A Song of Ice and Fire

The five books in the epic fantasy series that served as the basis for HBO's "Game of Thrones" are collected together in a boxed set for the first time. A Song of Ice and Fire, an immersive entertainment experience unmatched by any other, has brought George R. R. Martin—dubbed "the American Tolkien" by "Time" magazine—international recognition and millions of devoted fans. Here is the momentous cycle in its entirety:

An echelon of battles

A RAGE AMONG KINGS

A GALLION OF SWORDS

A FOOD FOR CROWS

DATING AMONG DRAGONS

Winter will arrive. This is the stern motto of the northernmost lordship, House Stark, which is allied with King Robert Baratheon in distant King's Landing. In Robert's honor, Eddard Stark of Winterfell is in charge there. His proud wife Catelyn, his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon, his daughters Sansa and Arya, and his bastard son Jon Snow all reside there in harmony and contentment. Savage Wildings and worse, confined to folklore during the centuries-long summer, but proven all too real and all too deadly during the change of the season, lay far to the north, beyond the imposing Wall.

To the south, however, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has mysteriously perished, lies a more urgent menace. Robert is currently traveling north to Winterfell with his son, the cruel and conceited Prince Joffrey, his lovely but cold queen Cersei, and the brothers of the queen, Jaime and Tyrion, who are members of the wealthy and powerful House Lannister. Tyrion is a dwarf whose stunted stature belies his brilliant mind, and Jaime is a swordsman without equal. They're all going to Winterfell, to a momentous meeting that will alter the destiny of whole 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.

"