forces are descending upon the Seven Kingdoms, a mysterious land where warm summers can stretch over decades and treacherously brutal winters can last a lifetime. And at the center of this epic adventure is Winterfell, the great kingdom of the north led by the noble Stark family. As winter approaches, Ned Stark, the strong-willed but fair-minded Lord of Winterfell, is offered the prestigious post of "Hand of the King" (the king's most trusted and highly ranked adviser). This sets the stage for an epic tale that finds the Stark family thrust into an awe-inspiring world of political intrigue, sorcery, and a brutal war between the kingdoms. Deftly weaving a multiple storylines, each immensely fascinating in its own right, into a cohesive and immensely compelling story, A Game of Thrones is arguably one of the finest epic fantasy novels to be published in recent years.
Breathtaking in its scope and breadth, A Game of Thrones serves as an excellent beginning to the epic series "A Song of Ice and Fire", a fantastic world of intrigue and mystery that could only have sprung from the brilliant mind of acclaimed author George R. R. Martin. And there's no better way to be introduced to the world of the Seven Kingdoms than through this brilliantly narrated unabridged audiobook adaptation!
"I watched the HBO series first, and then I read the book. I think this (achronological) order was a good choice for me because when I read fantasy novels, I often feel overwhelmed and ultimately give up because I have trouble remembering all the characters. By watching the series first, however, I was able to track all the different characters because I had a picture in my mind of who they were, and I had little difficulty following the long and winding plot because I had a general idea of where it was going. Therefore, my reading experience centered on the hidden nooks that either weren't in the show or, if they were, I had forgotten. I was also able to give some of my attention to the writing, which I enjoyed and is probably what I'm looking forward to most in the next book."
— Joe (4 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONES
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.
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Quotes
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“Such a splendid tale and such a fantasticorical.”
— Anne McCaffrey, New York Times bestselling author -
“The major fantasy of the decade…compulsively readable.”
— Denver Post -
“We have been invited to a grand feast and pageant: George R. R. Martin has unveiled for us an intensely realized, romantic but realistic world.”
— Chicago Sun-Times -
“Magic…George R. R. Martin’s first fantasy epic [is set] well above the norms of the genre.”
— Locus -
“Martin makes a triumphant return to high fantasy…[with] superbly developed characters, accomplished prose, and sheer bloodymindedness.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“A splendid saga…Inventive and intricately plotted.”
— BookPage -
The major fantasy of the decade . . . compulsively readable.
— Denver Post -
We have been invited to a grand feast and pageant: George R.R. Martin has unveiled for us an intensely realized, romantic but realistic world.
— Chicago Sun-Times -
A Best Book of 1996: Martin makes a triumphant return to high fantasy . . . [with] superbly developed characters, accomplished prose, and sheer bloodymindedness.
— Publishers Weekly, starred review -
A splendid saga . . . . Inventive and intricately plotted.
— BookPage -
Magic . . . George R.R.Martin's first fantasy epic [is set] well above the norms of the genre.
— Locus -
Such a splendid tale and such a fantasticorical! I read my eyes out and couldn't stop 'til I finished and it was dawn.
— Anne McCaffrey
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A USA Today bestseller
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A Los Angeles Times bestseller
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A 1997 World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel
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A New York Times audio bestseller
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A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
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A New York Public Library Staff Pick of Favorite Books of the Last 125 Years
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Winner of Locus Awards, 1997
A Game of Thrones Listener Reviews
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" I was so disappointed with this audiobook. The narrator seemed only marginally interested in what he was reading. BUT what really got to me was his interpretation of Tyrion Lannister as a working class Yorkshireman while giving his siblings suitable aristocratic voices. I could not bear it and stopped listening. I regret buying this audiobook. "
— Victoria, 9/30/2023 -
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Tim Plunkett, 2/10/2023
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Trinity, 2/9/2023
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Joog, 10/26/2022
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tim packard, 8/25/2021
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Jjoe, 6/2/2021
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" The first novel in the Song of Ice and Fire series, this book launched the monster that is Game of Thrones. Martin is a masterful storyteller, and this novel brilliantly sets the stage for all that is to come. I admit to watching the show first, but the books far exceed the show as they normally do. Narration is very good and makes listening that much better. "
— JMP, 5/19/2021 -
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Jeff Jordan, 7/8/2020
