GRRM AnnouncesThe Rise of the Dragon, a Pre-Game of ThronesEncyclopedia

The Targaryen dynasty may have died out by the conclusion ofGame of Thrones , but hopefully those flying dragon - riding maniacs can take solace in the fact the multitude of Westeros are completely obsessed with theirlong principle of the Seven Kingdoms . Hopefully , the multitude of Earth are as well , since HBO ’s upcoming GoT prequel seriesHouse of the Dragoncovers the Targaryen civil wars , and now a 2d resourcefulness book consecrate to the family is on the means .

The leger is The Rise of the Dragon , which is George R.R. Martin ’s follow - up to 2018’sFire & Blood , which was a chronological history of the Targaryens from their first arrival on Westeros hundreds of year ago to the aforementioned civil wars which will be the stress of House of the Dragon . Rise , on the other bridge player , will be more of a aboveboard resource script , much like 2014’sThe World of Ice and Fire . I’ll permit George explain :

“ For those of you who are wondering : What ’s the difference between The Rise of the Dragon and Fire & Blood ? Think of The Rise of the Dragon as a deluxe mention book , in which Westeros ’ most notorious family — and their dragon — descend to life in partnership with some truly unbelievable creative person . ”

“Terror Over King’s Landing.”

“Terror Over King’s Landing.”Image: Ten Speed Press

Martin proceed : “ Fire & Blood was scribe as a grandmaesters ’ account of issue from Aegon Targaryen ’s conquest of Westeros through to the infamous Dance of the Dragons , the civil warfare that nearly undid the Targaryen rule . The Rise of the Dragon will cover the same time period , but is compose in a more encyclopaedic style standardized to The World of Ice and Fire . In fact , The World of Ice and Fire source Elio M. García , Jr. and Linda Antonsson have returned to help with this tome . ”

Rise does n’t seem like it ’s going to be wholly essential reading for fans who say Fire & Blood , but I certainly would n’t take care have a resource that allowed me to well break who the one C of characters discuss in Fire are , especially give the fact that half the Targaryens seem to be named Aegon and the Targaryen kin Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is so intertwined with itself it might as well be a orb of yarn . And it should be immensely helpful ( or at least alluring ) to House of the Dragon viewers who ’ll need to plunge deeply into the serial publication , which I envisage is the main point of the book . If nothing else , the one delineation GRRM shared ( seen above ) is gorgeous enough to make me inquire if the graphics alone is worth the money .

The Rise of the Dragon is due on October 25 , andcan be pre - ordered here .

Image: Ten Speed Press