A Song of Ice and Fire
A high fantasy series of political realism and moral ambiguity.
A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of high fantasy novels by the American author George R. R. Martin. The series, originally envisioned as a trilogy, has released five out of seven planned volumes, with the first volume published in 1996 and the most recent in 2011. It is set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos and is known for its political realism, moral ambiguity, and use of multiple subjective points of view.
- author
- George R. R. Martin
- nationality
- American
- genre
- High fantasy
- first_volume_published
- 1996
- volumes_planned
- 7
- volumes_released
- 5
- copies_sold_as_of_2026
- over 100 million
Lore & Background
George R. R. Martin began writing the first volume, A Game of Thrones, in 1991 and published it in 1996. The series was originally planned as a trilogy but expanded to seven volumes. The most recent entry, A Dance with Dragons, was published in 2011. Martin has since been working on the sixth novel, The Winds of Winter, with a seventh, A Dream of Spring, planned to follow. The series depicts a violent world dominated by political realism, with supernatural elements confined to the margins. Moral ambiguity pervades the books, and storylines raise questions about loyalty, pride, human sexuality, piety, and the morality of violence. The narrative unfolds through alternating limited third-person perspectives, with the number of point-of-view characters expanding from nine in the first novel to 31 by the fifth.
Reader's Guide
A Song of Ice and Fire has had a significant impact on fantasy literature and popular culture. As of 2026, more than 100 million copies in 47 languages had been sold. The fourth and fifth volumes reached the top of the New York Times Best Seller lists. The series has received critical acclaim for its world-building, characters, and narrative. Derived works include several prequel novellas, three television series, a comic book adaptation, and various card, board, and video games. The series is noted for its interwoven plots: a dynastic war for control of Westeros, the ambition of the exiled Targaryen dynasty to reclaim the Iron Throne, and the threat of the supernatural Others from the north. Martin's inspirations include many supposed historic events. The series' use of moral ambiguity and subjective viewpoints has influenced subsequent fantasy writing.
Did You Know?
- Martin began writing the first volume in 1991 after a vivid idea of a boy seeing a man's beheading and finding direwolves in the snow.
- The series was originally envisioned as a trilogy but expanded to seven volumes.
- The fourth and fifth volumes reached the top of the New York Times Best Seller lists when published in 2005 and 2011, respectively.
- The story is told through limited third-person perspectives, with the number of point-of-view characters expanding from nine in the first novel to 31 by the fifth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the giants in A Song of Ice and Fire?
In George R. R. Martin's high fantasy series, the giants are a race of towering humanoids who inhabit the frozen, uncharted lands beyond the Wall in the far north of Westeros. They represent one of the many non-human peoples that populate the series' expansive world.
What role do the giants play in A Song of Ice and Fire's narrative?
Rather than driving the plot, the giants function as part of the world's deep lore, reinforcing the sense that the setting is far larger and older than the human political conflicts at the story's center. They are referenced through characters' knowledge of the far north, fitting the series' use of multiple subjective perspectives to build its world.
Where in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire do the giants reside?
They dwell in the vast, icy territory beyond the Wall in the far north of Westeros, a region that also harbors wildling tribes and other legendary creatures. This placement underscores the series' theme that danger and the unknown persist well beyond the boundaries of civilized society.
Why are the giants in A Song of Ice and Fire significant within the broader 'giants in popular culture' category?
They contribute to the world-building by showing that the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos contain a rich tapestry of peoples beyond the human kingdoms. Their existence adds to the series' reputation for political realism and moral ambiguity by reminding readers that the world operates on scales far larger than any single character's arc.
How many volumes of A Song of Ice and Fire have been published that reference the giants?
Five of the seven planned volumes have been published to date, with the first appearing in 1996 and the most recent in 2011. The giants are woven into the lore of the northern regions across the series, which was originally conceived as a trilogy by American author George R. R. Martin.
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