Gifts for Game of Thrones Fans

The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros, by George R.R. Martin, Elio Garcia, and Linda Antonsson
Martin’s fictional world is darkly beautiful, intricate, and deep. In this lavish compendium, Martin cranks up the backstory to 11, providing the most comprehensive (and illustrated) view yet of the history of the Seven Kingdoms. Produced with the founders of the fan site Westeros.org, this is the battle-filled, rivalry-stuffed, usurper-heavy hardcover your coffee table has been waiting for.

Game of Thrones 5-Copy Boxed Set, by George R.R. Martin
Readers know why Game of Thrones makes for such amazing television: because it is based on amazing books. For anyone on your list who likes the show but hasn’t yet read the work that inspired them, this boxed set is the perfect gift. May we suggest this message for the card? “Enclosed, you will find one of the most epic feats of storytelling in all of literature. Happy holidays!”

Warriors, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
In the first of their cross-genre anthologies, George R.R. Martin and co-editor Gardner Dozois explore what it means to be a warrior, whether heroic or villainous. Contributors include Diana Gabaldon, David Weber, Joe R. Lansdale, Peter S. Beagle, and many more. And in the coup de grace, Martin delivers the third of his Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, which feature the Little Hedge Knight That Could, Dunk, and his squire-come-lately, Egg. “The Mystery Knight” takes place during the reign of Aerys I and features, among its many Easter eggs, a four-year-old Walder Frey.

Dangerous Women, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
George R.R. Martin’s female characters are just as complex, challenging, heroic, and ruthless as their male counterparts. That mindset extends to all the stories in this treasure trove of alpha women and femme fatales. Diana Gabaldon is back as a contributor, as is Lev Grossman with a story set in the world of The Magicians, Jim Butcher with a new story from Harry Dresden’s world, and of course, a tale of war between a Targaryen princess and her stepmother, set 200 years before the start of A Game of Thrones.

Rogues, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
The latest themed anthology from Martin and Dozois features rousing tales of roguish behavior from scoundrels, anti-heroes, and those who do evil (even if they don’t mean to). Regular fantasy readers won’t want to miss a romp from Patrick Rothfuss’s Kingkiller Chronicles world, nor a check-in with the Marquis de Carabas from Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, but there’s plenty here for genre newcomers, including a wickedly sexy story from Gillian Flynn, the devious mind behind Gone Girl. For Martin’s part, he offers up more Targaryen upheaval, this time in a prequel of sorts to his novella at the end of Dangerous Women.

Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, adapted by Daniel Abraham, art by Tommy Patterson
The land of the Seven Kingdoms is recreated in vivid detail in this stunning graphic novel adaptation, scripted by Daniel Abraham, a worthy fantasy writer in his own right. Westeros has jumped from the printed page, to the screen, to the illustrated panel, each version offering a unique, indelible, and essential vision of Martin’s creation.

The Lands of Ice & Fire, by George R.R. Martin
With a story that spans the Seven Kingdoms and multiple other continents besides, A Song of Ice and Fire really puts the “epic” in “epic fantasy.” This collection of lavishly illustrated maps will help readers and viewers alike orient themselves in this rich invented world. From tundra to desert, the land of the Seven Kingdoms (and beyond) is vast, with nary a biome unturned, and here’s a passport to it all.

Living Language Dothraki, by David J. Peterson
Dothraki is the language of the noble, ruthless horse lords of Essos—and if you master this book, you, too, can learn to speak the language of Khal Drogo. Written by the man who developed the language for the show, Living Language Dothraki offers a phrasebook and companion CD (featuring more than 200 words and phrases) that provide the building blocks to beefing up on your fictional linguistics, a skill that’s a surefire hit at parties. Me nem nesa: it is known.

Game of Thrones: Westeros Intrigue
Sure, it’s easy to criticize the Starks for bumbling through the Game of Thrones (hey, Ned, maybe DON’T reveal to your archnemesis that you’re going to reveal all the skeletons in her closet), but do you really think you can do better? Prove it in this addictive game of court intrigue, in which your ability to know when to hold ’em, and know when to unleash the Hound will spell victory over your opponents and seal your claim over the Seven Kingdoms.