Where Do The Game Of Thrones Books Leave Off

Where Do the Game of Thrones Books Leave Off?

Alright, let’s talk about a big question for fans of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series: Where exactly do the books leave us compared to the HBO show, “Game of Thrones”? It’s a question that has sparked countless conversations, debates, and even a little bit of frustration! If you finished the show and thought that was the complete story, you are in for a surprise. The books are actually quite different and are still not finished.

The Published Books: A Recap

Before we dive into where the books end, let’s quickly recap what’s been published so far. George R.R. Martin has released five books in the series:

• A Game of Thrones (1996)
• A Clash of Kings (1998)
• A Storm of Swords (2000)
• A Feast for Crows (2005)
• A Dance with Dragons (2011)

The last published book, A Dance with Dragons, came out in 2011. That’s a long time ago! While the television show adapted much of this material, it eventually moved beyond the published books, creating its own ending. This is where things get interesting and often confusing for readers and viewers.

Divergence: When the Show and Books Parted Ways

The first few seasons of “Game of Thrones” followed the books quite closely, often using direct quotes and scenes. But around season five, the show started making significant deviations. Characters took different paths, some died earlier or later than they did in the books, and entire storylines were altered or omitted completely. By the time season six came around, the show was largely charting its own course.

Key Differences and Storyline Shifts

Let’s delve into some specific areas where the books and the show diverge. Keep in mind, this isn’t an exhaustive list, but it highlights some of the major changes:

• Tyrion Lannister’s journey: In the books, Tyrion’s path takes a different turn after killing his father. He doesn’t immediately join Daenerys Targaryen. Instead, his journey involves a journey through Essos and a fascinating encounter with a younger griff. The show quickly has him join Daenerys.
• Sansa Stark’s story: Sansa’s arc in the books is still developing in the Vale with her new identity, Alayne Stone. In the show, she has a lot more action and returns to Winterfell. These are two very different pathways for her, and the book-Sansa has not gone through some of the horrific things that the show-Sansa experienced.
• The Iron Islands storyline: The books delve deeply into the politics and conflict within the Iron Islands, introducing Euron Greyjoy as a much more complex and terrifying character than he was in the show. The Ironborn have a very prominent place in the latest two books and have been largely absent in the show after season 6, making them one of the biggest divergences between the books and show.
• Lady Stoneheart: One of the biggest differences is the absence of Lady Stoneheart in the show, which is Catelyn Stark resurrected, seeking vengeance. This character is a major player in the fourth and fifth books and plays a pivotal role in the story.
• Aegon Targaryen: Another huge divergence from the show is the introduction of a young man who claims to be Aegon Targaryen, the son of Rhaegar and Elia Martell, who was supposedly killed as a baby, making him Daenerys’ nephew. This character significantly changes the power dynamics and the future of the realm and has yet to appear in the show.
• The fate of certain characters: Many characters who died in the books are alive, and vice-versa. For example, Ser Barristan Selmy dies in the show but is still alive in the books. Similarly, some characters that die in the books are still alive in the show like Stannis Baratheon.
• The Night King: In the books, there is no overarching figure like “The Night King.” Instead, the threats in the North are more mysterious and less defined.

The State of Affairs at the End of A Dance with Dragons

So, where does A Dance with Dragons leave us? The book ends with multiple storylines hanging in the balance. Let’s look at some of the main ones:

Daenerys Targaryen

Daenerys is in Meereen, struggling to control the city. She has just flown away on Drogon, leaving her city in disarray. She also has to contend with an illness. Her path is not clear, with many enemies lurking, but she is surrounded by potential allies, and may return on the back of her dragon.

Jon Snow

Jon Snow is at Castle Black, having been stabbed by his own Night’s Watch brothers. His fate is very uncertain, as his body lays bleeding in the snow. However, there are hints that he might not be truly dead, especially with his Targaryen heritage being hidden.

Tyrion Lannister

Tyrion, now freed from captivity in King’s Landing, is on the move through Essos and traveling alongside a young man who claims to be Aegon Targaryen. He has new allies and has a new, mysterious goal to fulfill. His story has been a large focus in the last two books, with him traveling through new locations and meeting new faces.

Bran Stark

Bran is north of the Wall, honing his abilities as a greenseer with the help of the Three-Eyed Raven. He is learning more about the history and magic of the world, and it is starting to show on his abilities.

Cersei Lannister

Cersei, after her imprisonment and the walk of shame, is back in the Red Keep in King’s Landing. She is plotting against everyone, with the Faith Militant as her only allies. She is in a very complicated and precarious position.

Arya Stark

Arya is in Braavos, training to become a Faceless Man, an assassin. Her path is different from the books. She is having a difficult time completing her training, and has become increasingly detached from her past identity.

The North

The north is in a state of unrest. Roose Bolton controls the North, and many want to see his defeat. Stannis Baratheon has made his way to Winterfell, but is bogged down. Many characters have their own agendas, and it is difficult to see which path they will take.

What We Know About the Remaining Books

George R.R. Martin has stated that there will be two more books in the series:

• The Winds of Winter
• A Dream of Spring

The release dates for these books are currently unknown, but it is widely anticipated and hoped that they will come out soon.

What to Expect in The Winds of Winter

Martin has given hints about what we can expect in The Winds of Winter. Here are some points:

• Many storylines that were not in the show will be further developed, such as those of the Iron Islands, Tyrion, and Daenerys.
• The conflict in the North will come to a climax.
• We will see the consequences of the actions of characters like Cersei and Arya.
• The story will take on more of an epic scale, with many characters in multiple areas.

The Winds of Winter will pick up where A Dance with Dragons left off, and it is supposed to be much larger than previous entries in the series.

Why the Show and Books Diverged

The show’s divergence from the books wasn’t a deliberate attempt to change the story. The show runners were trying to finish the story in a reasonable time frame and within the limited budget for a television series. The books are immensely complex with many plots and characters, and to adapt them fully would have taken many more seasons. This forced the showrunners to condense, combine and cut many storylines and characters, leading to a different ending than what Martin had planned. It also might have been because they ran out of book material and had to move forward with an ending without Martin’s explicit guidance.

Implications of the Different Endings

The differences between the books and the show mean that readers and viewers have two very different experiences. For book readers, there’s still a lot of story left to tell, and we have no idea how it will end. For viewers of the show, the conclusion to the story has already been shown, but the books are still very much in progress. This has created a very interesting dynamic within the fan community. Now, some readers are excited for something they can consider brand new and they may be getting something completely different.

Ultimately, the books provide a deeper, more nuanced and less definitive experience than the show, leaving fans with more to look forward to and more to contemplate. The show provided an ending that might not necessarily be the same as the books, and book readers might have something to look forward to that they never expected, with new twists and turns.