Author

George R. R. Martin

Q: What should I read first by George R. R. Martin?

Start with the A Song of Ice and Fire series, since it is the first on file, then read it in publication order.

George R. R. Martin has 21 known credited books (20 published; 1 with an uncertain publication date) across 2 series. Start with A Song of Ice and Fire.

George R. R. Martin is an American author and one of the most influential fantasy writers of his generation, best known for A Song of Ice and Fire, the sprawling epic fantasy series he began with A Game of Thrones in 1996. Set in the war-torn continent of Westeros and beyond, the series is known for its morally complex characters, unpredictable plotting and willingness to kill off major figures, qualities that helped redefine reader expectations for the genre. The books became a global phenomenon after HBO adapted them as Game of Thrones (2011–2019), one of the most-watched television series ever made, followed by the prequel House of the Dragon. Martin had a long career in television and short fiction before A Song of Ice and Fire, including work on the 1980s revival of The Twilight Zone and the series Beauty and the Beast. New readers are best served starting with A Game of Thrones itself, since the show diverged from the novels in its final seasons and the books remain the definitive version of the story. The final two volumes, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, remain unpublished, making Martin's writing pace a subject of ongoing fan discussion.

Series: 2
Credited books: 21
Published: 20
Date uncertain: 1
Latest published book: The Rise of the Dragon 25 October 2022
Active: 1977–present
Best known for: A Song of Ice and Fire

Key facts about George R. R. Martin

George R. R. Martin has 21 books on our list. 14 of them belong to a series, while 7 stand alone. 20 are out now. 1 more has no firm date yet.

George R. R. Martin has 2 series on file. A Song of Ice and Fire has 11 books, while Tales of Dunk and Egg has 3 books. In particular, A Song of Ice and Fire is the longest series on file. A Song of Ice and Fire starts with Blood of the Dragon, while Tales of Dunk and Egg starts with The Hedge Knight.

Since A Song of Ice and Fire is the first series on file, it is the place to start. Their first published book on file came out in 1977. Meanwhile, The Rise of the Dragon is the latest published book, out on 25 October 2022.

There are also 7 standalone books. You can read them in any order, since each one stands alone. The newest one that is out is Hunter's Run, from 2007.

The oldest on file is Dying of the Light, from 1977. Their series sit on our fantasy shelf.