A Game Of Thrones -

: It has been described as a "cultural phenomenon" and earned Martin the title of the " American Tolkien " by Time magazine. Differences: Book vs. TV Show

: Major book figures like Lady Stoneheart (a resurrected Catelyn Stark) and Young Griff (a potential Targaryen heir) never appeared on screen. A Game of Thrones

George R.R. Martin, formerly a Hollywood screenwriter, began writing the novel in 1991 after a vivid image of a boy witnessing a beheading and finding direwolf pups in the snow came to him. His work is deeply influenced by historical events, most notably the , where the rivalry between the Starks and Lannisters mirrors that of the historical Houses of York and Lancaster. Core Narrative Arcs : It has been described as a "cultural