冰與火之歌首部曲《權力遊戲》
本世紀最令人難忘的奇幻史詩鉅作,必須珍藏
以充滿想像力的生動筆觸,重現獨一無二的磅礡世界
時代雜誌封喬治馬汀是「美國托爾金」:「當今的奇幻史詩書寫者,喬治.馬汀毫無疑問是箇中翹楚。事實上,我們現在大可稱他是『美國的托爾金』。」
究竟是什麼樣的奇幻小說,能吸引全球無數的讀者瘋狂追,作者拖稿拖越久、讀者越是忠心耿耿,還讓作者被《時代雜誌》封為「美國的托爾金」,更影響了一整個世代的年輕奇幻作家?
喬治.馬汀是當代重量級的奇幻小說大師,累積三十年寫作編劇經驗的顛峰代表作《冰與火之歌》,以莊嚴壯闊的架構,歷史小說般的寫實筆觸,恢弘的布局,嶄新的手法和深具創意的背景,模糊難辨的善惡分野,顛覆了奇幻小說的傳統。本書震撼了歐美文壇,獲得壓倒性的好評,更連續被專業雜誌評選為年度最佳奇幻小說。
Winter is coming 凜冬將至 這是一個四季時序紊亂、溽暑跟寒冬動輒長達十餘載的世界。
時屆夏末暖陽將逝之際,遠在南方的七大王國國王勞勃.拜拉席恩,於此時造訪北方的臨冬城,會見城主艾德.史塔克公爵。他們倆是從小一同長大的摯友,曾在十五年前並肩推翻了暴政。戰後勞勃成為一國之君,艾德則回到終年冰封的北境,守著妻子兒女,以及家族世代相傳的古堡。
只是,國王這次不遠千里地親自來訪並非為了敘舊,而是為了任命艾德擔任七大王國的御前首相;勞師動眾、大張旗鼓北上的國王顯然不會允許艾德推辭。
艾德此前已風聞前首相瓊恩.艾林猝逝的消息。他本以為瓊恩年事已高,猝然過世不足為奇,但一封祕密的書信卻指出瓊恩是被謀殺的,而元凶正是勞勃的皇后,出身王國第一望族的瑟曦.蘭尼斯特。
為了支援處於蘭尼斯特家環伺之下的勞勃國王,更為了北境的安寧,艾德毅然放棄在臨冬城的平靜生活,投入宮廷鬥爭的漩渦之中。
夏日將盡,凜冬將至。象徵史塔克家族的冰原奔狼,代表拜拉席恩家族的寶冠雄鹿,和標誌著蘭尼斯特家的怒吼雄獅,即將齊聚一堂,究竟誰才是最後的贏家?
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---中文簡介擷取自一般中譯本《冰與火之歌第一部:權力遊戲上下冊套書》,高寶出版
NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONES--THE MASTERPIECE THAT BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON
Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King's Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert's name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn; his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon; his daughters Sansa and Arya; and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse--unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season.
Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert is riding north to Winterfell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold Cersei, his son, the cruel, vainglorious Prince Joffrey, and the queen's brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the powerful and wealthy House Lannister--the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind. All are heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms.
Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys, heir of the fallen House Targaryen, which once ruled all of Westeros, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian Dothraki--whose loyalty he will purchase in the only coin left to him: his beautiful yet innocent sister, Daenerys.