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A Game of Thrones

Book 1 of A Song of Ice and Fire

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A Game of Thrones

By: George R.R. Martin
Narrated by: Roy Dotrice
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About this listen

One of The Times’ 25 Best Audiobooks.

HBO’s hit series A Game of Thrones is based on George R. R. Martin’s internationally best-selling 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.

It will stretch from the south, where heat breeds plot, lusts and intrigues, to the vast and savage eastern lands, all the way to the frozen north, where an 800-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men...all will play the Game of Thrones.

Winter is coming....

©2011 George R. R. Martin (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Dark Fantasy Dragons & Mythical Creatures Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Royalty Mythology Game

Editorial reviews

Game of Thrones Book One: A Song of Ice and Fire written by George R. R. Martin is an immensely popular fantasy series audiobook narrated by veteran British actor Roy Dotrice. Now also a leading Sky Atlantic TV series by HBO. Listeners are introduced to an addictive plot and unforgettable characters in this first installment. Time feels lost in the harshness of endless brutal seasons, impenetrable landscapes and the constant, unwavering battle for the Iron Throne. The Throne means survival. Dark forces, lust and bloodshed will be used to get to it. Available from Audible now.

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)
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The timber of Roy Dotrice's voice matches the mood and tone of this complex plot. George R R Martin has me suspending belief from the get go - even though the fantasy genre is not my preference. I purchased the rest of the available books upon hearing the first chapter! I must admit, I had seen the series prior to listening to this and found it complemented and extended my enjoyment of this fine tale! My family had difficulty getting my attention, while I found it to pause and quit the narration.

Perfect Match - voice and mood

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I was hooked. I found the narration really enhanced the experience.
I'm going straight on to book 2

I finally succumbed to GOT

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a great telling of the book and couldn't have chosen a better voice for the book

amazingly told by Roy Dotrice

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Some of the narration was a little off. Having watched the show before listening to the book, some of the names where pronounced differently so it was a little annoying but really the only issue. Great to keep me entertained and interested.

Great to listen to!

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Amazing story.
Narrator has many voices. Some are great and some annoying much like the characters. The different voices help you to know who is talking without extra "he said, she said" cues.

Epic

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I loved the story (and it is my first interaction with the books, I have watched the series and enjoyed that, and explored the wiki site, but have had difficulty with paper books the last few years due to a condition). If I could have read it on paper I may have done so instead. I have listened as far as book 4 though (starting book 5 now), so clearly I think it is worth it.

The accents are slightly odd or grating at times, but I can understand it, and that is the narrator's call really. The occasional mispronunciation is worse though. And it gets worse as you go into later books:

Caitlin for Catlyn
Peter for Petyr
Brian for Bran
Direwood for dire-wolf
Tragarian for Targaryan

And more. In book 4 it seems bad enough (just general words that are clearly wrong) one wonders if it was all proof checked? It isn't just that it can make following the story harder at times than I'd like from an audiobook, it interferes with suspension of disbelief too - it isn't only that I am brought out of the story by the thought that something wasn't right, it's that by book 4 Catlyn and Petyr are ALWAYS Caitlin and Peter, which feel like names out of place in GRRM's world.

As long as that slightly maddening thing is something you can cope with, or something you can endure to enjoy the story (like me) enjoy.

It is still worth it for me.

Great book, slightly painful narration, worth it I think.

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I read all the books and watched the series, the audiobook is just an addition while driving to work or when I can't sleep! I loved the books more than the series.... and now I have both. I listen to the book and I have a firm image of the people... ONLY that the narrator is not on top of things. While I'm ok with his interpretation of the old people ( though his Lord Various is horrible) his interpretation of the younger crowd (Thyrion!?!?😩) is not enjoyable...however, I'm advancing to the next book.

Mixed feelings

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Well, it seems that Roy Dotrice gets a lot of flack for his narration style and I can see where they're coming from, he takes some getting used too. But once you're immersed, and understand the narration style, it's like having your Grandfather read to you. The story is amazing and only gets better as the books continue. Truly a great book.

Fantastic story. Great Experience.

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Really enjoyed the 1st book of A Game of Thrones - A Song of Ice & Fire. Wasn't sure if I would like it or not but can't wait to start Part 2. the narrator is believeable for the time it was set in and the story paints a vivid picture of the hard times endured back then

Very enjoyable novel.

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most characters sound the same makes it hard to follow and the diction isn't appealing. refused to buy it from trial for this reason, but really wanted to listen to the story as I don't have time to pick up the actual book.

hard to follow through

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