Game Of Thrones
The Winds of Winteris long delinquent , butthere are several bang-up fantasy series to pick up in the lag . If you ’re like me , you ’ve been wait for George R.R. Martin to finish this book for quite a while . Perhaps you google the book ’s title day by day to check for even the most minor of updates . Maybe you have n’t accepted theGame of Thronesendingand desire more from this humanity . While I desire you have a good for you relationship with your media than I do , it ’s still worth picking up another serial now and then because there are some splendid options .
George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice & Firebookschanged the scope of the phantasy genre decade after J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringscreated the golden measure . Several Holy Scripture have been written in reception to Martin ’s work , expanding on his tone and themes with fresh ideas . However , there are also multiple serial publication that pre - dateA Game of Thrones , which Martin himself was inspired byin the process of creating his reality .
6The First Law
By Joe Abercrombie
Most sports fan of contemporary illusion will mention Joe Abercrombie as the perfectA Song of Ice & Firefollow - up , as he ’s the writer most have intercourse for embracing Martin ’s darker tonus . For those who love the grapheme - focused , duologue - heavy , and virtuously gray POV lineament in Westeros , The First Lawseries sharpen on those elements in its own compelling world , with a piece less care to plot of land . Abercrombie is a mod lord at creating complex , compelling characters who , despite their many defect , are shiver to come after .
The Blade Itselfis the first Scripture inThe First Lawuniverse , which spread over two stark trilogy , three standalone novels , and more .
In ablog postfrom 2008 , Joe Abercrombie examine the effect that Martin ’s work had on his publication life history , stating , " A Game of Throneswas deeply shocking when I first take it and fundamentally convert my notions about what could be done with epic fantasy . " It ’s arduous to pick a secure selection for a follow - up than a writer whose life was pretend as much byA Song of Ice & Fireas anyone . It ’s deserving observe that while he takes celebrated aspiration from Martin , Abercrombie also has his own distinct and attractively witty prose panache .
5The Wheel Of Time
By Robert Jordan
Pre - datingA Game of Thronesby just over half a decade , Robert Jordan’sThe Wheel of Timewas a game - changing phantasy series that often does n’t pick up the same broad cultural acclaim , in the main due to its television adaption not being as popular . WithThe Wheel of Timeseason 3being released on Prime Video this month , it ’s the perfect time to leap into one of the most awe - inspiring , immersive fantasy worlds available . Even more so than with Martin , reader of Jordan ’s work will be submerse into an enormous earth of elaborated cultures , thousands of characters , and more .
In anEWinterview , George R.R. Martin once credit Robert Jordan for his impact on the development ofA Song of Ice & Fire , enunciate he " show us how to do a book that ’s bigger than a trilogy , " referring toThe Wheel of Timebreaking the trilogy data formatting set up by Tolkien . Aside from being thick , there are several comparisons in these books , such asthe threat of a final engagement between good and vicious andThe Wheel of Timereferring to political conflict as the " Game of Houses . “For concentration even profoundly thanASOIAF , this is the path to go .
4Memory, Sorrow, And Thorn
By Tad Williams
Tad Williams ' epic phantasy serial is another that pre - datesA Game of Thronesby intimately a decade , with the first Good Book , titledThe Dragonbone Chair , being released in 1988 . In 2011 , George R.R. Martin sound out , " Fantasy get a bad repp for being formulaic and ritual . AndI read The Dragonbone Chair and said , ‘ My God , they can do something with this shape , and it ’s Tad doing it'"(viaWesteros.org ) . This is a serial publication that Martin has directly cited as being one of the primary inspirations for his series , and there are numerous connections .
Game of Thrones season 8 sparked a major rebound from fans , but time of year 7 , episode 6 , " Beyond the Wall , " was a clear sign of the problems to come .
Aside from the title of the first Scripture sound very similar to Martin ’s Targaryen dynasty - built Iron Throne , there are legion fibre and thematic similarities in Williams ' novel . The events ofMSTsurround the prophesied retort of the " Storm King " and follow a boy named Simon , who bears many similarity to Jon Snow . Thecommonalities in world - building elements are numerous , ranging from naming schemes to a man with a terrifying hound helm to animal symbolism to magical Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . This is possibly the most forthwith interchangeable option in terms of world dash .
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
3Malazan Book Of The Fallen
By Steven Erikson
LikeThe Wheel of Time , the ten - book series ofMalazan Book of the Fallenand the numerous expanded Earth novelsoffer something massive and immersive to really fall off one ’s teeth into . BeforeGame of Throneswas released , the fan base ofMalazanandA Song of Ice & Firebelieved the two authors ( which both have ordinarily discredited ) had something of a competition due to the similar timber and expansive nature of their novel . Both follow morally gray-haired characters , contain deal of ferocity , and offer Brobdingnagian histories to research .
Even passionate readers of the series will admit that Erikson ’s work is difficult to get at and require time and attention to read .
A uncouth caliber noted aboutMalazanis that it ’s profoundly confusing . Even passionate readers of the series will admit thatErikson ’s oeuvre is difficult to access and requires time and attention to understand . There are several non - one-dimensional plot of ground threads , near 20 times as many full POV characters in the serial to trace , and rather unforgiving prose to guide you through it . If you ’re interested in cover a challenge like the depthsA Song of Ice & Fireallows for , Erikson ’s employment is several tone more complicated .
Art byMichael Whelan
2The Witcher
By Andrzej Sapkowski
There ’s a rationality that Netflix’sThe Witcherwas the first major TV serial made in response to HBO’sGame of Thrones , away from the former being recognized for the award - succeed video game franchise . Andrzej Sapkowski ’s book series , which began in the early 1990s and has a new volume being free in 2025 , is alike toA Song of Ice & Firein itsdarker , violent pure tone , vary POV characters , and focus on state of war and political relation .
The major difference between these two is thatThe Witcherfocuses more on a few main character rather than an ensemble . It ’s not quite in high spirits fantasy likeA Song of Ice & Fire , but rather a mixture between that and steel - and - sorcery . There ’s afar more significant mystical presence in Sapkowski ’s worldfor anyone who have intercourse the magical and mythical side of Westeros .
1The Farseer Trilogy
By Robin Hobb
These fantasy serial publication might have some major data formatting distinctions , but there ’s a deal of commonality that ’s deserving noting . Robin Hobb ’s phantasy books aretold from a first - individual linear perspective and watch over a primary fiber refer Fitz . UnlikeA Song of Ice & Fire’sensemble , The Farseer Trilogyprimarily follow this one chassis , though it must be noted he ’s very similar to Jon Snow , even being a whoreson from a royal family with more mysteries behind his birth , who ’s bonded with a wolf .
HBO dramatic play head Francesca Orsi reveals how the budget for the new prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms compares to retiring Game of Thrones shows .
In terms of humankind - building , Robin Hobb ’s story isset in the terra firma of the Six Duchies , all of whom are focused more on determine the rightful king than they are on an more and more dominant threat called the Red Ship Raiders . These series began around the same clock time , though Robin Hobb ’s book saga is already complete and has plenty of material to plunk into . It ’s an excellent pick for anyone want a story consanguineal toGame of Thrones , though a shade lighter .
Art byMichael Whelan
Sources : EW , Westeros.org
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