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The Legacy and World of A Game of Thrones Published in August 1996, is the first installment in George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire . Originally conceived as a trilogy, the series has since expanded into a planned seven-volume saga that has redefined modern fantasy with its "gritty" realism and complex political intrigue. Genesis and Inspiration

George R.R. Martin, formerly a Hollywood screenwriter, began writing the novel in 1991 after a vivid image of a boy witnessing a beheading and finding direwolf pups in the snow came to him. His work is deeply influenced by historical events, most notably the , where the rivalry between the Starks and Lannisters mirrors that of the historical Houses of York and Lancaster. Core Narrative Arcs A Game of Thrones

: Characters in the books are much younger; for example, Daenerys is 13 and Jon Snow is 14 at the start. The Legacy and World of A Game of

: The book won the 1997 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. Genesis and Inspiration George R

: Key storylines, such as the Dornish political plot and Sansa Stark's journey, were significantly altered or "streamlined" for television.

: At the massive ice Wall, the Night’s Watch—including Ned Stark's bastard son, Jon Snow—faces an ancient, supernatural threat known as the Others (or White Walkers) .