A Game of Thrones

Book 1 of A Song of Ice and Fire

By: George R.R. Martin

Narrated by: Roy Dotrice

ONE OF THE TIMES’ 25 BEST AUDIOBOOKS

HBO’s hit series A GAME OF THRONES is based on George R. R. Martin’s internationally bestselling series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. A GAME OF THRONES is the first volume in the series.

Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.

The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

Critic reviews

‘A Game of Thrones grabs hold and won’t let go. It’s brilliant.’
Robert Jordan

‘Colossal, staggering… Martin captures all the intoxicating complexity of the Wars of the Roses or Imperial Rome in his imaginary world… one of the greats of fantasy literature.’
SFX

‘Fantasy literature has never shied away from grandeur, but the sheer-mind-boggling scope of this epic has sent other fantasy writers away shaking their heads… Its ambition: to construct the Twelve Caesars of fantasy fiction, with characters so venomous they could eat the Borgias.’
Guardian

‘Such a splendid tale. I couldn’t stop till I’d finished and it was dawn.’
Anne McCaffrey

Great Narrating

Great narrating, definitely adds context to the TV series, filling in blanks, and giving emotion to actions...

Legendary

Would you consider the audio edition of A Game of Thrones (Part One) to be better than the print version?

The voice acting is very good and it is a lot more convenient than a paper copy (Even though I have it on Kindle!)

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jon Snow, you cannot say no to an under-dog

What does Roy Dotrice bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has a very listen-able voice and very good diction

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES, but it would take me 32 hours of no sleep and lots of coffee

Any additional comments?

I am a bit of a fanboy, sorry

Brought to life!

Any additional comments?

Really enjoying this read.

Roy Dotrice's voice and vision add so much depth to what is one of the greatest epic fantasy series to date. Having originally enjoyed the novels and wanting to approach from a different angle, this revisit is putting new flavour to my recollections and I'm discovering nuances previously unnoticed.

My only disappointment is a small one. Roy is not consistent with the accents he uses. It may simply be a technique he uses to make a character stand out however family groupings and sovereign peoples generally speak the same-ish. Only a small point though.

If you are looking to dive head first into the worlds of George RR then wait no further. If you haven’t read the books don’t let that worry you. If you are like me and simply want to revisit an old friend, then you won’t regret it.*

(*usual disclaimers apply).

An intriguing story full of sub plots and adgendas

Where does A Game of Thrones (Part One) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is in the top half

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tyrrien - He is an intelligent character who seems to have a good moral compass and he also provides a lot of comic relief

Have you listened to any of Roy Dotrice’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No

Any additional comments?

This story has not yet reached any great heights, there are a lot of long conversations and plots to follow. It is not action packed, but has enough to keep me interested

Satisfying

A Song of Ice and Fire has always been one of my favorite book series. After reading the books so many times and the TV series by HBO, it is actually a novel experience to revel in this epic story by listening to an audible. It is even more satisfying than the TV series. The presenter is fantastic, the tone and husky voice reminiscent of a grandfather telling a story to grandchildren. Despite the mature content (which is a trademark of A Song of Ice and Fire) and the very suggestive “unabridged” on the cover, the aura is... solemn. Chaste and unhurried. A great work.