When you hear the name George R. R. Martin, your mind likely leaps to A Song of Ice and Fire (or ASoIaF), the sprawling series of fantasy books that inspired Game of Thrones. But to limit Martin’s contribution to only that world would be doing him, and yourself, a disservice. In this article, let’s explore all the major George RR Martin books in order of release.
I say “major”, because for simplicity’s sake, we are including only novels he has penned. Granted, fans of ASoIaF have been waiting for the sixth book, The Winds of Winter, for what seems like forever and it might seem the author likes to sit idle. But nothing could be further from the truth. He has been incredibly prolific throughout his career. And it is impossible for us to cover every single novella or short story that has contributed to his extensive oeuvre.
So, no novellas, reference books, short stories short story collections or fake history books like Fire & Blood, which inspired the Game of Thrones spinoff series House of the Dragon.
Martin has been a published author since 1971 and his first novel came out in 1977. Needless to say, he has been at it for a while, writing books in a variety of genres, including science-fiction and horror, and not just fantasy novels. And yet you can discern that he has always had that unique grasp on characters and emotional depth that makes his stories stand out. From the complex quasi-medieval European politics of A Song of Ice and Fire to the atmospheric horror of Fevre Dream, Martin’s characters are at the heart of all his tales. He manages to pen all the weak, flawed, and relatable characters so that it leaves it impossible for us to view them in simplistic terms of good versus evil.
What seems to separate Martin from his peers is that he combines personal struggles with larger, often cosmic stakes. His mastery of characters and the human condition pervades his work, regardless of the genre.
Exploring the major George RR Martin books: A comprehensive guide to his novels in order
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Dying of the Light
Synopsis: The action of this novel takes place in a far-off future on the Worlorn planet — a world doomed to freeze in place as it slowly, hopelessly drifts leftward out of the zone of the habitable star. What once thrummed with culture and civilisation would now slowly freeze under ice. Dirk t’Larien, a former space pilot and adventurer, is drawn back into the fold by a plea from an old lover, Gwen Delvano. Gwen is desperate for Dirk’s help because, with Worlorn’s death, its very inhabitants will also die. Upon Dirk’s arrival, he discovers that once-thriving cities on Worlorn are crumbling into dust, and society as he has left it is fractured and desperate. Dirk becomes embroiled in the last push to save the planet’s culture, while also struggling with his feelings about Gwen and with the politics and personal agendas of the remaining elite on the planet.
About the book: A space-opera, Dying of the Light is a story in the Star Wars vein. It has an epic scope and yet at the same time, Martin’s storytelling could not be more intimate.
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Fevre Dream
Synopsis: It is the antebellum South. The story revolves around a steamboat captain named Abner Marsh. Marsh is an able captain, yet work for him has been scarce. Then one day, a mysterious, wealthy man greets him in New Orleans: Joshua York. A man with an extraordinary proposal, York offers to build for Marsh a steamboat that will be larger and faster than ever to sail the Mississippi or any other river. Marsh doesn’t have an option but to accept the offer even if it seems too good to be true. Marsh and York become co-captains of the boat. The crew members begin to complain to March regarding the strange behaviours and habits of York and his friends. They never come out of their cabins in daylight and only consume only mysterious red liquid. All signs point to that one thing: York and his friends are vampires.
About the book: Fevre Dream is an excellent vampire novel that has the right amount of scare and history. It is rich with little historical details that those who are familiar with the setting will appreciate.
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The Armageddon Rag
Synopsis: Sandy Blair is a journalist and ex-music promoter who gets himself involved in an impressive mystery when the unsettling rumours of the legendary rock band The Inflammatory Rock surface. When Eric Bane, the band leader, is said to have survived and somehow in the loop of the violence happening here, Blair uncovers a sinister plot linking their music to supernatural forces.
About the book: This novel was experimental in nature and proved to be a disaster commercially. However, after Martin’s star rose again in the wake of ASoIaF’s success, the book has a found a new audience.
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A Game of Thrones
Synopsis: The first book in ASoIaF, it introduces the major players in the impending war in Westeros: the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, the Targaryens and so on. This is a world where single seasons last years a 700-foot tall Wall protects the Seven Kingdoms, the stories’ main setting, from threats from beyond, including supernatural forces. Eddard Stark, the lord of House Stark, has to go south to the capital King’s Landing to become the Hand of the King to his old friend, King Robert Baratheon. But King’s Landing is a nest of vipers, full of intrigue and danger.
