The Canon Database

The start of the epic fantasy saga A Song of Ice and Fire with the introduction of Westeros in A Game of Thrones.

• Release Date: August 1, 1996
• Content Type: Book
• Description: “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.” (Random House)
• Reviews: Martin’s world has received countless positive reviews, awards, and nominations. A Game of Thrones holds a 4.44 rating (out of 5) on Goodreads.
• Charts: The book held popularity among the fantasy and literary communities, the release of the HBO show brought it to new heights. In 2011 the book hit #1 on both the New York Times and USA Today Best Seller Lists. The A Song of Ice and Fire saga has sold more than 90 million copies.
• Purchase: Single Paperback | Single Hardcover | Paperback Set (Books -5)