Listen free for 30 days
-
A Game of Thrones
- Book 1 of A Song of Ice and Fire
- Narrated by: Roy Dotrice
- Series: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1
- Length: 33 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £26.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
A Clash of Kings
- Book 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire
- By: George R.R. Martin
- Narrated by: Roy Dotrice
- Length: 37 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 9,968
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8,368
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 8,342
The complete, unabridged audiobook of A Clash of Kings. HBO’s hit series A Game of Thrones is based on George R. R. Martin’s internationally best-selling series A Song of Ice and Fire, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. A Clash of Kings is the second volume in the series. Throughout Westeros, the cold winds are rising.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
You’re better off getting a physical copy
- By Jess on 12-11-19
-
Fire and Blood
- A Song of Ice and Fire
- By: George R.R. Martin
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 27 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,071
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,824
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,814
Centuries before A Game of Thrones, an even greater game began, one that set the skies alight with dragon flame and saw the Seven Kingdoms turned to ash. So began the Targaryens’ bloody rule, with fire and blood. Setting brother against brother, mother against daughter, and dragon against dragon. Chronicled by a learned maester of the Citadel, this thrilling and bloody history of Westeros tells the story of where the battle for the Iron Throne began.... This audio edition now includes an exclusive interview between George R.R. Martin and historian Dan Jones.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
pretty bad actually
- By jamesg on 07-04-19
-
The Fellowship of the Ring
- The Lord of the Rings, Book 1
- By: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Andy Serkis
- Length: 22 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3,513
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,191
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3,169
In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power - the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord Sauron’s evil dominion. Thus begins J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic tale of adventure, which continues in The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Poor
- By Anonymous User on 17-09-21
-
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Book 1
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 36,035
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 31,282
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 31,234
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Sells its self as always
- By Amazon Customer on 23-01-19
-
Dune
- By: Frank Herbert
- Narrated by: Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, and others
- Length: 21 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 18,494
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 15,784
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 15,744
Shortlisted for the Audiobook Download of the Year, 2007.
Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Maud'dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Incomplete adaptation. Not the full novel.
- By O on 16-10-15
-
Blood of Elves
- The Witcher, Book 1
- By: Andrzej Sapkowski
- Narrated by: Peter Kenny
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 4,667
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,113
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,112
For more than a hundred years humans, dwarves, gnomes and elves lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over and now the races once again fight each other - and themselves: dwarves are killing their kinsmen, and elves are murdering humans and elves, at least those elves who are friendly to humans...Into this tumultuous time is born a child for whom the witchers of the world have been waiting.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Good, if you read them all.
- By Filip on 09-10-16
-
A Clash of Kings
- Book 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire
- By: George R.R. Martin
- Narrated by: Roy Dotrice
- Length: 37 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 9,968
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8,368
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 8,342
The complete, unabridged audiobook of A Clash of Kings. HBO’s hit series A Game of Thrones is based on George R. R. Martin’s internationally best-selling series A Song of Ice and Fire, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. A Clash of Kings is the second volume in the series. Throughout Westeros, the cold winds are rising.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
You’re better off getting a physical copy
- By Jess on 12-11-19
-
Fire and Blood
- A Song of Ice and Fire
- By: George R.R. Martin
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 27 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,071
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,824
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,814
Centuries before A Game of Thrones, an even greater game began, one that set the skies alight with dragon flame and saw the Seven Kingdoms turned to ash. So began the Targaryens’ bloody rule, with fire and blood. Setting brother against brother, mother against daughter, and dragon against dragon. Chronicled by a learned maester of the Citadel, this thrilling and bloody history of Westeros tells the story of where the battle for the Iron Throne began.... This audio edition now includes an exclusive interview between George R.R. Martin and historian Dan Jones.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
pretty bad actually
- By jamesg on 07-04-19
-
The Fellowship of the Ring
- The Lord of the Rings, Book 1
- By: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Andy Serkis
- Length: 22 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3,513
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,191
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3,169
In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power - the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord Sauron’s evil dominion. Thus begins J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic tale of adventure, which continues in The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Poor
- By Anonymous User on 17-09-21
-
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Book 1
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 36,035
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 31,282
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 31,234
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Sells its self as always
- By Amazon Customer on 23-01-19
-
Dune
- By: Frank Herbert
- Narrated by: Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, and others
- Length: 21 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 18,494
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 15,784
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 15,744
Shortlisted for the Audiobook Download of the Year, 2007.
Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Maud'dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Incomplete adaptation. Not the full novel.
- By O on 16-10-15
-
Blood of Elves
- The Witcher, Book 1
- By: Andrzej Sapkowski
- Narrated by: Peter Kenny
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 4,667
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,113
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,112
For more than a hundred years humans, dwarves, gnomes and elves lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over and now the races once again fight each other - and themselves: dwarves are killing their kinsmen, and elves are murdering humans and elves, at least those elves who are friendly to humans...Into this tumultuous time is born a child for whom the witchers of the world have been waiting.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Good, if you read them all.
- By Filip on 09-10-16
-
Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection
- By: Stephen Fry - introductions, Arthur Conan Doyle
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 71 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 14,247
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 12,948
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 12,892
Ever since he made his first appearance in A Study In Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes has enthralled and delighted millions of fans throughout the world. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the complete works of Sherlock Holmes - four novels and five collections of short stories.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
******* SORT OUT THE NAVIGATION ***********
- By William on 31-03-20
-
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- By: Douglas Adams
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 11,847
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 10,388
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 10,367
One Thursday lunchtime the Earth gets unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. For Arthur Dent, who has only just had his house demolished that morning, this seems already to be more than he can cope with.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Classic English Comedy Sci-Fi, but...
- By No Longer Submitting Reviews on 24-08-20
-
The Way of Kings
- The Stormlight Archive, Book 1
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
- Length: 45 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 10,159
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 9,074
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 9,045
According to mythology, mankind used to live in 'The Tranquiline Halls': heaven. But then the Voidbringers assaulted and captured heaven, casting out God and men. Men took root on Roshar, the world of storms, but the Voidbringers followed. The Almighty gave men powerful suits of armor and mystical weapons, the Shardblades. Led by 10 angelic Heralds and 10 orders of knights known as Radiants, mankind finally won (or so the legends say).
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Brill
- By John on 19-11-11
-
Mythos
- By: Stephen Fry
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 15 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 24,229
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 21,553
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 21,451
The Greek myths are amongst the greatest stories ever told, passed down through millennia and inspiring writers and artists as varied as Shakespeare, Michelangelo, James Joyce and Walt Disney. They are embedded deeply in the traditions, tales and cultural DNA of the West. You'll fall in love with Zeus, marvel at the birth of Athena, wince at Cronus and Gaia's revenge on Ouranos, weep with King Midas and hunt with the beautiful and ferocious Artemis.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Boring version of the Greek myths
- By IoBB on 22-08-19
-
Eragon: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 1
- By: Christopher Paolini
- Narrated by: Gerrard Doyle
- Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,894
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,652
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,650
When Eragon finds a polished stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight, his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic and power.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great
- By hana warren on 22-01-15
-
The Final Empire
- Mistborn, Book 1
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 24 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7,193
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6,162
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6,162
A thousand years ago evil came to the land and has ruled with an iron hand ever since. The sun shines fitfully under clouds of ash that float down endlessly from the constant eruption of volcanoes. A dark lord rules through the aristocratic families, and ordinary folk are condemned to lives in servitude, sold as goods, labouring in the ash fields. But now a troublemaker has arrived, and there is rumour of revolt.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fantasy isn't my usual genre, but ...
