A Song of Ice and Fire

George R. R. Martin began drafting the first book in 1991, intending to write a simple trilogy about medieval politics and magic. The project swelled into seven planned volumes as he expanded the world of Westeros and Essos. Readers received A Game of Thrones in August 1996, followed by A Clash of Kings two years later. By November 2000, Martin released A Storm of Swords, a massive tome that introduced the infamous Red Wedding and the return of dragons.

The fifth installment, A Dance with Dragons, arrived in July 2011 after a six-year gap following A Feast for Crows. As of late 2026, the sixth book, The Winds of Winter, remains unfinished while the author works on the final novel, A Dream of Spring. The series now spans over 100 million copies sold across 47 languages.

The narrative opens with a prologue describing the White Walkers beyond the Wall before shifting to King Robert Baratheon's death. This event summons Eddard Stark to serve as Hand of the King, sparking a war among noble houses vying for the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen travels from Essos with three dragon eggs, seeking to reclaim her family's birthright. The story weaves through multiple perspectives, exploring how power corrupts and how winter threatens to end civilization. [edit]