Related
Summary
A Song of Ice & Fire , the series HBO’sGame of Thronesis based on , but the author has been publishing works of fiction since the seventies . A Song of Ice & Fireis widely perceived as Martin ’s Magnum Opus , as it ’s elaborate from a series of novels to a vast multimedia system franchise with beloved television receiver shows , games , and 1000000 of fans around the world . It ’s commonly regard to be one of the greatest phantasy book series ever written , even touch J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings .
10The Armageddon Rag
A Trippy Mystery With A Classic Rock Aesthetic & Fantastical Elements
1983’sThe Armageddon Ragis ill-famed for nearly destroying Martin ’s career , as it was a commercial tragedy upon its loss . However , with Martin no longer have to worry about fiscal lulls as an author , it ’s easier to reflect on the ledger as one of his most unique and exciting . As much as the American writer loves fantasy and sci - fi , he ’s also express an enduring passion for the rock euphony of the sixties , andThe Armageddon Ragexplores a mystery surrounding the euphony industry and the fall of the geological era ’s hippy culture .
for those who see themselves as the vulgar denominator between Martin fans and classic rock lovers , it ’s a must - read .
WhileThe Armageddon Ragmay seem like a rather prime story for the author ofA Game of Thrones , the book is n’t without its fantastical elements . Some of the most alluring aspects of the novel are the oftensurreal , mystical qualities surrounding the central enigma that toy out through unfounded dream sequences and a riveting climax . The volume only has a 3.57 rating on GoodReads , but for those who see themselves as the common denominator between Martin fan and classic stone lovers , it ’s a must - read .
9Tuf Voyaging
Martin’s Best Extended Work In The Sci-Fi Genre
1986’sTuf Voyagingis a fix - up novel similar to Isaac Asimov’sFoundationorI , Robot , as the whole kit and caboodle included in it were originally publish as short stories in the belated 1970s and 1980s . Before Martin was wide recognized as a master of fantasy , he was have it off well for his work in the sci - fi music genre . Like Asimov , who ’s view as one of the most influential sci - fi writers ever , Martin had his own science fabrication universe , including his unveiling novel in 1977,Dying of the Light , along withTuf Voyaging .
Tuf Voyagingitself is an underappreciated sci - fi masterwork , shuffle Martin ’s affinity for unretentive - configuration narratives with his skill for overarching character plan . Each scant storyoffers an exciting ride through some of the most inventive worlds in the genre , and when combine together , the admirer , Tuf , becomes one of Martin ’s best leads . The book has a 4.11 score on GoodReads , making it one of his highest - fink title of respect not included in theA Song of Ice & Fireseries .
8Dreamsongs
The Best Anthology Of Martin’s Short Stories & Novellas
As previously observe , George R.R. Martin is an olympian unforesightful story author , and the two volumes ofDreamsongsare the just books to brush up on all of his material . As any brusque story collection does , Dreamsongs’contents order in tone , but different narrative will appeal to different lector , making ita fail - safe option for anyone wait to search his other piece of work without diving into an entire novel . The short stories and novellas range from sci - fi to children ’s fantasy to horror to more .
Some of Martin’smost iconic shortsighted works are contained inDreamsongs , includingSandkings , Nightflyers , The Ice Dragon , andA Song for Lya . It ’s knockout to compare a hardening of short to complete novel , but some of the writing inDreamsongsis so quintessentially Martin that it ’d be unacceptable to ignore it . It ’s a fantastic anthology set with something for any audience to enjoy .
7A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
A Collection Of ASOIAF Prequel Novellas
TV fan may realise the titleA Knight of the Seven Kingdomsas it ’s one of the manyupcomingGame of Thronesspinoffs , set to be released in former 2025 . The book is anotheranthology collection featuring three novella in the man ofA Song of Ice & Fire , set decades beforeA Game of Thrones . While they ’re not quite as compelling as the main series , the novelette can be pure either as a more accessible debut item to Martin ’s fancy universe or as a lighter follow - up / break point to the main saga .
undoubtedly beloved supplementary cloth to theA Song of Ice & Firesaga
A Knight of the Seven Kingdomsisn’t without its violence and dispute theme , butit ’s a far less demanding read than the main series , permit the reader to focus principally on the two lead characters : Dunk & Egg . The novella set has a solid 4.23 rating on GoodReads , and they ’re undoubtedly beloved supplementary fabric to theA Song of Ice & Firesaga . For a first - prison term reader who lie with theGame of ThronesorHouse of the DragonTV series but is n’t prepared for a monolithic novel serial , it can be a playfulness tribulation Good Book .
6A Feast For Crows
Feast Is Missing Some Of ASOIAF’s Best Characters, But It Highlights Compelling New Ones
The fourth novel inA Song of Ice & Fire , A banquet for Crows , is an outstanding fancy book , but its posture suffer for two important reasons . Feasthas the impossible chore of follow upA Storm of Swords , which is widely considered the best in the serial . Secondly , withoutThe fart of Winter , it ’s hard not to look atFeastas a derailment from the saga ’s overarching story . When the last installments are released , it may be easier to reflect on book four for the variables it institute rather than the characters it left out .
eccentric like Cersei and Brienne are give their first POV chapter , allow them to shine in fresh way , while brand - new POV characters in Dorne and the Iron Islands extend to exposit the saga as an ever - grow , multi - faceted political web .
A fete for Crowsis without Jon Snow , Daenerys , and Tyrion , which is particularly torturous after Tyrion ’s cliffhanger ending inA Storm of Swords . Still , there are notable virtues to the novel that earn it a 4.16 on GoodReads , despite potential reader frustration . Characters like Cersei and Brienne are given their first POV chapters , allowing them to shine in new means , while brand - young POV characters in Dorne and the Iron Islands proceed to expand the saga as an ever - growing , multi - faceted political web .
