Game of Thrones ranks as the second-best TV show of the last 25 years by fans, just behind Breaking Bad. Alongside the show, the book series it was based on has gone down in pop culture history and has its own legion of dedicated fans.
For fans of the book series, a new limited edition version has come out from the Folio Society. Signed by George R. R. Martin himself, beautifully illustrated, and bound in “dragon” (genuine) leather, the edition is certainly something special. As if it couldn’t get better, the page edges are gilded. Oh, and only 1,000 copies are allowed to be sold worldwide.
The books are handmade at Ludlow Bookbinders in the UK using genuine leather for the binding. The set includes a linen map of “The Known World” in a hidden compartment within the clamshell box. The book includes 9 family trees (very helpful for reading any of Martin’s books). It also boasts 12 full-page and 4 double-page illustrations in color, all by English artist Jonathan Burton.
Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire was popular in fantasy and sci-fi reading circles even before the show came out. But once it did, the series became a cultural phenomenon. Since then, it has continued to grow in popularity, inspiring two spinoff shows based on Martin’s books. House of the Dragon, a prequel based on Martin’s 2018 novel Fire and Blood, has been wildly successful. It details the rise of the Targaryen family. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was a more heartwarming show based on Martin’s novella trilogy, Tales of Dunk and Egg. Martin set it in the same universe as the other two, but focused more on lower-class characters than royal politics.
For fans of the books, the show, or just seasoned rare book collectors, this special edition is for you. These very fancy copies come with a hefty price tag, going for $2,200, and are available for purchase on The Folio Society’s website.