<P> Jon Snow is first introduced in A Game of Thrones (1996), as he and his five siblings adopt six orphaned direwolf cubs . As Ned Stark's illegitimate son and with Ned's wife Catelyn despising him, Jon has always felt removed from the rest of the Stark family . He resolves to join the Night's Watch, as his status as a bastard prevents him from holding lands or marrying into a good family . At The Wall, the other recruits resent Jon's aura of superiority, but he makes amends by helping them master swordplay . He also befriends Samwell Tarly, a cowardly lordling who, despite being helpless with weapons, displays an aptitude for book learning . Jon's independence and his compassion for the recruits invite the ire of the harsh master - at - arms Alliser Thorne, who sees Jon as a threat to his authority . Jon gains the notice of the Lord Commander, Jeor Mormont, who names Jon his personal squire and grooms Jon for command . After learning of his father's execution, Jon resolves to desert the Night's Watch and join his half brother Robb, but the other recruits convince Jon to remain loyal to his Night's Watch vows . The next night, Jon saves Mormont's life by killing an undead wight . Mormont then orders a Great Ranging beyond the Wall to learn more of this new threat . </P> <P> In 1998's A Clash of Kings, Mormont leads a party of Night's Watch rangers beyond the Wall to investigate the disappearance of Jon's uncle Benjen, assess the intentions of the wildling leader Mance Rayder and learn more of the threat posed by the Others . Jon is sent out with a scouting party led by Qhorin Halfhand . On the journey, Jon comes upon a wildling lookout and takes the warrior girl Ygritte captive; though told to kill her, Jon lets her escape . Jon and Qhorin are subsequently captured by the wildlings . Qhorin, who faces certain execution at Mance's hands, commands Jon to infiltrate the wildlings and learn their plans, at any cost . Jon pretends to disavow the Night's Watch, and the wildlings force him to fight Qhorin to the death to earn their trust . With Qhorin's silent consent, Jon kills him with the aid of Ghost . </P> <P> As A Storm of Swords (2000) begins, Jon has gained the trust of the wildlings by killing Qhorin, and marches with their host . He learns that Mance intends to breach the Wall and march south to escape the Others, crushing the Night's Watch if necessary . Jon finds himself torn between his growing love for Ygritte and his vows of celibacy . After climbing over The Wall with Ygritte and Tormund Giantsbane, Jon deserts them to warn the Watch of the impending attack . He helps defend Castle Black against the wildlings' initial attacks despite his lack of men and weapons . Ygritte is killed in the fighting, leaving Jon stricken . When the battle is won, Jon is arrested for desertion by Thorne and Janos Slynt, but is freed after convincing the judges of his loyalty . Still suspicious, Thorne orders that Jon be sent to kill Mance under the pretense of parley, but Jon's task is interrupted by the arrival of Stannis Baratheon's army . Stannis offers to legitimize Jon and declare him Lord of Winterfell if he will align the North with Stannis . Though greatly tempted at the prospect of becoming a true Stark, Jon again chooses to remain loyal to his Night's Watch vows . With Sam's help, Jon is elected to the position of Lord Commander by acclamation . </P> <P> Jon is not a POV character in 2005's A Feast for Crows, but appears briefly from Sam's perspective as he sends Sam away from Castle Black with the Watch's Maester Aemon and Mance's newborn son to protect them from sacrifice by the Red Priestess Melisandre . Jon also gives Sam the specific mission of traveling to the Citadel in Oldtown to become a maester, so that he may better understand the threat of the Others and eventually succeed Maester Aemon . </P>

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