5Fevre Dream
Martin’s Best Standalone Novel Is A Vampire Masterpiece
The 1982 bookFevre Dreamis Martin ’s good standalone novel and another of his oeuvre ’s most individual instalment . The novel has been key out as " Bram Stoker converge Mark Twain , " a description that adequately encapsulatesFevre Dream’saesthetic but does n’t quite cover just how enthralling its narrative is . George R.R. Martin use many of the talents conspicuously featured inA Song of Ice & Fireto createa world of vampire mythology that ’s endlessly captivating , with characters like Joshua York , the Pale King , among his honest .
Martin proved his worth as a horror writer with his genre - blended sci - fi stories , butFevre Dreamchannels an entirely different aspect of his piece of writing talent . The nineteenth - century setting allows for rich societal commentary to support his lamia narrative , adding to the visceral horror at play . It ’s another fantabulous entryway point to Martin ’s work , as it ’s far shorter than hisA Song of Ice & Firenovels while extend a similar appeal .
4A Dance With Dragons
Dance Doesn’t Push The ASOIAF Narrative Forward Very Much, But There’s Still A Lot To Enjoy
2011’sA Dance with Dragonsoften suffers from many of the same critique asA Feast for Crows , though itbenefits from the income tax return of Jon , Danaerys , and Tyrion . The book of account also follows in its predecessor ’s footsteps by pursue new , exciting characters like Young Griff , immediately adding layer of complexness to the political landscape painting . Dancewill probably also benefit from the release ofThe Winds of Winter , but until then , it ’s on the lower end of the pack forA Song of Ice & Firenovels .
A saltation with Dragonsis the turgid Quran in the series , and while quantity does n’t imply quality , there ’s a net ton there for reviewer to drop down their teeth into . It does n’t agitate the overarching narrative forward as crucially as the first three novels , but its expansions have give reader a embarrassment of material to analyze , realize it a still telling 4.34 rating on GoodReads . There ’s a gross ton of fascinating stuff that expands Martin ’s world , butDanceultimately hurts from feeling like an institute block forWinds .
The breaking wind of Winter has been splendidly delayed for over a 10 , but it ’s not the only A Song of Ice & Fire George R.R. Martin has planned .
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
3A Game Of Thrones
AGoT Changed The Fantasy Genre Forever
book 1 of Martin ’s saga cover ground at a swift pace that rarely ever bores the reader with non - substantive detail
In retrospect , it ’s no wonder thatA Game of Throneswas adapted into one ofthe skillful TV shows of all time . The enormous Thomas Nelson Page reckoning of theA Song of Ice & Firenovels may twist off some potential referee , but once one familiarizes themselves with his world and characters , A Game of Thronesis a walkover of riveting , unforgettable dialogue . While many famous fantasy works observe characters slug through the woods on quest , record 1 of Martin ’s saga extend soil at a swift pace that seldom ever bore the lecturer with non - substantive detail .
The 1996 fancy masterwork may not be the best in its series , but it deserves all the credit potential for lay the grounding for the groundbreaking saga . A Game of Thronesalmost immediately deepen fantasy with its subversion , counterpoint Tolkien ’s standard and create a worldly concern where no one is truly dear or eviland where no one is safe . The book ’s 4.44 GoodReads military rank sum up the near - unanimous plaudits for this phantasy victory .
Tuf Voyaging novel cover
2A Clash Of Kings
ACoK Elevates The Material Of ASOIAF
The second volume inA Song of Ice & Fireis a toss - up with the first . A Clash of Kingsarguably does n’t have a moment to equal the sheer shock and apprehension of Ned Stark ’s death , but one could argue that it elevate the textile all around . After Robert Baratheon ’s death , war and havoc have broken out across the Seven Kingdoms , andthe more spread - out POV characters allow readers to experience Westeros from a wider lens for the first prison term .
The loss of a agonist of Ned Stark ’s lineament could have damage most serial , butthe increased bulk of Tyrion chapters allows the series to maintain momentum while the younger cast of Stark children and Daenerys go on to get into their own . A Game of Throneslays the foundation perfectly , andA Clash of Kingsdemonstrates the possibility for complex character - building in this world . The summation of Theon as a POV fibre and new persona like Stannis and Davos wide complement the ensemble .
The wait for The Winds of Winter continues well after Game of Thrones end , but there are clear reasons why George R.R. Martin has taken so long .
Tuf Voyaging novel cover
1A Storm Of Swords
ASoS Is Arguably The Greatest Fantasy Novel Of All Time
A tempest of Swordsis not only George R.R. Martin ’s best book , it ’s arguably the large phantasy novel ever written . The third volume ofA Song of Ice & Fireisso talkative and pickle - packed with climactic events , fulfilling many of the arcs established by the first two intensity in shocking , gut - twist elbow room that only Martin could pull off . Events like the Red Wedding and Tyrion ’s trial run by fighting define the serial , and violent storm has them in abundance .
AnyGame of Thronesfan knows the book ’s most noted instant , but experiencing the merciless onslaught of the third volume is a literary experience in and of itself .
Book 3 has the series ' highest rating on GoodReads , with a almost - perfect 4.54 , proving the merits of the epic . A Storm of Swordsis the golden standard for modern phantasy and the novel that solidify Martin as one of the great writers of his generation . AnyGame of Thronesfan knows the book ’s most celebrated moments , but get the merciless onslaught of the third volume is a literary experience in and of itself .
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise create by George R.R. Martin . Martin ’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award - winning HBO serial Game of Thrones , which lasted for eight seasons . After the improbably factious last season of Game of Thrones , the serial was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon , which also receive critical plaudits .
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.