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The Tales of Dunk and Egg #1
The Hedge Knight
A novella originally published August 25, 1998 in the Legends anthology, edited by Robert Silverberg. Set in the world of the Song of Ice and Fire series eighty-nine years before the events of the main cycle, the story relates the adventures of Dunk (eponymously called Ser Duncan the Tall) and his squire, Egg.
85 pages, ebook
First published August 25, 1998
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About the author
George R.R. Martin
1,503 books120k followersGeorge Raymond Richard "R.R." Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
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February 21, 2026
Today I'm just a lonely man, but tomorrow I'll be a king / Blessing all my subjects, cast afar insecurities / The whole wide world will watch me, as I walk up to my throne / Knights in shining armor, stand around to heed my call (Why Have I Lost You – Cameo).
Wait, let me get my bearings straight for a second, because I think this is the first time I’ve talked about Game of Thrones while reviewing a Game of Thrones book (I like calling the entire series “Game of Thrones" because I know it annoys someone out there). We’re in uncharted territory now! No but really, I think the reason why I’m always talking shit on the sidelines is because I remember all too well the rabid anger and sense of superiority that the book fans would often showcase while the original show was airing, and because I never want to draw their ire myself, I’ve always treated ASOIAF fans as if they’re a hungry pack of hyenas and I’ve just failed at overthrowing Pride Rock. Anyway, let’s talk about The Hedge Knight, a spin-off of the original series that George R.R. Martin started writing because he wanted to find a way to do literally anything except finish the main story! Okay, that was a low blow, a cheap shot, if you will, but as someone who has stopped being emotionally invested in this world after the botched ending to the main show, I find the widening gap between book releases incredibly funny… like, come on dude, sixteen years to write a book? Be for real. I’m just saying, I’m no diehard fan, but as someone who has read a few books by the guy now, I'd wager that there are quite a few parts that could easily be edited down. Have you seen pictures of the original Star Wars drafts that was edited by Marcia Lucas? It was a beautiful sight because entire pages were crossed out in red marker, and considering how many current stories have become bloated beyond control, I really do think good a editor is a rare breed nowadays! I mean, I’m sure George R.R. Martin has reached a level of fame and status to where nobody would ever dare chop up his beloved books, but I’m just saying that all the best stories, from movies to literature, have a strong editor behind them. I've heard Quentin Tarantino lost his longtime editor somewhere around the start of the 2010’s, and if you look at every one of his movies made since then, everything becomes so~oo clear! Anyway, let’s talk about The Hedge Knight, a spin-off of the original series that George R.R. Martin started writing because he wanted to find a way to do literally anything except finish the main story!
We follow a big oaf named Dunk who has just lost the only father figure he had ever known, and in deciding to become a knight and take part in the tourney to make some serious coin, he meets a boy with a shaved head who goes by Egg. After deciding to let this bald ass Avatar: the Last Airbender kid become his squire, the rest of their story oscillates between a light-hearted romp where Dunk's carrying Egg on his shoulders Freak the Mighty style and serious morality plays featuring discussions on what it is to be a true knight. What the true heart of the hero looks like or whatever. It’s a common motif in the original series as well, with The Hound (Sandor Clegane) and his brother, The Mountain, being the most commonly used example of the hypocrisy surrounding the ideal image of a heroic knight and what would (presumably) actually happen when you give men with a propensity for violence impunity to act out in any way they can. I mean, I appreciated The Hedge Knights’ lighter tone than is generally seen in this universe, and honestly, the only reason why I even gave this a read was because I was told that it wasn’t as dire and oppressively depressing as The House of Dragon or the original Game of Thrones, nevertheless, I wouldn’t exactly call this a cake walk. For one, I assume we’re supposed to be charmed by Dunk’s common folk background and his simple, yet humble nature, but I hated how many times he would try to convince us of how good a person he was simply because he didn't hit Egg at any point in the story. It felt a little forced, you know? Like George R.R. Martin himself was reaching into the story and trying to reinforce the idea that this kind of violence was typical “back in those days” (days that didn’t exist, mind you, this is a fantasy world), and it just had me thinking that if Dunk were really a fine bloke, then these thoughts wouldn’t have entered his mind in the first place. Which is odd that this was even an issue with me because I was immediately on board with Ned Stark from the start (both in the show and the book), so I know George R.R. Martin is capable of writing an honest and true person without adding his trademarked cynicism!