- By Amazon Customer on 19-08-11
-
11.22.63
- By: Stephen King
- Narrated by: Craig Wasson
- Length: 30 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6,186
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,816
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,804
What if you could go back in time and change the course of history?11.22.63, the date that Kennedy was shot - unless.... King takes his protagonist Jake Epping, a high school English teacher from Lisbon Falls, Maine, 2011, on a fascinating journey back to 1958 - from a world of mobile phones and iPods to a new world of Elvis and JFK, of Plymouth Fury cars and Lindy Hopping, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill who becomes the love of Jake's life.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Return to top form
- By John on 14-12-11
-
The Hobbit
- By: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Rob Inglis
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7,514
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6,292
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 6,296
Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of 13 dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey ‘there and back again’. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A real pleasure
- By Grant on 10-03-16
-
The Name of the Wind
- The Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1
- By: Patrick Rothfuss
- Narrated by: Rupert Degas
- Length: 28 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 15,773
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 14,023
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 13,997
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the university at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. My name is Kvothe. You may have heard of me.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Very entertaining but strangely flat
- By Amazon Customer on 27-05-17
-
American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (A Full Cast Production)
- By: Neil Gaiman
- Narrated by: Neil Gaiman, Dennis Boutskiaris, Daniel Oreskes, and others
- Length: 19 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,289
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 7,584
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,569
After three years in prison, Shadow Moon is free to go home. But hours before his release, his beloved wife is killed in a freak accident. Numbly, he boards a plane where he meets an enigmatic stranger who seems to know Shadow and claims to be an ancient god - and king of America. Together they embark on a profoundly strange road trip across the USA, encountering a kaleidoscopic cast of characters along the way. But all around them a storm of unnatural proportions is gathering.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
My new favourite book
- By Richard on 07-04-13
-
The Eye of the World
- Wheel of Time, Book 1
- By: Robert Jordan
- Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
- Length: 29 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6,105
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5,225
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5,208
When their village is attacked by trollocs, monsters thought to be only legends, three young men, Rand, Matt, and Perrin, flee in the company of the Lady Moiraine, a sinister visitor of unsuspected powers. Thus begins an epic adventure set in a world of wonders and horror, where what was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
American narration such a turn off
- By Simon Corke on 22-04-20
-
The Bourne Identity: Jason Bourne Series, Book 1
- By: Robert Ludlum
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 22 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 908
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 710
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 710
He was dragged from the sea, his body riddled with bullets. There are a few clues: a frame of microfilm surgically implanted beneath the skin of his hip; evidence that plastic surgery has altered his face; strange things he says in his delirium, which could be code words. And a number on the film negative that leads to a bank account in Zurich, four million dollars, and a name for the amnesiac: Jason Bourne. Now he is running for his life.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Can't get past the accents
- By Chris on 10-12-12
Editor reviews
Summary
One of The Times’ 25 Best Audiobooks.
HBO’s hit series A Game of Thrones is based on George R. R. Martin’s internationally best-selling series A Song of Ice and Fire, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. A Game of Thrones is the first volume in the series.
Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.
It will stretch from the south, where heat breeds plot, lusts and intrigues, to the vast and savage eastern lands, all the way to the frozen north, where an 800-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men...all will play the Game of Thrones.
Winter is coming....
Critic reviews
"A Game of Thrones grabs hold and won’t let go. It’s brilliant." (Robert Jordan)
"Colossal, staggering... Martin captures all the intoxicating complexity of the Wars of the Roses or Imperial Rome in his imaginary world...one of the greats of fantasy literature." (SFX)
"Fantasy literature has never shied away from grandeur, but the sheer-mind-boggling scope of this epic has sent other fantasy writers away shaking their heads.... Its ambition: to construct the Twelve Caesars of fantasy fiction, with characters so venomous they could eat the Borgias." (Guardian)
More from the same
What listeners say about A Game of Thrones
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Sally
- 08-01-12
An enthralling story
There are several reviews here which express far more eloquently than I could just how good this story is so I'm not going to comment on that aspect, instead I'll comment on the listening experience provided by the audiobooks.
1. I do feel that it helps for a newcomer to the books to have seen the TV show, the story in non-linear at points, jumping forward and then backtracking, this can be a little disconcerting, you may wonder if you've accidentally skipped over a chapter somewhere. I certainly had to rewind on a number of occasions.
