The Original Outline for Game of Thrones Revealed

Years ago, before Game of Thrones was a hit HBO show, it was a series of books called A Song of Ice and Fire. The books are still unfinished and it will most likely take George R.R. Martin years to finish them all. But thanks to his UK publisher Harper Collins Voyager and a UK bookseller Waterstones, we can now see the original outline of what was supposed to be a trilogy. George R.R. Martin wrote a letter to Ralph Vicinanza, his agent at the time pitching the books. Some parts of the 3 page letter are hard to read, but we can see how the story grew and changed since the original idea. Some parts are still the same, so spoilers ahead.

On the first page Martin talks about how he envisioned the three books. The first one A Game of Thrones would focus on the Starks and Lannisters. In the second one, called A Dance with Dragons, we would be introduced to a new threat in the shape of Daenerys Targaryen. In the third one, The Winds of Winter, the threat becomes even greater in the shape of the White Walkers beyond the wall.

George R.R. Martin has said he planned from the start for some of the heroes to die. He never wanted the reader to feel like any of the characters are safe. Ned Stark and Catelyn were doomed from the start. But he did originally plan for 5 of the main characters to be safe and survive until the end. Those characters are Jon Snow, Arya Stark, Tyrion Lannister, Bran Stark and Daenerys Targaryen. Though knowing Martin, since this leaked out some of them are bound to die before the end.

The ending is blacked out but there are a few weird ideas before that, and I have to say I’m kinda glad I didn’t see them happen. Arya falling in love with Jon? Tyrion falling in love with Arya? Sansa was supposed to not just marry Joffrey but have his son and heir to the throne. Joffrey was supposed to be much braver I guess, since he was supposed to meet Robb Stark in battle. The blacked out part is killing me, but I guess there’s nothing much to do but sit and wait. And since the trailer for season 5 was viewed 25 million times already on Youtube, I guess I’m not the only one.

While we’re all still waiting and waiting and waiting, check out some of these awesome Game of Thrones t-shirts.