Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, From Game Thrones to Dance with Dragons

The world created by George R.R. Martin in his high fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire—now the basis for the hit HBO series —is not only richly drawn, but also immensely popular. By ' debut in May 2011, the series already had more than 6 million copies in print in the US and had sold more than 16 million worldwide. Since the television series' debut, and subsequent titles in the series have appeared consistently on the bestseller list. The latest title in the series, , sold nearly 300,000 copies on its first day in print. explores the book series' influences, its place in the fantasy pantheon, its challenging narrative choices, and the pull of its stunningly epic scope.