A Song of Ice and Fire books in order
George R.R. Martin tells A Song of Ice and Fire through dozens of characters, each chapter from inside one head. The books hold storylines the show never filmed, and the story is still unfinished.
- 1
A Game of Thrones
1996 · Game of Thrones season 1Winter is coming, and the Starks go south.
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A Clash of Kings
1998 · Game of Thrones season 2Five kings claim the Iron Throne.
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A Storm of Swords
2000 · Game of Thrones seasons 3 and 4The war turns, and so do weddings.
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A Feast for Crows
2005 · Parts of seasons 4 to 6King's Landing, Dorne and the Iron Islands after the war.
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A Dance with Dragons
2011 · Parts of seasons 5 and 6Daenerys, Jon Snow and Tyrion, far from the capital.
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Fire & Blood
2018 · House of the DragonOptional: the history of House Targaryen, 300 years before.
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
2015 · A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO, 2026)Optional: the Dunk and Egg novellas, 90 years before.
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The five books in one boxed set
A Game of Thrones to A Dance with Dragons, in paperback.
What the books give you
Only in the books
Many more point-of-view characters, prophecies and whole storylines the series cut.
What the screen changes
After season 5 the series ran past the books, so the ending on screen is not in any book yet. The details are folded below.
Show differences (spoilers)
Lady Stoneheart and Young Griff never appear in the series, and the kingsmoot on the Iron Islands plays out very differently.
Editions
- 1
A Song of Ice and Fire paperback box set
All five books.
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A Game of Thrones, illustrated edition
Full-color illustrated hardcover.
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A Game of Thrones audiobook read by Roy Dotrice
The classic narrator.
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More by George R.R. Martin
- 1
Fevre Dream
1982 · vampires on Mississippi steamboats
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The Armageddon Rag
1983 · a rock-and-roll horror novel
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Nightflyers
1980 · a sci-fi novella, a 2018 TV series
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If you liked it
- 1
The Witcher: The Last Wish
Andrzej Sapkowski · 1993 · a Netflix series
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The Blade Itself
Joe Abercrombie · 2006
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The Eye of the World
Robert Jordan · 1990 · a Prime Video series
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Quick answers
Which book is each movie and series based on?
| Movie or series | Book |
|---|---|
| Game of Thrones (2011–2019, series) | A Game of Thrones (1996) · seasons 1–5 follow the books; seasons 6–8 go past them |
| House of the Dragon (HBO) | Fire & Blood (2018) |
| A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026, series) | A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2015) · season 1 adapts The Hedge Knight; HBO renewed it for season 2 |
In what order should I read A Song of Ice and Fire?
Read the five published books in order: A Game of Thrones (1996), A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons (2011). George R.R. Martin is still writing book six, The Winds of Winter. Game of Thrones adapts these books; House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms adapt the prequels.
Is Game of Thrones based on a book?
Yes, on A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. The first five seasons follow the books; the last three go beyond them.
Is The Winds of Winter out?
Not yet. George R.R. Martin is still writing book six; no publication date has been announced.
What book is House of the Dragon based on?
Fire & Blood (2018), Martin's history of House Targaryen.