MAX
What book is House of the Dragon? What is ‘Fire and Blood’ by George R.R. Martin?
The story of the Targaryens is a tale of conquest, dragons, and power struggles, which is also condensed in the HBO series.
‘House of the Dragon’ didn’t come out of nowhere. Not only did it have the author’s involvement, but it is based on a book by George R.R. Martin. ‘Fire and Blood’ is a compilation of stories about the Targaryen kings and queens. This dynasty came from ancient Valyria but conquered Westeros after the fall of the legendary city. Both the first and second seasons are set in a specific period, the events leading up to the Dance of the Dragons and the civil war between the two claimants to the Iron Throne.
Differences between the book and ‘House of the Dragon’
Just because ‘House of the Dragon’ is based on a novel doesn’t mean it follows everything in the book to the letter. The approach of the HBO series is slightly different because the structure of Martin’s work is different. For starters, the book covers the history of the Targaryens from Aegon the Conqueror to the aftermath of the Civil War. The series focuses solely on Viserys’ reign and the conflict of succession. This context is established in the first season, while the second season will capture part of the Dance of the Dragons, which predicts massive battles and a clash of dragons.
Another difference between the series and the book is the narrative structure. The novel is told through several interlocutors who tell the story from their point of view. This leads to different interpretations of the same historical fact, which may be different or even not mentioned by one of them. ‘House of the Dragon’, on the other hand, dispenses with this chorus of voices and unifies the plot into a single storyline.
‘House of the Dragon’ will premiere on Max on June 16. From ‘Fire and Blood’ will be a second series about the conquest of Aegon I Targaryen.