The World of Ice and Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones Hardcover – 28 Oct. 2014

Wow. Just wow. The amount of detail which has gone into fleshing out George R R Martin's world is just staggering. This really is proof that Martin isn't merely a modern-day Tolkien but an incredible writer who far surpasses th e earlier author who many hold up as the ultimate comparative. Don't get me wrong, because it reads like a history book, I was actually bored in places (but not for very long) & if you find the number of characters in his other books bewildering, then imagine that multiplied by generations which go back over 300 years! But when you step back from it & see it in its entirety, this is an incredible piece which puts his epic into its historical context & makes the trials & tribulations of the current Westeros & beyond seem like a mere flash in the pan.What really struck me was how believable the characters & situations were. For instance, his history of the Targaryan Kings gives each of them & their families very human flaws. The Mad King wasn't merely mad - the causes of his paranoia are clearly detailed & very convincing. Likewise, his more good-willed ancestors inadvertently caused harm with the best intentions. There are hints that each of the hundreds of named persons has been fleshed out in Martin's mind to have three dimensions, regardless of how minor a role they had. And that's just the people - there's also the detailed maps & his meticulous analysis of how the layout of Westeros has affected its history & the psychology of the residents of each realm. The psychology of its author comes into play, too. For rather than being Martin's version of Westeros, it's actually styled as having been penned by a Maester Of The Citadel. Thus the 'author' is keen to dismiss any ancient legends for which there is little proof (such as absurd allegations that the seasons in Westeros used to occur regularly, instead of having summers & winters which stretched on for years) & as he gifts the book to Tommen Baratheon, he is careful to criticise neither lion nor stag.I bought the Kindle version. Its plain text includes links to full-sized colour illustrations, which look fantastic on my Tablet. Nevertheless, I have found myself wanting to buy the hardcover as well. The Kindle version is great for reading cover to cover but it would also be nice to dip into it from time to time. Plus there's a qualitative difference between having plain texts interspersed with pictures which can be opened & the wonderful hardback where pictures & texts have been cleverly designed to work together instead of treated as separate entities.Regardless of the format in which you read it, like many epics this books is occasionally boring yet overall is very absorbing. It has left me wanting to re-read all of the books from the beginning, with the greater understanding that it has provided. It has reminded me that - as excellent as it is - the TV series will never replace the books, no matter how nudity it thrusts at its viewers! It has also left me more keen than ever to get hold of The Hedge Knight, Martins's out-of-print book which is set in Westeros prior to the Game Of Thrones & apparently had a surprisingly significant impact on that world. Well it's going to be such a long wait for the next book, I'm going to have to fill my time somehow!

If you love George R. R. Martin's epic A Song of Ice and Fire series, the TV Show (Game of Thrones) that it has spawned or just fantasy world building, you will love this book. It provides an incredibly detailed "time-line" of the world of Westeros in particular, from the Dawn Age of giants and "children of the forest", right through to Robert Baratheon's rebellion and subsequent ascension to the throne. Written from the perspective of a Maester of King's Landing, the book only deals with "in-universe" knowledge, so the tales of the Dawn Age are short and shrouded in comments alluding to possible exaggeration or archaeological evidence that dis/agrees whereas the stories of the individual Kings of Westeros are fleshed out and detailed, being drawn from the historical tomes kept by the Maesters themselves.Although I can understand the frustration that this means no really "new" knowledge is imparted to fans and several ideas (particularly of life beyond the Wall) are found commonly in the book that readers of the series will know to be inaccurate (for a non-spoilery example, the fictional author condemns the idea of skin-changers or wargs, which fans know to be very real), the book is full of little details that you could not have known (SPOILER: such as the burial of a giant with obsidian arrow heads lodged in between the ribs, suggesting animosity between the Children and Giants) and which continue to flesh out the world that surrounds them. As such, this is very much a world-building book, a source of very specific information that builds on the novels and develops both Westeros and the lands to the East very nicely, as well as providing an Encyclopaedia-like format that fans can use as quick reference. Plus, the art included is just perfect, fantastically well done and completely beautiful from start to finish!A few commentors have mentioned that the book is for "hard-core" fans, which I'm not totally in agreement with. If you read the books/watch the show purely for the intrigue and plot twists and don't really care about the smaller characters or the interwoven back stories, then no, this book is probably not for you. But if you've made it this far through either the written or acted versions of the story then chances are you've started to enjoy the world and that's what this book delves into. The writing can be a little stilted and overly "scholarly" at times, so yes, some parts are a bit of a chore to push through; really, it depends which parts of the world you're actually interested in. One reviewer mentions finding the Iron Isles a bit long winded but, as someone fascinated by that region, I really enjoyed it. That said, if you've never touched Martin's works in any form but are generally a fan of fantasy world-building or looking for inspiration for your own stories, The World of Ice and Fire is a fantastic example of "how to do it right", in my opinion, and may still be worth picking up (though honestly, if that does describe you, pick up the first book of ASOIAF as well!).Overall I'm thoroughly enjoying the book and know it will be pulled from my shelf many times over the years to come to look up something, remind myself of certain lineages or just to be re-read!

Definitely one of the best background books I've ever read. The World of Ice & Fire is a companion book, so whether you are a fan of the books or the series (or both), then you will not be disappointed.The book is written by a fictional maester in the universe itself, and presented as a piece of historical lore. I was most delighted by the history of the Targaryen dynasty - right from Aegon the Conqueror who brought Westeros to its knees to the Mad King himself who brought it to ruin. Additionally, it covers the history of each part of Westeros from the freezing North to the deserts of Dorne and how they came to be. You'll also find information on the lands to the east, including Essos and its history as well as the fabled and mysterious lands of Sothoryos and Asshai.George R R Martin's style is evident in this book - you'll find scandal, graphical descriptions of violence and the glories and tragedies that make this series so enjoyable. It really does flesh out the entire universe and makes any re-read or re-watch a refreshing experience. The book also features beautiful and detailed pictures of characters, places and creatures that inhabit this world. My personal favorite is on the appendix page - the battle between Robert Baratheon and Rhaegar Targaryen.If you're thinking of getting this book, think no more. If you love reading and this series, you will love this book. Guaranteed.