George R. R. Martin took the world by storm with his epic fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire. The TV show adaptation Game of Thrones dominated the last decade and was watched by millions of people around the globe. It was Martin who created the awe-inspiring world of Westeros and all its powerful characters. Everyone hoping to see more of Martin’s work on screen can do so soon. With the upcoming series called House of the Dragon, another of his books is being adapted into a TV show. This time it’s his book Fire & Blood, a prequel to his series A Song of Ice and Fire that focuses on the House Targaryen.
Game of Thrones – Have you read or watched it? (Image provided by Pixabay
The Westeros saga continues: The House of the Dragon
George R. R. Martin’s Fire & Blood was published in November 2018 as the first of two volumes. It takes place in the world of Westeros we already know from A Song of Ice and Fire but teleports us 300 years before the events of A Game of Thrones, focusing on the history of House Targaryen. Spanning over three centuries, readers delve into all the events, drama, and fights that made House Targaryen.
Now HBO is turning part of the book into a TV series, continuing the saga of Westeros on the small screen. The upcoming TV show will have 10 episodes showing the second half of Fire & Blood. It focuses on the so-called Dance of the Dragons, a ruthless war within the House Targaryen between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon in a deadly fight for the throne.
As the stories of the Targaryens take place centuries before the events of Game of Thrones, we won’t see any of the characters from the popular show return. Paddy Considine will be playing King Viserys Targaryen and Matt Smith and Emma D’Arcy will be taking the roles of the two rival claimants for the throne, Aegon and Rhaenyra. The show is helmed by George R. R. Martin and Ryan J. Condal, with Condal and Miguel Sapochnik as the showrunners to bring Martin’s book to life on the small screen.
HBO has recently finally published an official trailer for the upcoming show and with it a release date: House of the Dragon will release on HBO NOW in the US and Sky in the UK on August 21, 2022.
How his books turned into a cultural phenomenon
Martin started his book series A Song of Ice and Fire in 1996. Little did he know it would eventually turn the world upside down. So far five books have been published with two more sequels planned. Although the book series isn’t finished yet, that didn’t stop HBO from creating a TV show adaptation that took the world by storm. Game of Thrones aired between 2011 and 2019, drawing in millions of viewers for its eight gripping seasons.
Game of Thrones turned into much more than a TV series. It was the topic everyone talked about after every episode and turned into a cultural phenomenon. By now, Game of Thrones has even inspired a series of games. A Game of Thrones: Genesis was the first to bring the world of A Song of Ice and Fire into the realm of games. With Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series from 2014, the TV show came to life on consoles, letting players jump into the action in Westeros themselves. Game of Thrones has even inspired the creation of other games. Nowadays, online platforms are known for offering a wide variety of games with different themes and mottos, which users can often try out for free through no deposit bonuses. With the new Game of Thrones game, Martin’s work has found its way onto the reels. These games only show how Martin has left a mark in our modern pop culture and is set to continue to do so.
George R. R. Martin is bringing his next book onto the small screen with Fire & Blood being adapted into a new HBO series. The author’s amazing work has already taken the world by storm, and we can’t wait to see how this prequel to A Song of Ice and Fire will play out on TV.
Are you a Game of thrones Fan? Will you be switching on to find out more about the Targaryens?
While you are waiting for the House of the Dragon to hit your small screen why not check out on of these book-inspired shows?
Did you enjoy this article? If so, why not PIN it for later…
