Sunday, April 1, 2012

George R. R. Martin: A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume One-Daniel Abraham (adapter) and Tommy Patterson (illustrator)

George R. R. Martin: A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume One


Daniel Abraham (adapter) and Tommy Patterson (illustrator)

Bantam, Mar 27 2012, $25.00

ISBN: 9780440423218



The seemingly everlasting winter is beginning to arrive in the Seven Kingdoms after decades of summer. Winter emboldens some to grab power deploying various means from armed combat to magic to assassination. North beyond the Wall, the Others like feral Wildings and creatures much more bellicose begin to invade the south starting with assaults on the House Stark fiefdom loyal to King Robert Baratheon. In the capital King’s Landing, the King’s Councilor Eddard Stark of Winterfell is the actual ruler. South of King’s Landing, the Hand of the King is mysteriously dead; leaving a power vacuum for those ambitious enough to make a move. Meanwhile King Robert and his extended family head to Eddard’s home Winterfell. Across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys of the once proud House Targaryen, former rulers of Westeros, plans to regain what his family lost by selling his sister Daenerys to Dothraki the barbarian in exchange for his military support. Under the frozen gray of winter, loyalties will be tested.



This graphic version of the first A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy is a great adaptation as Daniel Abraham captures the essence of George R. R. Martin’s opening act (the novel not the TV show; though both are superb). The art work by Tommy Patterson enhances the tale though there will be adjustment to his portraits as we have the HBO version of the key players and our own perceptions; think of the Jackson Lord of the Ring movies vs. how each of us perceived how the cast looked in the Tolkien books before the films.



Harriet Klausner

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