New Game of Thrones prequel spin-off House of the Dragon has been the talk of the town since its launch, introducing viewers to a new side to Westeros set 200 years before the original series.
Boasting a cast of actors including the likes of Matt Smith, Milly Alcock, Paddy Considine, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke and Steve Toussaint, the show tells the tale of the Targaryen family, beginning 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, who was the youngest child of the so-called Mad King.
Fans watching the new show in 2022 may be familiar with GOT lore, considering the first instalment of the A Song of Ice and Fire book series
However, for others yet to delve into the literary works on which the fantasy dramas are based, they may be wondering which novel they can jump into to learn more about House Targaryen when they were at the height of their power ruling the Seven Kingdoms.
Here’s what you need to know about the book on which House of the Dragon is based.
Which book is House of the Dragon based on in Game of Thrones series?
The A Song of Ice and Fire book series is set to consist of seven books in total, with five having already been published, beginning with A Game of Thrones in 1996.
The latest novel in the series to come out was A Dance with Dragons, which was released in 2011, while the forthcoming instalments – The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring – are still set for future releases.
The A Song of Ice and Fire series has been accompanied by various spin-offs, including the novel Fire & Blood, the first volume of which was published in 2018, which tells the history of House Targaryen.
The second half of the first volume of Fire & Blood has formed the basis for House of the Dragon.
Meanwhile, the second volume of the novel is still yet to be published, with the author stating in March that he’d written ‘a couple hundred pages’ for it.
Who wrote Game of Thrones?
The author of the A Song of Ice and Fire book series, which inspired Game of Thrones, is George RR Martin.
In 2011, he was featured on the annual Time 100 list as one of the most influential people in the world.
While Game of Thrones was based on Martin’s literary works, he recently shared that he was ‘pretty much out of the loop’ for the final seasons, with the eighth and final season having sparked a hugely divisive reaction among disappointed fans.
He also said that he had more of a hand in House of the Dragon, stating: ‘I believe I have more influence now than I did on the original show.’
House of the Dragon next airs on Monday at 2am on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
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