A comprehensive guide to get started with George R.R. Martin’s books

Author George R.R. Martin is widely known for his A Song of Ice and Fire series, but his work includes much more. He has written science fiction, horror, and even historical fantasy. This article will guide you through George R.R. Martin’s books and help you decide where to start reading.

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If you love epic fantasy

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If epic fantasy is what you enjoy, start with A Song of Ice and Fire. The books cover the period in the world of Westeros after the dragonlords known as the Targaryens were overthrown. HBO’s massively popular TV series Game of Thrones was based on this series. The books are well known for containing a complex political landscape and a large roster of fascinating characters. Through this series, Martin introduced the world to the web of intricately connected plotlines that he weaves. The books in the series are as follows:

• A Game of Thrones (1996)
• A Clash of Kings (1998)
• A Storm of Swords (2000)
• A Feast for Crows (2005)
• A Dance with Dragons (2011)
• The Winds of Winter (TBA)
• A Dream of Spring (TBA)

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If you prefer shorter reads

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If you want to start small, try Martin’s short stories and novellas.

• Dreamsongs: Dreamsongs: A RRetrospective is a collection of George R. R. Martin’s short fiction, first published by Subterranean Press in 2003 as GRRM: A RRetrospective. The collection, featuring 34 pieces of fiction and two TV scripts, includes an introduction by Gardner Dozois, commentary by Martin, a bibliography, and original art for each story. It was later reprinted in the UK in 2006 and the U.S. in 2007 under the title *Dreamsongs: A RRetrospective* as a two-volume hardcover set.
• Nightflyers: Nightflyers is a science fiction horror novella by George R. R. Martin, first published in 1980 and expanded in 1981. It follows a team of scientists aboard the ship Nightflyer as they search for the enigmatic alien species, the volcryn while encountering a series of deadly events. The novella was adapted into a 1987 film and a 2018 SyFy television series, which was canceled after one season.
• A Song for Lya: A Song for Lya, a science fiction novella by George R. R. Martin, was published in 1974 and won the Hugo Award for Best Novella in 1975. The story follows telepaths Robb and Lya as they investigate the alien Shkeen religion, which involves a parasite that consumes people seeking connection and freedom from loneliness.
• Sandkings: Sandkings is a science fiction short story collection by George R. R. Martin, published in December 1981. The title story follows a millionaire named Simon Kress who buys alien “pets” called sandkings, which worship him until he mistreats them, leading to disastrous consequences. The collection won the Locus Award for best single-author collection and included other stories like “The Way of Cross and Dragon” and “Bitterblooms.”
• Tales of Dunk and Egg: Tales of Dunk and Egg is a series of fantasy novellas by George R. R. Martin, set in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire. It follows the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and the future King Aegon V Targaryen (Egg), taking place 90 years before the events of the main series. Three novellas have been published, and HBO is developing a prequel series based on the tales.

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For historical fantasy lovers

Credit: Harper Collins

Martin has also written books about the history of Westeros based on real-world history and events. These are sure to be enjoyable for fans of Westeros or people who enjoy historical fiction in general.

• Fire & Blood: Fire & Blood is a fantasy book by George R. R. Martin detailing the history of House Targaryen, the ruling dynasty of Westeros, in his series A Song of Ice and Fire. Originally planned as part of The World of Ice & Fire, it grew so large that Martin decided to split it into two volumes, with the first released in November 2018. The book inspired the HBO series *House of the Dragon*, which adapts the second half, covering the civil war known as the Dance of Dragons.
• The World of Ice & Fire: The World of Ice & Fire is a companion book for George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, co-written with Elio M. García Jr. and Linda Antonsson and published in 2014. It provides a fully illustrated history of Westeros, featuring family trees, maps, and artwork. Martin collaborated with top fantasy illustrators and included new material but removed many side stories, which later appeared in anthologies like Dangerous Women and The Book of Swords.

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For horror fans

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• Fevre Dream: Fevre Dream is a 1982 vampire novel by George R. R. Martin, set on the Mississippi River in 1857. The story follows riverboat captain Abner Marsh and his partnership with vampire Joshua York as they battle against an ancient rival, Damon Julian. The novel was nominated for the Locus and World Fantasy Awards, and it was adapted into a graphic novel in 2010.
• The Armageddon Rag: The Armageddon Rag, a 1983 mystery/fantasy novel by George R. R. Martin, explores the 1960s rock music era through a murder mystery involving a fictional band called the Nazgûl. Sandy Blair, a former hippie, investigates the ritualistic murder of rock promoter Jamie Lynch and uncovers a supernatural plot tied to a Nazgûl reunion tour. Despite its commercial failure, the novel was nominated for the World Fantasy Award and won the Balrog Award for best novel.

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Books published by George R.R. Martin

Credit: George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin has written a staggering amount of books and novels in his lifetime. Listed below is his entire bibliography, chronologically. Avid readers can peruse his entire body of written work.

