This is an in-depth bringing together of the enormous range of inspirations behind Martin's work ­- from historical borrowings as wide-ranging as the Roman empire, the Wars of the Roses and the Mongol conquests, to diverse literary and mythological texts, and Martin's own family experience and biography.

Tom Huddleston is an author, journalist and musician based in North London, UK. His novels include several science fiction and fantasy stories for younger readers including the eco-futuristic FloodWorld trilogy. He spent a decade on the Film desk at Time Out magazine and is now a freelance Film & TV journalist writing for, among others, The Guardian and Little White Lies.

Introduction

The North
The Wall
Winterfell
The Iron Islands

The Crownlands
King’s Landing
Dragonstone
The Twins

West & South
Casterly Rock 
Highgarden and the Reach
Dorne

Essos
The Free Cities
Vaes Dothrak
Slaver’s Bay and Beyond

Epilogue
Bibliography
Endnotes
Index
Picture Credits
About the Author and Acknowledgements