2. A few reviewers have suggested that Roy Dotrice doesn't do a good job with the narration. I disagree, I rather like his reading style but, whoever produced the recordings should be embarrassed by the fact that at certain points characters are renamed and worst of all one character's accent suddenly changes from Northern English to Welsh, I thought I was hearing things at first. Given the number of characters and the scope of the book I think on the whole he did a good job, but someone dropped the ball somewhere in the edit suite.
32 people found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms. J. E. Edwards
- 16-09-19
great book could not get on with narrator
great book but the narrator is not what it needs. the accents switch out and I could not listen anymore. it has put me off buying the other books from auidble. it could do with being redone with a younger narrator
22 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
- Captain Wentworth
- 10-06-12
Great Story, Difficult Narration
I actually own the paperbacks to A Song of Ice and Fire. And I re-bought the entire series as eBooks for my Kindle. The I purchased the Season 1 DVDs for A Game of Thrones. And the Graphic Novel (Part I). So take it as read that I'm familiar with the books, the story, George R R Martin's writing style, and the cast of thousands that populate Westeros and the lands across the Narrow Sea.
As you might surmise, I love the story. Unfortunately, this audiobook was a struggle to listen to because I just couldn't get on with the narration. Leaving aside the characterisation, for a moment, Roy Dotrice has this bizarre habit of pausing... mid-sentence so you're not sure if the sentence is finished... or if there's another portion... to come. At some points, these pauses almost change the sense of what's being said, and you find yourself having to mentally re-wind to re-phrase the words in your head to get the proper meaning.
In a similar vein - just concerning the narration rather than the characterisation - at some points the narrator's choice of tone doesn't jibe with my own interpretation of the story's tone; the first time we hear the Stark's motto, '"Winter is Coming", we're given it in almost upbeat fashion, rather than the heavy, almost portentous phrase that I have in my head.
However, my biggest obstacle with the narration was the characters' voicings; to be fair, the book has a cast of thousands (probably literally, although I haven't counted), and it would be impossible to form a distinct voice for every single person. But characters frequently sound much older than written (Theon Greyjoy, for example), the cod-Irish accent deployed for some characters is almost unlistentable, and, most disappointingly, Tyrion's accent changes mid tale, from Lancastrian to something that oscillates between Welsh and Irish.
It's a hard job, and I wish Mr Dotrice no ill, but I would've liked to hear Steven Pacey's reading of this instead.
348 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Thomas
- 01-09-11
Brilliant, but...
A fantastic book and well worth it, however a bit of a con from Audible to split it into two parts, (needing to pay for each). It is only one book and should be sold as such. It is on iTunes and works out as cheaper there! Wish I'd noticed that earlier.
496 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
- Barbara
- 30-04-12
Frustrating Narrator
Loved the story, but got really frustrated with the narrator, which is very distracting in an audio book. Everyone sounded drunk and weak. Decided to read the rest myself and am enjoying them a whole load more.
73 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Qasim
- 16-09-11
A truly brilliant fantasy novel
A Game of Thrones is one of the most enjoyable books I've listened to in years so much so I completed it very quickly. Without giving any of the story away, it's worth pointing out that the plot can initially be a little confusing as it switches between different characters but as the book progresses you soon gain a greater understanding of the world that the author has created. Another point is that the storyline may seem slow at first but this is essential so as to establish the characters and set the scene, for not just the rest of the book but the rest of the series. And once it gets going, believe me, it really does get going.
Now for a word on the narrator. If you consider the number of different characters there are in this story, and how he has to make them all slightly different to distinguish them for the listener, I think he does an outstanding job. Of course it's natural you won't like all of his characterizations but his ability as a narrator really fits the the story and brings it to life.
This novel is well crafted full twists and intrigue. I cannot enthuse enough about how good this book is and encourage everyone to download it and enjoy this epic story.
191 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
- Cross Stitcher
- 30-04-12
I'm sorry Mr Dotrice
I wish I had listened to a sample first, and then I would have avoided downloading this. I'm sorry Mr Dotrice, but your narration did nothing for me - except to convince me to buy the book and read it for myself. My fault, I will not make the same mistake in future. The story sounded wonderful, but after a couple of hours I became so distracted and frustrated with the narration, that I deleted it from my iPod. It may work for you, try the sample.
