A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1), Paperback Book, By: George R.R. Martin

Now the acclaimed hbo series game of thrones--the masterpiece that became a cultural phenomenon winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of house stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to king Robert baratheon in far-off king's landing. There eddard stark of winter fell rules in Robert's name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, catelyn; his sons rob, Brandon, and reckon; his daughters sansa and arya; and his bastard son, jon snow. Far to the north, behind the towering wall, lie savage wildings and worse--unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season. Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where jon arryn, the hand of the king, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert is riding north to winter fell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold cerise, his son, the cruel, vainglorious prince joffrey, and the queen's brothers Jaime and tyrion of the powerful and wealthy house lannister--the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind. All are heading for winter fell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms. Meanwhile, across the narrow sea, prince viceroys, heir of the fallen house targaryen, which once ruled all of westerns, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian dothraki--whose loyalty he will purchase in the only coin left to him: his beautiful yet innocent sister, daenerys.