Russellville Reads: Try the books that inspired the hit TV series

The flowers are blooming beautifully outside, and the tornado sirens have been keeping us awake all hours of the night. One would naturally assume spring is in full effect. However, we at Russellville Public Library know the truth: Winter is here.

Now, for those of you who don’t immediately understand the reference, we are talking Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin’s best-selling medieval fantasy book series that is brought to your TV screen on HBO. It’s the depiction of two powerful families – kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and honest men – playing a deadly game for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and to sit atop the Iron Throne.

The first episode aired April 17, 2011, and millions of people all over the world have been hooked ever since. Sunday was the long-awaited premier of the final season – and we do mean LONG awaited. Fans waited 595 days for a new episode!

However, we have been waiting even longer for a book! Martin hasn’t published a book in the actual series since 2011. We won’t hold it against him, though. He’s given us several wonderful, albeit lengthy, reads over the years.

If you’re interested in seeing what all the fuss is about, here’s a list of the books in order for reference.

NOVELS TO DATE

• “A Game of Thrones” (1996)
• “A Clash of Kings” (1998)
• “A Storm of Swords” (2000 – parts 1 and2)
• “A Feast for Crows” (2005)
• “A Dance with Dragons” (2011 – parts 1 and 2)
• “The Winds of Winter” (TBA)
• “A Dream of Spring” (TBA)

There were also several prequels released to provide more details about specific characters and setting information.

PREQUELS

• “Tales of Dunk & Egg” (1998-2010)
• “The Hedge Knight” (1998)
• “The Sworn Sword” (2003)
• “The Mystery Knight” (2010)
• “The Princess and the Queen” (2013)
• “The Rogue Prince” (2014)
• “The Sons of the Dragon” (2017)
• “Fire and Blood” (2018)

At Russellville Library we have the books available in print and online. We also have all of the TV series available for checkout on DVD.

It’s all happening at Russellville Public Library. If you’re not already, follow us on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Also check us out on our website, www.russellvillepubliclibrary.com. Thanks for reading!

Russellville Reads is written by Russellville Public Library director Ashley Cummins.