A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

by George R. R. Martin Narrated by Harry Lloyd

Overview

NEW YORK TIMES*BESTSELLER ¿*Taking place nearly a century before the events of*A Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms*compiles the first three official prequel novellas to George R. R. Martin's ongoing masterwork, A Song of Ice and Fire.
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NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY*LOS ANGELES TIMES AND BUZZFEED
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These never-before-collected adventures recount an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living consciousness. Before Tyrion Lannister and Podrick Payne, there was Dunk and Egg. A young, naïve but ultimately courageous hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall towers above his rivals-in stature if not experience. Tagging along is his diminutive squire, a boy called Egg-whose true name is hidden from all he and Dunk encounter. Though more improbable heroes may not be found in all of Westeros, great destinies lay ahead for these two . . . as do powerful foes, royal intrigue, and outrageous exploits.
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Featuring more than 160 all-new illustrations by Gary Gianni,*A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms*is a must-have collection that proves chivalry isn't dead-yet.

Praise for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

“Readers who already love Martin and his ability to bring visceral human drama out of any story will be thrilled to find this trilogy brought together and injected with extra life.”-Booklist

“The real reason to check out this collection is that it's simply great storytelling. Martin crafts a living, breathing world in a way few authors can. . . . [Gianni's illustrations] really bring the events of the novellas to life in beautiful fashion.”-Tech Times

“Stirring . . . As Tolkien has his Silmarillion, so [George R. R.] Martin has this trilogy of foundational tales. They succeed on their own, but in addition, they succeed in making fans want more.”-Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Pure fantasy adventure, with two of the most likable protagonists George R. R. Martin has ever penned.”-Bustle

“A must-read for Martin's legion of fans . . . a rousing prelude to [his] bestselling Song of Ice and Fire saga . . . rich in human drama and the colorful worldbuilding that distinguishes other books in the series.”-Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

12/21/2015
The three interlocking novellas in this collection, all previously published, make for a rousing prelude to Martin's bestselling Song of Ice and Fire saga. Set 90 years before the events in A Game of Thrones, they chronicle the experiences of Ser Duncan the Tall, a humble hedge knight whose honorable comportment is often at odds with the schemes of the royals who rule the Seven Kingdoms. In "The Hedge Knight," Duncan is forced to fight a brutal trial by combat for defending a commoner against a cruel prince's son. In both "The Sworn Sword" and "The Mystery Knight," Duncan advances further toward fulfilling his destiny as a knight of the Kingsguard, foreseen in dreams throughout the stories. The stories are top-heavy with tournaments and bloody battles, but also rich in human drama and the colorful worldbuilding that distinguishes other books in the series. The appearance of youthful versions of characters who figure in the later novels makes this collection a must-read for Martin's legions of fans. (Oct.)

From the Publisher

Readers who already love [George R. R.] Martin and his ability to bring visceral human drama out of any story will be thrilled to find this trilogy brought together and injected with extra life.”—Booklist
 
“The real reason to check out this collection is that it’s simply great storytelling. Martin crafts a living, breathing world in a way few authors can. . . . [Gary Gianni’s illustrations] really bring the events of the novellas to life in beautiful fashion.”—Tech Times 

“Stirring . . . As Tolkien has his Silmarillion, so [George R. R.] Martin has this trilogy of foundational tales. They succeed on their own, but in addition, they succeed in making fans want more.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Pure fantasy adventure, with two of the most likable protagonists George R. R. Martin has ever penned.”—Bustle

“A must-read for Martin’s legion of fans . . . a rousing prelude to [his] bestselling Song of Ice and Fire saga . . . rich in human drama and the colorful worldbuilding that distinguishes other books in the series.”—Publishers Weekly

Library Journal

05/15/2015
A great stopgap for fans awaiting the next entry in the phenomenal "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, these three never-before-collected novellas take place 90 years before the Game of Thrones era and feature hedge knight Duncan and his squire, Egg. Egg, whose real name is Aegon Targaryen, becomes King Aegon V, the Unlikely, and the great-grandfather of leading "Ice and Fire" protagonist Daenerys. With 160 black-and-white illustrations.

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2015-10-07
Huzzah! Martin (The Ice Dragon, 2014, etc.) delivers just what fans have been waiting for: stirring tales of the founding of the Targaryen line. Duncan—Dunk for short—has his hapless moments. He's big, nearly gigantic, "hugely tall for his age, a shambling, shaggy, big-boned boy of sixteen or seventeen." Uncertain of himself, clumsy, and alone in the world, he has every one of the makings of a hero, if only events will turn in that direction. They do, courtesy of a tiny boy who steals into the "hedge knight" Dunk's life and eventually reveals a name to match that of Ser Duncan the Tall—an altogether better name, at that, than Duncan of Flea Bottom would have been. Egg, as the squire calls himself, has a strange light about him, as if he will be destined to go on to better things, as indeed he will. Reminiscent of a simpler Arthur Rackham, the illustrations capture that light, as they do the growing friendship between Dunk and Egg—think Manute Bol and Muggsy Bogues, if your knowledge of basketball matches your interest in fantasy. This being Martin, that friendship will not be without its fraught moments, its dangers and double crosses and knightly politics. There are plenty of goopily violent episodes as well, from jousts ("this time Lord Leo Tyrell aimed his point so expertly he ripped the Grey Lion's helm cleanly off his head") to medieval torture ("Egg…used the hat to fan away the flies. There were hundreds crawling on the dead men, and more drifting lazily through the still, hot air."). Throughout, Martin delivers thoughtful foreshadowing of the themes and lineages that will populate his Ice and Fire series, in which Egg, it turns out, is much less fragile than he seems. As Tolkien had his Silmarillion, so Martin has this trilogy of foundational tales. They succeed on their own, but in addition, they succeed in making fans want more—and with luck, Martin will oblige them with more of these early yarns.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171818661
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	10/06/2015
Series:	The Tales of Dunk and Egg
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	337,291

Read an Excerpt

THE HEDGE KNIGHT
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"
by .
Copyright © 2015 George R. R. Martin.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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