NOWTHEACCLAIMEDHBOSERIESGAMEOFTHRONES--THEMASTERPIECETHATBECAMEACULTURALPHENOMENONWinteriscoming.SuchisthesternmottoofHouseStark,thenorthernmostofthefiefdomsthatoweallegiancetoKingRobertBaratheoninfar-offKing’sLanding.ThereEddardStarkofWinterfellrulesinRobert’sname.Therehisfamilydwellsinpeaceandcomfort:hisproudwife,Catelyn;hissonsRobb,Brandon,andRickon;hisdaughtersSansaandArya;andhisbastardson,JonSnow.Fartothenorth,behindthetoweringWall,liesavageWildingsandworse--unnaturalthingsrelegatedtomythduringthecenturies-longsummer,butprovingalltoorealandalltoodeadlyintheturningoftheseason.Yetamoreimmediatethreatlurkstothesouth,whereJonArryn,theHandoftheKing,hasdiedundermysteriouscircumstances.NowRobertisridingnorthtoWinterfell,bringinghisqueen,thelovelybutcoldCersei,hisson,thecruel,vaingloriousPrinceJoffrey,andthequeen’sbrothersJaimeandTyrionofthepowerfulandwealthyHouseLannister--thefirstaswordsmanwithoutequal,thesecondadwarfwhosestuntedstaturebeliesabrilliantmind.AllareheadingforWinterfellandafatefulencounterthatwillchangethecourseofkingdoms.Meanwhile,acrosstheNarrowSea,PrinceViserys,heirofthefallenHouseTargaryen,whichonceruledallofWesteros,schemestoreclaimthethronewithanarmyofbarbarianDothraki--whoseloyaltyhewillpurchaseintheonlycoinlefttohim:hisbeautifulyetinnocentsister,Daenerys.