51 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 30-05-12
I was really enjoying it up to the point when
Tyrion Lannisters accent changes from Yorkshire to Welsh, I actually like Dotrices narration its like being told a story by an old man around a villages community fire, but a story teller needs to be more aware of his use of accents. What I think actually happened is Dotrice read the rest of the book and saw that Tyrion Lannister became a hero rather than a Rumpelstiltskin character, he couldn't become the hand of Gofrey and talk like a Clegg from last of the summer wine.
56 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Steve Brown
- 27-02-15
Great Book, Not So Great Reader
The readers bizarre portrayal of Drogo and Tirion makes for hard listening at times. Overall it is just about bareable!
31 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Marcus
- 01-01-12
Best fantasy around if you have the time
I started this series having watched the Game of Throne series on TV and it has not disappointed. It does take time to get into the stories as there are so many characters, plot lines and background history. What really helped me to follow what is happening was a website called Tower of the Hand, which has summaries of each chapter and links to biographies of all the characters.
A great ranges of interesting characters with most showing shades of good and bad in their actions. Tyrion the dwarf is a great literary creation. The author is a natural story teller, packing the narrative with sparkling dialogue, inventive action, and most chapters end on cliffhangers. Unusually for a fantasy series many of the early battles are only described to us in the third person, although later books start to describe the battles as first person encounters.
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jeremiah
- 31-10-11
Brilliant, with a catch.
I thoroughly enjoyed ever minute of this Audio book, the story is very engaging and hooks you in within the first 5 minutes. The narrator however has a very small revenue of voices he is able to lend the characters and it sometimes makes things a tad confusing. Also, and I put this as a caution. THIS IS ONLY ONE HALF OF THE FIRST BOOK. I understand some of you may think this point mute but with all the different versions of the one book on here I accidentally missed this rather obvious situation and proceeded to buy the Second half of the second book and listen to that after finishing this... However props must be given to the Author because despite this I managed to piece the important bits that I missed together, which is about a years worth of information.
Anyway I hope this helps in your decision to purchase this truly wonderful book.
Regards,
Jeremiah.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Darrell
- 19-11-12
Great story and performance.
Any additional comments?
This would be a 5-star review, except that Audible has divided the book into 2 parts so that you have to use two tokens to finish the book. The US version of the book is sold in its entirety for a single token.
29 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Karenza
- 29-08-11
A feast of a tale faithfully narrated
I have read every volume of this saga published to date and watched the DVD - this audible edition is a marvellous rendition of a great tale and Roy Dotrice does an excellent job with the huge range of characters. He is especially good with the male characters and has a good range of voices for them. I respect the fact that he does not try to be the female characters, choosing instead to rely on the author's drawing of the character rendered in the narrator's voice. This is far more effective, for me, than trying to be what he is not. I am working my way through the audible editions of each volume and am sure I will revisit them more than once. George R R Martin's imagination is rich and powerful; he has provided a feast for his fans. Roy Dotrice has enhanced my enjoyment enormously.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Damien
- 13-03-13
Australians getting ripped off again?
No one needs me to tell them how good George R. R. Martin's series is. However I did find it disappointing that Australians are forced to buy this book in two parts. The full book is available to other regions so why not for us? It is for this reason I have given the overall rating 1 star. Also if you are coming to the books from the brilliant TV series as I did you may find Roy Dotrice's performance of some characters off-putting as they are so different.
25 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Natassia
- 01-05-12
Many late nights because I just couldn't stop...
Any additional comments?
A Game Of Thrones absolutely lived up to expectations and after HBO picking it up to do their most expensive series yet why wouldn't it. However, it was Roy Dotrice who really brought this book to life for me. His narration is smooth and lively, painting the world of Westeros in vivid colour and depth. Having an individual voice for each character was unexpected but welcomed giving another layer to each personality. I think my boyfriend is glad I've finished the series (for now) because he can have his girlfriend back. I can't wait for the next book in the series but more so I can't wait to here more from Roy Dotrice.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- milla
- 21-01-12
Almost Flawless
What did you love best about A Game of Thrones (Part One)?