In fact, the best part of The Hedge Knight was the dynamic between Dunk and Egg (as was to be expected), and even though the novel centers around their blossoming brotherly relationship, their interactions still felt far and in-between massive swaths of descriptive text. I mean, I speak with some experience, but damn does this man enjoy a wall of text, doesn’t he? I know a lot of people love his loquaciousness, but as someone whose favorite parts of the original story were the dialogue scenes featuring characters like Tyrion, Tywin, and Olenna Tyrell especially, I’ve got to say it was a little disappointing to have to wade through all the fluff just to get to the good stuff. Sure, I know this complaint makes me sound super anti-intellectual or whatever, but I’m just saying… do I really need to know what everyone’s sigil or flag or emblem looks like!? Especially considering this book is only eighty or so pages, and it just makes me wonder whether or not Dunk, the character Dunk, would actually care about any of this stuff, or if it’s just George R.R. Martin doing his normal thing where his excessive prose sounds more like a tour guide at a poorly attended museum rather than someone telling a captivating story. And who knows, maybe that’s the way fans like it? I mean, people always talk about A Song of Ice and Fire through a list of facts as if these are real historical facts they’re presenting, and it’s like… do you want to read a book with a narrative, or are we just going to go through a list of events in chronological order as if we’re reading T.V. Tropes. I'm being negative, I know, sometimes I wish I were able to read these books long before the show even existed, because the truth is that my opinion on the Game of Thrones property has soured so much that I treat any new installment in the universe with active hostility. People are always saying The House of the Dragon fell off (including Georgie himself), but I only ever watched the first episode where that one king dude let his wife die during childbirth because he wanted a son, and it just felt like more of the same. I know the defense of this “dark and grim” style of writing is always that it’s representative of “those times”, but I’ve already watched eight seasons of the original show, so I’m just over it, you know?
“All men are fools, and all men are knights.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the world sucked then and it sucks now, we're all aware, now can we say a new thing now? I’m not trying to say that every story needs to be sunflowers and roses, but there’s a very specific meanness and cruelty to George R.R. Martin’s writing that tends to attract the worst kind of insufferable cross-armed dude at the book club, and I’m just a little exhausted of talking about the land of Westeros and all of its horrors. It's funny because when I heard they were making a show called Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (based on these Dunk & Egg stories) and that it was another prequel to Game of Thrones, my immediate thought was, “why the fuck would I want to watch that?" House of Dragons itself failed to capture my attention because they kept alluding to the White Walker threat and it's like... we already saw that in the main show? It turned out that the danger wasn't as world ending as the prophecies foretold, funny how things work out. I know that most of my anger should be directed at D&D, the creators of the show adaption, but you know what? If George had just finished the books in a timely manner, then they wouldn’t have been able to ruin the hell out of his story in the first place, now would they? And look, I know people love to say that authors don’t owe anybody anything or whatever, but here's my controversial opinion: I think they do. Sorry, but the relationship between author and reader does become symbiotic at some point, and if you start a series, then the sad fact is that at the very least you owe your loyal readers, the people who go out and buy all these books, something! It shouldn’t take thirty years to write seven books, and there’s no excuse that can convince me otherwise. Of course, on the flip side, I’m totally not in the same camp as those supposed Song of Ice and Fire “fans” that believe with their whole hearts that George R.R. Martin should allow another author to step in and finish the series for him. It's baffling, do these people even like reading!? Are we here because we like A Song of Ice and Fire or not? Why would long term fans of a beloved series want someone else to walk right up and write the definitive ending to one of the most anticipated conclusions in all of fiction!?!? I say this as someone who isn’t even particularly impressed with George R.R. Martin’s prose, but if he isn’t interested in finishing the series, then it’s just going to stay unfinished. I guess some things are best left unsaid.
I was going to move right past the bit where I proudly claimed that I don't love Martin’s writing, but I guess I should probably try to defend myself a little! Don’t get me wrong, I’m filled with contempt for what the show became, but I did really love watching all the fantastic actors breathe life into George R.R. Martin’s characters simply because, and this will be really controversial, but I’ve always found his style to be somewhat dull and meandering. From what I’ve read of his (this book and the first Game of Thrones book), it almost always felt like he was more interested in creating fantasy worlds and lore than he was writing the stories featured in those fantasy worlds. Well, maybe that’s not fair, because I don’t think anybody can deny how masterfully done his more clever plots come together, but sometimes the impact is lessened by his near constant penchant for needless bloat. Martin doesn’t so much paint a picture as he does list out its properties to you in a droning HAL 9000 inflection that has the same grasp for flair as reading a grocery list. Anyway, I kind of liked this book, but it wasn’t really the transcendent story from this universe that I was originally hoping for. I think it’s to the point where I’ve gotten all that I can really get from ASOIAF, because it’s really hard for me to fight the thought that we're just rehashing the same points over and over again. Sure, The Hedge Knight is technically lighter comparatively to every other installment in the series, but there’s still a cynical edge to it that gives the tone an almost juvenile appeal to it. Like, the only person that could really enjoy the messaging to its fullest extent is someone whose mental age never passed the age of fifteen. The Zack Snyder approach to storytelling, if you will. Okay, that was out of pocket, but even the big climactic scene where Dunk defends his crush against the evil prince Aerion felt like something conjured up out of the lonely male’s fantasy. And while there’s nothing wrong with wish-fulfillment in stories, it’s a bit rich coming from the “subverting expectations” writer who became famous for writing a “realistic take” on Lord of the Rings. Also, how come it’s always female characters and queer characters who always face the brunt of George R.R. Martin’s realism? Why is his idea of realism for marginalized groups always the most horrific violence and humiliation he can think of? And why are all the Targaryens so pretty? If we're stuck on realism, then let's take a gander at the real royal family, they certainly don't have beautiful purple eyes, that's for sure. Instead they're all out here looking like rejects from The Hills Have Eyes. Just a few things to think about.