About the book: While not an immediate success, A Game of Thrones and its sequels have gone on to become a cultural phenomenon, particularly after HBO’s Game of Thrones debuted in 2011.
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A Clash of Kings
Synopsis: After the deaths of King Robert and Lord Eddard Stark, war between the Starks and the Lannisters is being waged in the Seven Kingdoms. Meanwhile, other lords, including Balon Greyjoy, have also declared themselves kings. Now, there are a total of five contenders to the Iron Throne. The conflict is being called War of the Five King. Meanwhile, the ancient threat of the Others (or White Walkers), is rearing its head and would make the human power struggles irrelevant.
About the book: While A Game of Thrones was a success, it also suffered from the issues of a debut novel in a series. It has to introduce a cast of characters hundred-strong and do a lot of world-building. With A Clash of Kings, Martin could focus on action. And while not as fast-paced and grand in scope as the third novel, it is rich and satisfying.
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A Storm of Swords
Synopsis: Easily the best novel in ASoIaF so far, it is absolutely packed with shocking, awesome and exhilarating moments. The dreaded Red Wedding comes near the middle of this novel. Several important players are removed from the equation and yet, the scale and scope of this world remains breathtaking. The war continues to rage on, lords of Westeros make and break alliances, there is lots of backstabbing, betrayal and more. Oh and the Others are marching south to the Seven Kingdoms.
About the book: This novel is epic in every sense of the word. It is also the longest novel in ASoIaF so far.
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A Feast for Crows
Synopsis: A Feast for Crows is focused on the political intrigue of Westeros and, for the most part, moves away from the grand battles and sweeping political manoeuvrings of its predecessors. It is set after the War of the Five Kings, and focuses on the repercussions of this war and the resulting power vacuum. It focuses on internal conflicts and power games of the Seven Kingdoms, particularly around the capital, King’s Landing, and the broken parts of the South. Key personalities like Cersei Lannister come to the fore as they try to consolidate their powers in treacherous waters, while the book also introduces new points of view and locations, such as Dorne and Ironborn lands.
About the book: Weakest of the ASoIaF novels, it does not have a lot of action and there is quite a bit of filler as well. However, thanks to richly detailed world-building, it is still pretty damn good.
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A Dance with Dragons
Synopsis: Picking right from where the last book left off, A Dance with Dragons takes up all the dangling narrative threads at the end of A Storm of Swords. The novel goes deep into the mess and power struggle in Westeros and beyond, focusing on key characters who were barely seen in A Feast for Crows. In the North, Jon Snow wrangles with the responsibility that comes with being the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch as the White Walkers threaten the very existence of humanity. Meanwhile, in the city of Meereen, Daenerys Targaryen faces challenges in growing her empire, including how to maintain her rule while confronting the insinuation and the external threat both coming from her kingdom.
About the book: By this time, the world of ASoIaF has become too big and it is hard to keep track of hundreds of characters for us readers. And yet, Martin does not seem to have any problem juggling sprawling cast and plots and subplots.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There is no order of Martin’s book before ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ or ASoIaF. But for ASoIaF, the order is ‘A Game of Thrones’, ‘A Clash of Kings’, ‘A Storm of Swords’, ‘A Feast for Crows’, and ‘A Dance with Dragons’. Two more novels, ‘The Winds of Winter’ and ‘A Dream of Spring’ are yet to come.
It is because author George R. R. Martin has had other commitments, including working on the adaptations of his works like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘House of the Dragon’.
No. Until now, there are five books. Two more are yet to come.
There are five books at this moment. There are two more planned books in the series by author George R. R. Martin.
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Kshitij is a journalism graduate who did not initially intend to become a film critic, but such are the vagaries of destiny. Now, Kshitij is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and a member of the Film Critics Guild, bringing expertise and experience in evaluating entertainment content with him. Additionally, he serves as a jury member on the Critics' Choice Awards in India. When he's not busy wielding words, catch him nose-deep in books or joyfully lost in the realms of gaming and photography.
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