The novel is a favourite, but this talking book is really exceptional. The narrater is the master of voices and accents. Tyrion as a Welshman is masterful, and after listening enthralled through this I found one tiny flaw: Occasionally Roy forgets to step out of a characterisation when reading the narrative. Other than that I would call his performance flawless, and entirely in keeping with the quality of the storytelling.
What was one of the most memorable moments of A Game of Thrones (Part One)?
The most memorable moment was when Tyrion first spoke. I'd always pegged him as being frightfully plummy, like Roy's version of Littlefinger, but the accent and voice used were a delightful surprise, and now work for me. I'm rereading the text of another book in the series, and now am very happy to hear Tyrion as Welsh in my head.
What about Roy Dotrice’s performance did you like?
His eclectic and diverse range of both voice and accent stands out. He's got a vast array of distinct characters nailed down in a masterful way. He's very impressive.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Your move
Any additional comments?
Even if you haven't read the Ice & Fire series (shame on you) I recommend this audio book. It's like watching a movie, with a cast of hundreds, with your eyes closed.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Laura
- 09-02-12
A Feast for the Ears
What did you love best about A Game of Thrones (Part One)?
One of the best thing about reading novels is the ability to create your interpretation of the world in question, to flavour the characters beyond the story itself, or the words on the page. When books get adapted to film, the characters are presented in a very stark way (so that people complain
What was one of the most memorable moments of A Game of Thrones (Part One)?
Not going to give away spoilers here, but the first few times Roy Dotrice went from regal narrator to guttermouth were pretty memorable to me! :P
What about Roy Dotrice’s performance did you like?
Dotrice has a talent of providing each character with their own unique voice - not a mean feat in a novel that has more antagonists than a YouTube comment section! It may be a slight lisp, or a throaty chuckle, but the variances in Dotrice's voice allow each character their own identity.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robert
- 19-12-11
Stories epic in scale and detail
What did you love best about A Game of Thrones (Part One)?
There are so many great characters. It is too difficult to choose just one. One of the most amazing things about this author is that he treats the characters realistically. As a result, it is very difficult to predict what will happen to them
What did you like best about this story?
See above
Which character – as performed by Roy Dotrice – was your favorite?
They were all done well.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
When Lord Eddard died. From that point I knew that realism took priority over sentimentality. It makes reading the series so much more interesting.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alberga
- 29-10-12
Great story, not so great voice.
What did you love best about A Game of Thrones (Part One)?
I loved the story and the way it is told by the author not the narrator. First person perspective, and there are a lot of persons.
What did you like best about this story?
The best thing is the set up of the story line.
Would you be willing to try another one of Roy Dotrice’s performances?
I will have to listen to more of his performances, he is the narrator of the other books in this series. So I am have no choice.
I read that a lot of people love his acting. I just find it really annoying. A lot of huffing and puffing for the distinguished people. He also uses a lto of spit. Women sound like hardend men. Some young boys/men sound like 50 year old barbarians. But the most annoying for me was the constant breathing in through the nose to sound distinguished. Together with the wetness/ spit talk of certain characters made it really irritating. It is not as bad as Daffy duck just enough to annoy me.
Also a lot of times you cannot distinguish the characters cause they all start to sound the same after a while.
But some people absolutely love his voice acting.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Yes the voice acting made me cringe from time to time.
Any additional comments?
The story is so good that even Roy Dotrice's voice acting can't stop me from buying the other parts.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Aileen
- 19-04-12
intense, multi-layered and vivid
I started reading this series years ago when only books 1 and 2 had been released. i was riveted but got frustrated waiting for each installment and gave them away. I'm really enjoying listening to them now. the narrator is fantastic - so many different voices and characters. Some of them are, for me, not quite right, but the major characters are brilliant.
If you haven't been introduced to the series before, I can strongly recommend the audio version - with one reservation: the maps and genealogies the are available in book form really help to anchor the story. With so many characters and so much sweeping action, it can be a little confusing without these resources. Especially because audio doesn't really allow you to go back and pick up a detail you might have missed.
2 people found this helpful
