A Song of Ice and Fire literary analysis and insight. ASOIAF/Game of Thrones books stand on the shoulders of literary giants--Homer, Dante, Joyce, Vonnegut, Melville. Or if that's not enough, how about a heaping helping of Plato? We analyze these literary and philosophical forerunners and show their influences on GRRM's series.

Understanding the books' literary DNA opens up entirely new vistas and interpretations of characters and events throughout the series. Grappling with the literary and philosophical elements in the series give the stories meaning and relevance in our own lives, today.