# Need a synopsis of George R.R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276 "2007-01-31T16:01:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/1 "2007-01-31T16:01:07Z")
I read the first three books in the series years ago and was highly entertained. I’m not usually a fan of the fantasy genre, but the intricate plot lines and unexpected twists sold me on these books. I recently discovered that the fourth book of the planned seven part series is finally out, so I went to my library’s web site and requested it from the intrastate system. (PINES kicks ass, by the way) I got the book a few days later, but there’s one problem… I can’t remember all that freakin’ happened in the first three. There’s just too many plot threads to remember from six or seven years ago. Can somebody give me a very abbreviated cliff’s notes version of the series up until “A Feast for Crows”? Who’s in power, who’s not, who’s alive, who’s dead, who’s undead, etc. Feel free to discuss the books in general if you want, but _please_ use spoiler tags when discussing “A Feast for Crows”. I haven’t read the thing yet. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/2 "2007-01-31T16:40:34Z")
Wikipedia has some pretty good book summaries. Here are the links: > **[A Game of Thrones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Game_of_Thrones)** > > A Game of Thrones is the first novel in A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin. It was first published on August 1, 1996. The novel won the 1997 Locus Award and was nominated for both the 1997 Nebula Award and the 1997 World Fantasy Award. The novella Blood of the Dragon, comprising the Daenerys Targaryen chapters from the novel, won the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Novella. In January 2011, the novel became a New York Times Bestseller In the nove... > **[A Clash of Kings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clash_of_Kings)** > > A Clash of Kings is the second of seven planned novels in A Song of Ice and Fire, an epic fantasy series by American author George R. R. Martin. It was first published on November 16, 1998 in the United Kingdom; the first United States edition followed on February 2, 1999. Like its predecessor, A Game of Thrones, it won the Locus Award (in 1999) for best novel and was nominated for the Nebula Award (also in 1999) for best novel. In May 2005, Meisha Merlin released a limited edition of the nove > **[A Storm of Swords](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Storm_of_Swords)** > > A Storm of Swords is the third of seven planned novels in A Song of Ice and Fire, a fantasy series by American author George R. R. Martin. It was first published on August 8, 2000, in the United Kingdom, with a United States edition following in November 2000. Its publication was preceded by a novella called Path of the Dragon, which collects some of the Daenerys Targaryen chapters from the novel into a single book. > At the time of its publication, A Storm of Swords was the longest novel in the s... ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/3 "2007-01-31T17:32:26Z")
I posted a re-cap of A Storm of Swords [here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345647) ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/4 "2007-02-01T02:33:59Z")
Bad things happen. Then more bad things happen. Good people act like total scum, bad people show unexpected honor, and bad things happen. ---
**Author:** ![Arien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arien)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/5 "2007-02-01T03:48:18Z")
[QUOTE=DrFidelius] Bad things happen. Then more bad things happen. Good people act like total scum, bad people show unexpected honor, and bad things happen. [/QUOTE] You forgot about the zombies! ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/6 "2007-02-01T13:28:57Z")
[QUOTE=Arien] You forgot about the zombies! [/QUOTE] Zombies make bad things happen to other people. 🙂 -Joe, didn’t like Catelyn when she was alive, liked her less now she’s dead ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/7 "2007-02-01T17:34:21Z")
Heh, I just had an idea. One of HBOs competitors hire(s/d) the guy who does the 30 second movie recaps with bunnies. It would be funny for them to poke fun at HBO by doing the recaps of the George RR Martin books, seeing as HBO is doing a series about them. – IG ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/8 "2007-02-01T18:18:25Z")
Don’t forget that the main character, the one who’s obviously going to be the anchor and thread of continuity thruout the entire series of books, gets killed. And so does the main character’s replacement. And that one’s replacement. And so on. ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/9 "2007-02-01T18:45:24Z")
You obviously suffer from the commmon misconception that there is a main character at all Besides, many of the current POW characters were there from the beginning. Quit complaining. ---
