Order of George R. R. Martin’s Books
In any series worthy of note, whether in film or literature, the order and unfolding of events is one of the most crucial elements. When done correctly, proper succession can lead to a better build up, and in return keep the audience glued to the material. As far as book series go, the epic fantasy saga A Song of Ice and Fire have undergone its own share of revisions and alterations, in the author’s quest to make a complete and uncompromised body of work. And basing on the overwhelming response to the both the books and the new HBO mini-series, we can safely say that the author made the right decision.
Initially, award-winning American author George R.R. Martin envisioned his now very popular series as a trilogy with A Game of Thrones, A Dance with Dragons, and the Winds of Winter being the divisions. Obviously, as we now know today, this original plan was not followed. Instead, there are to date five written books in A Song of Ice and Fire with supposedly two more in the works. The three books which came between A Game of Thrones and A Dance with Dragons are A Clash of Kings released in 1999, A Storm of Swords in 2000, and a Feast for Crows which came out in 2005. A Dance with Dragons which was supposed to be the second in the Trilogy was just very recently released this 2011. It was said that George R.R. Martin split his novels into more volumes to further develop the story and the characters. In fact, the author would not even give a significant assurance that the seventh book, planned to be called A Dream of Spring, would be the last edition in the saga.
In terms of the development of the story, George R.R. Martin has more room to develop the personalities and nuances in his characters – a style which he has mastered and a method that has served him well both in the written, as well as the film version of his work. With the original trilogy expanded to now seven planned volumes, back stories and side plots are not hurried and produce a more wholelistic view of the narrative. In fact, it is because of all the subplots that it becomes difficult to characterize many of his characters as simply protagonists or antagonists. More often than not, there is always a mixture of strength and weakness in them – an aspect that makes them very interesting to the readers and extremely understandable.
On the other hand, many of the fans of the series are less concerned about the number of volumes the author produces, than the time when he produces them. For instance, the time between A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons is a good six years. Luckily, George R.R. Martin did not disappoint and the excellent writing of the fifth book has once again revived interest in the series and even managed to attract new fans into its fold. For those who have devoured the A Song of Ice and Fire series though, and find themselves still wanting more of the unique style of the author, here are his other books listed in chronological order.
