George R. R. Martin Archives - Gary David Gillen

Fire and Blood by George R R Martin.

Introduction

Fire and Blood by George R R Martin is written like a history written by a contemporary arch maester of the Targaryen dynasty. The fictional history book tells the story of the Targaryen dynasty from the first King Aegon the Conqueror up to the seventh King Aegon III. The Targaryen slogan is Fire and Blood, and fire and blood is found on very page of this book.

Summary

Martin presents the book writing like he is Archmaester Glydayn writing a history using various resource material. Glydayn’s uses the dry dynasty approved story and the writings of Mushroom the Jester for the salacious parts. Martin’s idea for the book started with the 2014 book named The World of Ice and Fire. That book has short versions of the story of the whole dynasty including up to the events of the Song of Ice and Fire series.

Martin published three extended sections of that book in three different anthologies. They published “The Sons of the Dragon” in the 2017 anthology named The Book of Swords. It covered the reigns of the sons of Aegon the first. They published “The Rogue Prince” in the 2014 anthology named Rogues. It was about the reign of Viserys the first. They published “The Princess and the Queen” in the 2013 anthology named Dangerous Women. It was about the Dance of Dragons. HBO adapted this part as the HBO show named House of the Dragon.

Martin revised and expanded the three sections for the Fire and Blood book with some added sections to complete the story. Martin plans to write a second volume of Fire and Blood that will cover the Targaryen rulers after Aegon the third up to the events that begin in the novel named Game of Thrones.

Recommendation

Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin is an interesting history book of the fictional Targaryen Dynasty. It gives interesting background material to the series. HBO adapted the Dance of Dragons section of the book for the HBO series named House of the Dragon. It provides essential reading for understanding the author’s vision for the events that are depicted in the show.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62805560-fire-blood

Fevre Dream by George R. R. Martin

In Fevre Dream by George R. R. Martin, Abner Marsh is a Mississippi steamboat captain in 1857. He accepts a dangerous commission in this fantasy featuring vampires.

Introduction

Abner Marsh is a river steamboat captain on the Mississippi River in 1857. He receives an intriguing proposal by Joshua York who suggests that they enter into a business relationship where Joshua finances Abner’s dream steamboat called the Fevre Dream. The only stipulation is that the first journey of the steamboat is to follow the Mississippi to New Orleans. Abner notices that Joshua keeps unusual hours, has unusual associates, and displays unusual traits.

Summary

The opposition, Damon Julian, is introduced in an early chapter as an isolated point of view where it becomes clear that he and his band are vampires. Abner investigates Joshua to satisfy his curiosity about his unusual behavior. Joshua eventually reveals that he and his group are vampire hunters searching for Damon. These vampires are not the traditional ones of legend. They display some aspects of vampires such as extreme sensitivity to light, superhuman strength, superhuman regeneration of injuries, and a thirst for blood that builds until it reaches what is called the red thirst. They also display aspects of werewolves such as the cyclical change in personality that leads to the red thirst. The novel follows Joshua’s gradual reveal of the whole truth to Abner and their confrontation with Damon.

Recommendation

This novel takes a refreshing look at vampires through a science fictional framework. The reader learns who these creatures are and why they do what they do. The novel comes to a logical and satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Fevre Dream by George RR Martin.

A similar novel in the fantasy genre is the Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan. Adamat, Tamas, and Taniel fight gods and men in this gunpowder fantasy. This is a link to my review of the novel.