The Game of Thrones books, which are better than the series, are on sale during Prime Day

By James On Jul 17, 2024

Believe me, I’m one of those people who has read all of George RR Martin’s books. A song of ice and fire series long before the TV show was greenlit: This is the superior version of the story, even though I am 100% convinced that Martin will never be able to write it off. And right now, the entire box set with books is extra discounted thanks to Amazon Prime Day.

George RR Martin’s A Game of Thrones 5-Book Boxed Set

Prices are valid at time of publication.

This five-book box set, which may not see more releases (at least not at the pace that George R. R. Martin is doing), still contains thousands of pages of gripping, surprising fantasy stories that explore the characters’ complex motivations in much more nuance than the TV series ever did.

I know what you’re thinking. “Maddy, why should I read these books when the story isn’t even over, and it’s looking more and more like it never will be? Shouldn’t I just watch the critically acclaimed TV series (despite the poorly reviewed series finale)?” No! No, you shouldn’t! You should read the books, actually!

A song of ice and fire, the book series, is similar to the HBO series in that it’s gritty fantasy, but it’s also exceptionally raunchy good fun. Sex scenes, lavish descriptions of food, gruesome fantasy battles — it’s all there, in ways that aren’t entirely unlike the show. The reason the books are better, though, is because they give you the opportunity to do something the show never has time to do. The characters’ inner monologues allow you to get to know each of their little problems so much better, and that makes every twist and turn all the more heartbreaking.

Martin’s whole deal as a storyteller — on full display in this series — is to subvert the reader’s expectations at every turn. Every time you think he’s setting up a character as a great hero destined to save the day, he turns it around by killing them off or setting someone else up to foil their best-laid plans. The show oversimplifies these character arcs, making each character’s motivations easier to understand and less nuanced. The books’ thousands of pages don’t have to do that. These characters become the complete, shambling idiots they were always meant to be, and it’s a goddamn delight.

Don’t miss this one, as long as you’re okay with the story being unfinished. What is there is still a remarkably fun ride.

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