Bright Summaries - A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (Book Analysis)

The plot of the first volume of the famous series unfolds in a very realistic-seeming medieval world: in the Seven Kingdoms, in the continent of Westeros, the Baratheon family seized power fifteen years earlier. In doing so, they exiled the fallen Targaryen dynasty to Essos, the continent of the Free Cities, and subjugated the seven other great houses of the kingdom. The Starks occupy the North, the Arryns are in the East, the Lannisters are in the West, the Tullys are in the centre, etc. In the far North of the country there is an enormous wall which protects the inhabitants of Westeros from the invasions of wildlings and fantastical creatures (giants, White Walkers etc.). The Iron Throne, which is referred to in the title of the book, symbolises the power held by the sovereign reigning from Kings Landing.

Beyond the Wall

Beyond the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms, the brothers of the Nights Watch are tasked with repelling the wildlings and the monsters, which, however, disappeared several generations ago, so that nobody believes in them anymore. When three black-clad brothers are chasing rebels beyond the wall, they discover that the creatures talked about in legends, the Others, are very much alive.

The Seven Kingdoms in the continent of Westeros

Winterfell, in the North of Westeros, is ruled by the House of Stark. Lord Eddard, Guardian of the North, known to those close to him as Ned, administers justice there on behalf of the King of the Seven Kingdoms. When his children discover several orphaned direwolves, they each adopt one. Direwolves are also the emblem of the House of Stark.

One day, Ned learns of the murder of Jon Arryn, Hand of the King, and of the arrival of King Robert Baratheon and Queen Cersei Lannister in Winterfell. The king appoints Ned as his new advisor and seals the agreement by promising his eldest son and heir to the throne, Joffrey, in marriage to Neds eldest daughter Sansa. Lord Eddard then prepares to leave for the South with his daughters, Sansa and Arya, and his son Bran; Rickon is at this time too young and Robb, the eldest, must stay to oversee the stewardship of Winterfell. However, before they leave for the capital, Bran catches Cersei having sex with her twin brother Jaime. To ensure his silence, Jaime throws the boy from the window; although he survives the fall, he is left paraplegic for life. In a coma when the others set off for Kings Landing, he is consequently left in Winterfell. Meanwhile John Snow, Neds bastard, joins the Nights Watch, as his status does not allow him to follow Ned to court or remain in the House of Stark.

While Sansa likes the entourage of the queen, the princess and the prince, Arya prefers perfecting her swordsmanship with a young butcher. Her sister and Joffrey come across them training, and the prince amuses himself by threatening the butcher with his sword. To protect her friend, Arya sets her direwolf Nymeria on Joffrey before running away. In revenge for this insult to her son, Cersei forces Ned to kill Lady, Sansas direwolf, in place of Nymeria who has escaped.

At Winterfell, a man tries to kill Bran, who is still unconscious. Fortunately, the boy is saved by his direwolf Summer. Neds wife Catelyn decides to head to the capital to find out who ordered the murder. During his mothers absence, Bran wakes up and must confront his disability. At Kings Landing, Catelyn learns that the dagger used to attack her son belongs to Tyrion Lannister, the queens younger brother.

Meanwhile, Ned leads the enquiry to uncover who killed Jon Arryn. In doing so, he realises that the royal children are not Roberts, but are the result of the incestuous relationship between the queen and her twin brother. He then understands that this secret is behind the death of the last Hand of the King and the attempted murder of Bran.

On the road back to Winterfell, Catelyn meets Tyrion and has him arrested and brought to the Eyrie, where her sister Lysa, Jon Arryns widow, lives, so that he can be tried. The prisoner requests a trial by duel; his champion wins and he is released. Meanwhile, the news of his capture drives his father, Tywin Lannister, to go to war with the Tullys, Catelyns family.

On learning of the pregnancy of Daenerys Targaryen, the daughter of the last king and currently aged just thirteen, King Robert decides to have her killed out of fear that her unborn child will claim his throne. Ned, who cannot accept the murder of a child, is opposed to this and resigns as Hand. As he prepares to return to Winterfell, he is attacked by Jaime Lannister, who is seeking revenge for the capture of his brother. During their confrontation, Ned breaks his leg and loses consciousness.

When he comes to, Robert gives him back his Hands badge and threatens to give it to Jaime if he dares to reject it again. Ned, fearing that the king will kill his own children if he learns that they are not his, advises the queen to flee in order to avoid a massacre. She refuses and has Robert killed during a hunting party, disguising it as an accident. Ned then reveals the truth to the court, but he is arrested for treason as Joffrey takes the throne. Joffrey appoints Tywin Lannister, his grandfather, as the new Hand. The ambitious Lannisters then capture Sansa, while Arya manages to escape. On learning of the situation in Kings Landing, Robb raises an army and goes to war against the Lannisters in the hope of freeing his father and sisters.