<Tr> <Th> Followed by </Th> <Td> A Clash of Kings </Td> </Tr> <P> A Game of Thrones is the first novel in A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of fantasy novels by American author George R.R. Martin . It was first published on August 1, 1996 . The novel won the 1997 Locus Award and was nominated for both the 1997 Nebula Award and the 1997 World Fantasy Award . The novella Blood of the Dragon, comprising the Daenerys Targaryen chapters from the novel, won the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Novella . In January 2011 the novel became a New York Times bestseller and reached #1 on the list in July 2011 . </P> <P> In the novel, recounting events from various points of view, Martin introduces the plot - lines of the noble houses of Westeros, the Wall, and the Targaryens . The novel has inspired several spin - off works, including several games . It is also the namesake and basis for the first season of Game of Thrones, an HBO television series that premiered in April 2011 . A March 2013 paperback TV tie - in re-edition was also titled Game of Thrones, excluding the indefinite article "A". </P> <P> A Game of Thrones follows three principal storylines simultaneously . </P>

Where does the game of thrones book start