<P> Jon Snow is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R.R. Martin, and its television adaptation Game of Thrones . He is a prominent point of view character in the novels, and has been called one of the author's "finest creations" and most popular characters by The New York Times . Jon is a main character in the TV series, and his storyline in the 2015 season 5 finale generated a strong reaction among viewers . Speculation about the character's parentage has also been a popular topic of discussion among fans of both the books and the TV series . </P> <P> Jon is introduced in 1996's A Game of Thrones as the illegitimate son of Ned Stark, the honorable lord of Winterfell, an ancient fortress in the North of the fictional continent of Westeros . Knowing his prospects are limited by his status, Jon joins the Night's Watch, who guard the far northern borders from the wildlings who live beyond The Wall . As the rest of the Starks face grave adversity, Jon finds himself honor bound to remain with the Watch . In A Clash of Kings (1998), he joins a scouting party investigating the growing threat from the otherworldly "Others" beyond the Wall, and manages to infiltrate the wildlings . Jon learns of their plans to invade Westeros in A Storm of Swords (2000), and begins to fall in love with the fierce wildling woman Ygritte . He betrays them--and Ygritte--before they can attack, but the Night Watch's victory comes at a heavy price for Jon . Now the Lord Commander of the Watch, he appears briefly in 2005's A Feast for Crows . Jon returns as a prominent character in a A Dance with Dragons (2011), working to negotiate an alliance between the Night's Watch and the wildlings . The growing animosity he has attracted from among the Watch finally catches up with him, and he is forced to face the dire consequences . </P> <P> Jon is portrayed by Kit Harington on the HBO series Game of Thrones . His storyline follows the character's plot arc from the novel series, though season 6 and season 7 of the TV adaptation continue on from the events of Martin's latest published installment . Harington was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the role in 2016 . He was also nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television in 2012, 2016 and 2017 . </P> <P> In A Game of Thrones, Jon Snow is introduced as the 14 - year - old bastard son of Eddard "Ned" Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and half - brother to Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon . Jon is described as having strong Stark features with a lean build, long face, dark brown hair and grey eyes . Jon has the surname "Snow" (customarily used for illegitimate children in the North) and is resented by Ned's wife Catelyn, who views him as a constant reminder of Ned's infidelity . Jon is the same age as Robb and enjoys a warm relationship with his siblings, particularly the tomboy Arya (who resembles Jon and like him does not feel like she fits in). Ned treats Jon as much like his other children as propriety and his honor will allow . Still, as somewhat of an outsider, Jon has learned to be independent and to fend for himself when necessary . Jon idolizes his father, but is wounded by Ned's refusal to tell him about his mother . At the beginning of the story, Jon adopts the albino direwolf that he names Ghost . He later finds that at times he can "inhabit" the wolf and share its experiences . </P>

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