A GAME OF THRONES by Martin, George R.R - 1996

London: HarperCollins, Voyager, 1996. First edition. Fine in fine jacket. Signed true first printing of the English edition (preceding the American) of the first volume in the biggest breakout fantasy in the Tolkien tradition since the Lord of the Rings itself. Martin first attracted readers through highly detailed worldbuilding so intricate that he himself has compared it to the carvings of a Gothic cathedral. However, it is his deeply beloved, yet flawed, characters that have brought the book such a fervent fanbase. Unusual for most fantasy in the Tolkien tradition, Martin's series directly confronts the brutality and violence of his medieval world, including the consistently shocking demise of major characters. The HBO series based on Martin's books has broken multiple records, including most Emmys for a scripted series, the largest ever TV simulcast, most viewers in both cable and broadcast (broken multiple times, with Season 7's finale currently holding the record at 12.1 million), and most views for a trailer (over 60 million for Season 7). Jacket illustration by Jim Burns. A fine signed copy of a masterpiece in modern fantasy. 9'' x 5.75''. Original full textured red paper boards, spine lettered in gilt. In original unclipped (�16.99) color pictorial dust jacket with illustrated by Jim Burns. Black-and-white decorative border on title page, matching headpiece ornaments throughout, two pages of maps before prologue, appendix of major Houses at rear. [8], 694, [2] pages. Signed by Martin in black ink on title page. Tiniest hint of bumping to jacket extremities.