George R.R. Martin has created one of the most expansive and elaborate fictional worlds in history – and as House of the Dragon continues, it only keeps getting bigger.

The author is the mind behind A Song of Ice and Fire, and the Westerosi world that forms the basis of TV shows Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and the newly announced Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is currently filming.

But his creative flair has provided the world with more than one fictional universe, and his abilities date back to his childhood – giving nightmares to local children with his monster tales that would make him one of the most beloved authors ever.

George Raymond Richmond Martin is an American author and television writer, of British and Irish descent.

The writer is now best known as George R.R. Martin, or GRRM by fans.

Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, Martin began writing at an early age, selling monster stories to local school kids. He later studied journalism at Northwestern University, gaining both a bachelor and masters degree.

He began selling short stories in 1970, at the age of 21, but worked as a chess tournament director and later an English and journalism instructor at Clarke College while he was finding his feet as a writer.

In 1977, he released his first novel, Dying of the Light, a science-fiction story set on the planet of Worlorn, in a fictional ‘Thousand Worlds’ universe he had created in his previous short stories, which would later include Nightflyers, Sandkings and A Song for Lya.

Nightflyers has also since been adapted to both a TV series and film.

Martin would become a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), and served as the organisation's Southwest Regional Director from 1977 to 1979, and as its vice-president from 1996 to 1998.

Martin would later try working in TV writing, but would return to novel writing in 1991 after growing tired of his work being restricted by budget, technical limitations and show length. Books allowed him to go as big as he wanted.

Inspired by Lord of the Rings creator J.R.R. Tolkien, Martin decided to create his own fantasy series, thus beginning the framework that became A Song of Ice and Fire.

His first book in the collection was released in 1996.

A Song of Ice and Fire was picked up by HBO in 2007 and was turned into TV series Game of Thrones.

Much like the world of Westeros itself, A Song of Ice and Fire is multi-layered and comes with a story collection, a prequel series, companion history books and novellas.

More books are confirmed to be in progress, with release dates yet to be confirmed.

The books heavily detail every aspect of the world, spanning centuries. Here’s the full list, and the order of their release, if you are looking to add to your library:

• A Song of Ice and Fire
• A Game of Thrones (1996)
• A Clash of Kings (1998)
• A Storm of Swords (2000)
• A Feast for Crows (2005)
• A Dance with Dragons (2011)

Yet to be released:

• The Winds of Winter
• A Dream of Spring

These books form the basis for the TV series, Game of Thrones. Find out more about the series here.

A prequel series to the events of A Song of Ice and Fire, comprised of three novellas, with Martin previously announcing intent to extend them.

These are:

• The Hedge Knight (1998)
• The Sworn Sword (2003)
• The Mystery Knight (2010)

These were later compiled into a collection titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in 2015.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been confirmed to be the latest spin-off TV series in the Game of Thrones universe, with filming commencing in June 2024.

• The Princess and the Queen (or the Blacks and the Greens) (2013)
• The Rogue Prince (or a King’s Brother) (2014)
• The Sons of the Dragon (2017)

The Princess and the Queen provides the heavy groundwork for what became House of the Dragon, detailing the civil war that became known as the Dance of the Dragons.

The Rogue Prince, set before The Princess and the Queen, tells the story of King Viserys I’s reign, and his fraught relationship with his brother, Daemon.

The Sons of the Dragon goes back even further, detailing the lives of the Targaryen family following the Death of King Aegon I, better known as Aegon The Conqueror.

These two books take the format of history books, told through the writing of a historian, and track the Targaryen dynasty throughout the ages.

Martin originally intended to release the books as one volume, but it proved so long that he later agreed to split it into two volumes.

• Fire & Blood (2018)
• Blood & Fire (yet to be released)

• The Lands of Ice and Fire (2012)
• The Wit & Wisdom of Tyrion Lannister (2013)
• The World of Ice & Fire (2014) (with Elio M. García Jr. and Linda Antonsson)
• The Rise of the Dragon (2022) (with Elio M. García Jr. and Linda Antonsson)