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Cassandra Kennard , 3/2/2020
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Rex Shaffer, 3/1/2020
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Matthew Mottershead, 2/9/2020
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" Love the show but to hear the full book version is awesome. Can’t wait for the rest! "
— Amanda fisher , 3/18/2019 -
" Simply amazing reading. Enjoyed it very much. "
— Cassandra Kennard, 12/10/2018 -
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Heidi Deal, 4/9/2018
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" Good book, gives you the show with more details. "
— Jacob, 2/20/2017 -
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Veda Jones, 6/11/2016
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Kreg Gauss, 3/26/2014
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" Gripping, shocking, haunting. Nothing sums up the suspense better than "winter is coming" often mentioned throughout the book. "
— Mike, 2/15/2014 -
" The best fiction book I have read in a a year! "
— Jonathan, 1/17/2014 -
" Slow going for me at the beginning, but once I had characters and places figured out it was really intriguing. Can't wait to start the next one! "
— Pam, 12/18/2013 -
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mike disbrow, 12/17/2013
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" Enjoyed thoroughly, would recommend reading. "
— Wyatt, 10/25/2013 -
" Never has a book taken me so far! I was totally absorbed and stopped living to let place to my imagination to take over. Wonderful work! "
— Annzu, 8/29/2013 -
" Very good read with unexpected twists and turns. Having multiple perspectives is a new take on this genre. Definitely worth all the hype. "
— Anne, 8/19/2013 -
" A great start to a series of books that became a bit hard to read later on, mostly because of too many characters and stories and a few other things. "
— Or, 7/17/2013 -
" My favorite fantasy series of all time. "
— Nikolas, 6/27/2013 -
" Vazne dobra kniha. Necakala som, ze sa mi tak zapaci. "
— Lenka, 4/6/2013 -
" Too dark and harsh for me. I don't do zombies. "
— Gabriele, 2/16/2013 -
" First I did some binge watching of season one and then read the book. Thoroughly enjoyable, but since I had just seen the series it followed the book so closely, was a touch repetitive. Now on to season two! "
— Naomi, 2/6/2013 -
" So excellent!!! I cannot believe I waited so long to read it. This might be my new favorite series...ever. "Winter is coming." "
— Becky, 12/1/2012 -
" Definitely an entertaining read, but a bit daunting to get into at times. "
— Cara, 11/25/2012 -
" Not for everyone, due to the graphic nature of the writing, but a really amazing story. "
— Andrew, 11/7/2012 -
" I finished this book in a week and it was amazing. Such intrigue, action, adventure and suspense... It is a beautifully written story, that swifts delicately from teller and one doesn't get bored when it changes of perspectives. "
— Yazz, 10/15/2012 -
" Densely plotted, with a slew of memorable characters. Not the most beautifully written of books, but the immense scope of the story more than makes up for that. "
— Jordan, 6/3/2012 -
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Jacob Kurowski, 6/22/2011
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" WOW complicated. Love all the characters, their depth, their flaws, their fighting. Can't wait to read more. "
— Leah, 5/24/2011 -
" slipcased autographed edition #129. I really love this series. "
— Christian, 5/24/2011 -
" Amazing book! Great start to an incredibly gritty series! The characters are fully fleshed out, as is the world of the 7 kingdoms. Fast paced and just brilliant. The series only gets better! "
— Piat, 5/24/2011 -
" This time refreshing with an audiobook version, read by Roy Dotrice. A good way to make the fun last longer... "
— Krystyna, 5/24/2011 -
" Soap for men - politics, sex, violence and characters with no complexity. Occasionally entertaining in a sordid way. Same goes for the TV show. "
— Tatiana, 5/24/2011 -
" One of the best books I have read in a long time. You get hooked right away. There's fantasy and political intrigue, wonderful characters, and a totally new world to dive into. "
— Gina, 5/24/2011 -
" Thanks to my co-worker, Erin, I have been sucked in to starting this series. Thanks, Erin! I'm not sure I'd call it Fantasy, although there are some fantastical elements (creatures, magic). It is like an alternative medieval universe soap opera. "
— Becky, 5/24/2011 -
" This book will magically take you to another place. It is exciting and captures many elements of Medieval times......honor, pride, revenge, etc. I am very eager to read the next installment of this series. "
— Megan, 5/23/2011 -
" 4.5 stars - very well written, with complex political intrigue and an sense of looming dread as the book goes on. Pretty dramatic finish, as well. Can't wait to read the next volume! "
— Samantha, 5/23/2011 -
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Swanand, 12/14/2005
About George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martin sold his first story in 1971 and has been writing professionally ever since. He spent ten years in Hollywood as a writer-producer, working on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and television pilots that were never made. In the mid ’90s he returned to prose, his first love, and began work on his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. He has been in the Seven Kingdoms ever since. Whenever he’s allowed to leave, he returns to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lives with the lovely Parris, a big white dog called Mischa, and two cats named Augustus and Caligula, who think they run the place.