Novels published by George R.R. Martin

• Dying of the Light (1977)
• Windhaven (with Lisa Tuttle) (1981)
• Fevre Dream (1982)
• The Armageddon Rag (1983)
• Dead Man’s Hand (with John J. Miller) (1990)
• A Game of Thrones – A Song of Ice and Fire #1 (1996)
• A Clash of Kings – A Song of Ice and Fire #2 (1999)
• A Storm of Swords – A Song of Ice and Fire #3 (2000)
• A Feast for Crows – A Song of Ice and Fire #4 (2005)
• Hunter’s Run (2007)
• A Dance with Dragons – A Song of Ice and Fire #5 (2011)
• Lands of Ice and Fire (2012)
• World of Ice and Fire (with Elio M. García Jr. and Linda Antonsson) (2014)
• Fire & Blood (2018)
• The Rise of the Dragon (2022)
• The Winds of Winter – A Song of Ice and Fire #6 (forthcoming)
• A Dream of Spring – A Song of Ice and Fire #7 (forthcoming)

Short Stories and Novellas by George R.R. Martin

• The Hero – 1971
• The Exit to San Breta – 1972
• The Second Kind of Loneliness – 1972
• Dark, Dark Were the Tunnels – 1973
• Night Shift – 1973
• Override – 1973
• A Peripheral Affair – 1973
• Slide Show – 1973
• With Morning Comes Mistfall – 1974
• FTA – 1974
• Run to Starlight – 1974
• A Song for Lya – 1974
• And Seven Times Never Kill Man – 1975
• The Last Super Bowl Game – 1975
• Night of the Vampyres – 1975
• The Runners – 1975
• A Beast for Norn – 1976
• The Computer Cried Charge! – 1976
• …For a Single Yesterday – 1976
• Fast-Friend – 1976
• In the House of the Worm – 1976
• The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr – 1976
• Meathouse Man – 1976
• Men of Greywater Station – 1976
• Nobody Leaves New Pittsburg – 1976
• Nor the Many-Colored Fires of a Star Ring – 1976
• Patrick Henry, Jupiter, and the Little Red Brick Spaceship – 1976
• Starlady – 1976
• This Tower of Ashes – 1976
• Bitterblooms – 1977
• The Stone City – 1977
• Weekend in a War Zone – 1977
• Call Him Moses – 1978
• Sandkings – 1979
• Warship – 1979
• The Way of Cross and Dragon – 1979
• Nightflyers – 1980
• The Ice Dragon – 1980
• Guardians – 1981
• The Needle Men – 1981
• Remembering Melody – 1981
• Closing Time – 1982
• In the Lost Lands – 1982
• Unsound Variations – 1982
• The Monkey Treatment – 1983
• The Plague Star – 1985
• Loaves and Fishes – 1985
• Second Helpings – 1985
• Manna from Heaven – 1985
• Portraits of His Children – 1985
• Under Siege – 1985
• The Glass Flower – 1986
• The Pear-Shaped Man – 1987
• The Skin Trade – 1988
• The Hedge Knight – 1998
• Black and White and Red All Over – 2001
• The Sworn Sword – 2003
• Only Kids are Afraid of the Dark – 2003
• The Fortress – 2003
• And Death His Legacy – 2003
• A Night at the Tarn House – 2009
• The Mystery Knight – 2010
• The Princess and the Queen – 2013
• The Rogue Prince – 2014
• The Sons of the Dragon – 2017

Collections by George R.R. Martin

• A Song for Lya and Other Stories (1976)
• Songs of Stars and Shadows (1977)
• Sandkings (1981)
• Songs the Dead Men Sing (1983)
• Nightflyers (1985)
• Tuf Voyaging (1986)
• Portraits of His Children (1987)
• Quartet (2001)
• GRRM: A Retrospective (2003) (also published as Dreamsongs in 2007)
• Starlady / Fast-Friend (2008)
• Shadow Twin (with Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham) (2005)
• Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – The Tales of Dunk and Egg #1-3 (2015)

Children’s Books by George R.R. Martin

• The Ice Dragon (2006)

Anthologies by George R.R. Martin

• New Voices in Science Fiction – 1977
• New Voices in Science Fiction II – 1979
• New Voices in Science Fiction III – 1980
• New Voices in Science Fiction IV – 1981
• The Science Fiction Weight-Loss Book – Eat and Lose Weight with Science Fiction – 1982
• The John W. Campbell Awards, Volume 5 – 1984
• Night Visions 3 – 1986
• Songs of the Dying Earth – 2009
• Warriors – 2010
• Songs of Love and Death – 2010
• Down These Strange Streets – Strange Streets – 2011
• Songs of Love and Darkness – 2012
• Dangerous Women – 2013
• Some of the Best from Tor.com – 2013
• Old Mars – Chronicles of Mars – 2013
• Rogues – The Prince of Westeros and Other Stories – 2014
• Old Venus – 2015
• Songs of the Dying Earth – 2009
• Warriors – 2010
• Songs of Love and Death – 2011
• Down These Strange Streets – 2011
• Dangerous Women – 2013
• Old Mars – 2013
• Rogues – 2014
• Old Venus – 2015
• Wild Cards Series (Editor)
• Wild Cards – 1987
• Wild Cards II: Aces High – 1987
• Wild Cards III: Jokers Wild – 1987
• Wild Cards IV: Aces Abroad – 1988
• Wild Cards V: Down & Dirty – 1988
• Wild Cards VI: Ace in the Hole – 1990
• Wild Cards VII: Dead Man’s Hand – 1990
• Wild Cards VIII: One-Eyed Jacks – 1991
• Wild Cards IX: Jokertown Shuffle – 1991
• Wild Cards X: Double Solitaire – 1992
• Wild Cards XI: Dealer’s Choice – 1992
• Wild Cards XII: Turn of the Cards – 1993
• Card Sharks – 1993
• Marked Cards – 1994
• Black Trump – 1995
• Wild Cards XVI: Deuces Down – 2002
• Wild Cards XVII: Death Draws Five – 2006
• Inside Straight – 2008
• Busted Flush – 2008
• Suicide Kings – 2009
• Fort Freak – 2011
• Lowball – 2014
• High Stakes – 2016
• Mississippi Roll – forthcoming
• Low Chicago – forthcoming
• Texas Hold’em – forthcoming
• Joker Moon – forthcoming

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