**Author:** ![Yogurt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/f0a364/32.png) [@Yogurt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yogurt)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/10 "2007-02-01T22:16:58Z")
[QUOTE=Improv Geek] HBO is doing a series about them. – IG [/QUOTE] [The Story.](http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117957532.html?categoryid=14&cs=1) ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/11 "2007-02-01T22:43:40Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Don’t forget that the main character, the one who’s obviously going to be the anchor and thread of continuity thruout the entire series of books, gets killed. And so does the main character’s replacement. And that one’s replacement. And so on. [/QUOTE] Yes. I’ve just finished reading all four books, and I loved them, but now I’m wondering if anyone is going to be left alive to rule the Seven Kingdoms by the time we’re done. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/12 "2007-02-01T22:43:51Z")
[QUOTE=Yogurt] [The Story.](http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117957532.html?categoryid=14&cs=1) [/QUOTE] I appreciate the link but don’t follow why you shared it with me. The idea was spurned by the fact that HBO is doing this series. The cartoon guy doesn’t need rights to the story, it falls under satire or whatever. So Cinemax or Showtime, whoever employs him now, could do it to make fun of HBO, though I guess the story is a bit intricate for 30 seconds… I dunno. – IG ---
**Author:** ![Yogurt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/f0a364/32.png) [@Yogurt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yogurt)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/13 "2007-02-01T22:51:02Z")
[QUOTE=Improv Geek] I appreciate the link but don’t follow why you shared it with me. The idea was spurned by the fact that HBO is doing this series. The cartoon guy doesn’t need rights to the story, it falls under satire or whatever. So Cinemax or Showtime, whoever employs him now, could do it to make fun of HBO, though I guess the story is a bit intricate for 30 seconds… I dunno. – IG [/QUOTE] I was simply linking to it for anyone else who was unaware of the HBO series and attributed the original mention of the series to you via the quote, not necessarily providing it for your benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/14 "2007-02-01T22:54:25Z")
[QUOTE=Yogurt] I was simply linking to it for anyone else who was unaware of the HBO series and attributed the original mention of the series to you via the quote, not necessarily providing it for your benefit. [/QUOTE] Gotcha - thanks then, good thinking. – IG ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/15 "2007-02-02T00:49:14Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Don’t forget that the main character, the one who’s obviously going to be the anchor and thread of continuity thruout the entire series of books, gets killed. And so does the main character’s replacement. And that one’s replacement. And so on. [/QUOTE] Ned. Rob. Who is #3? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/16 "2007-02-02T00:54:12Z")
[QUOTE=Eleanor of Aquitaine] Yes. I’ve just finished reading all four books, and I loved them, but now I’m wondering if anyone is going to be left alive to rule the Seven Kingdoms by the time we’re done. [/QUOTE] One word: Hodor. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/17 "2007-02-02T02:30:06Z")
Hodor? HODOR! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/18 "2007-02-02T07:23:27Z")
[QUOTE=Eleanor of Aquitaine] Yes. I’ve just finished reading all four books, and I loved them, but now I’m wondering if anyone is going to be left alive to rule the Seven Kingdoms by the time we’re done. [/QUOTE] Sam, of course. Seriously- Do you think there’ll actually _be_ a Seven Kingdoms when the story ends? That Wall is coming down, the Others are coming south… and after that, things are going to get a bit unpleasant. I can’t wait. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/19 "2007-02-02T07:31:31Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] Ned. Rob. Who is #3? -Joe [/QUOTE] Jon would be #3, or possibly #2, but he’s not dead. Yet. Dany and Tyrion are the other two that I think you could claim to be the main character, but they’re also alive as far as we know. ---
**Author:** ![DemonSpawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@DemonSpawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonSpawn)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-synopsis-of-george-r-r-martins-song-of-ice-and-fire/390276/20 "2007-02-02T09:50:49Z")
Very detailed synopsis here: > **[News, Politics, Sports, Mail & Latest Headlines](https://www.aol.com/)** > > Discover the latest breaking news in the U.S. and around the world — politics, weather, entertainment, lifestyle, finance, sports and much more. I used these before I bought A Feast for Crows. Enjoy! Myriam