Besides, just knowing the conventions of George R.R. Martin's work and his interest in punishing characters who are morally good in the name of “subversion”, I found Dunk's more heroic acts thoroughly unmoving. I'm just wondering when the other shoe will drop? We all know it will, I’m fresh to your tricks, Martin! Really though, I always find it interesting because whenever an author goes out of their way to surprise readers, to "win" against them and prove themselves the smartest in the land, they always ironically end up being predictable in their haste to, and say it with me now, subvert expectations! And George R.R. Martin is no different in this regard, as he always loves to write his little “gotcha” moments so the audience doesn’t get too comfortable. Why do you think that corny ass quote from the show, “If you think this story had a happy ending, then you haven't been paying attention” became so widespread? It’s because he writes his stories for the kind of people who think it's so unique and different to make every story have bad things happen instead of good things. Woah, some real groundbreaking stuff here, really flipped the whole chess board around, my guy. Besides, men in general just love writing stories that allow them to play out the violent daydreams in their heads. They dream up these made up scenarios where terrible things happen to their loved ones so they can be justified in their outbursts. The Nobody and John Wick movies, Oberyn Martell’s entire arc during Game of Thrones, Dunk going beast mode on the evil prince to defend his girl, none of these stories are about the people getting hurt, or the systemic failure that would allow such pain to be inflicted without repercussions, they’re just here to adhere to the male fantasy of acting out under the guise of “protecting what’s theirs.” Of course, all of this is just my opinion (this is my way of throwing a stick of meat in the other direction to throw the starving hyenas off my scent). So yeah, this was alright. I don’t know if I’ll continue the series, but it’s not like I'm running out of time, now am I? My understanding is that Dunk & Egg is yet another unfinished work of George R.R. Martin, so if we go by the release schedule of ASOIAF, then I’d say I have at least a hundred years to catch up! Anyway, if nothing else, George R.R. Martin does know how to craft an intriguing narrative, and even if you have to sift through hundreds of monotonous details in order to find it, it's worth it. Probably, I don't know.
But wait a minute, I'm still lonely / I guess anyone can dream, but when you lose someone it seems / So unimportant, al~though every person changes / Different times and different ways, but never all the same.
Wait, let me get my bearings straight for a second, because I think this is the first time I’ve talked about Game of Thrones while reviewing a Game of Thrones book (I like calling the entire series “Game of Thrones" because I know it annoys someone out there). We’re in uncharted territory now! No but really, I think the reason why I’m always talking shit on the sidelines is because I remember all too well the rabid anger and sense of superiority that the book fans would often showcase while the original show was airing, and because I never want to draw their ire myself, I’ve always treated ASOIAF fans as if they’re a hungry pack of hyenas and I’ve just failed at overthrowing Pride Rock. Anyway, let’s talk about The Hedge Knight, a spin-off of the original series that George R.R. Martin started writing because he wanted to find a way to do literally anything except finish the main story! Okay, that was a low blow, a cheap shot, if you will, but as someone who has stopped being emotionally invested in this world after the botched ending to the main show, I find the widening gap between book releases incredibly funny… like, come on dude, sixteen years to write a book? Be for real. I’m just saying, I’m no diehard fan, but as someone who has read a few books by the guy now, I'd wager that there are quite a few parts that could easily be edited down. Have you seen pictures of the original Star Wars drafts that was edited by Marcia Lucas? It was a beautiful sight because entire pages were crossed out in red marker, and considering how many current stories have become bloated beyond control, I really do think good a editor is a rare breed nowadays! I mean, I’m sure George R.R. Martin has reached a level of fame and status to where nobody would ever dare chop up his beloved books, but I’m just saying that all the best stories, from movies to literature, have a strong editor behind them. I've heard Quentin Tarantino lost his longtime editor somewhere around the start of the 2010’s, and if you look at every one of his movies made since then, everything becomes so~oo clear! Anyway, let’s talk about The Hedge Knight, a spin-off of the original series that George R.R. Martin started writing because he wanted to find a way to do literally anything except finish the main story!
We follow a big oaf named Dunk who has just lost the only father figure he had ever known, and in deciding to become a knight and take part in the tourney to make some serious coin, he meets a boy with a shaved head who goes by Egg. After deciding to let this bald ass Avatar: the Last Airbender kid become his squire, the rest of their story oscillates between a light-hearted romp where Dunk's carrying Egg on his shoulders Freak the Mighty style and serious morality plays featuring discussions on what it is to be a true knight. What the true heart of the hero looks like or whatever. It’s a common motif in the original series as well, with The Hound (Sandor Clegane) and his brother, The Mountain, being the most commonly used example of the hypocrisy surrounding the ideal image of a heroic knight and what would (presumably) actually happen when you give men with a propensity for violence impunity to act out in any way they can. I mean, I appreciated The Hedge Knights’ lighter tone than is generally seen in this universe, and honestly, the only reason why I even gave this a read was because I was told that it wasn’t as dire and oppressively depressing as The House of Dragon or the original Game of Thrones, nevertheless, I wouldn’t exactly call this a cake walk. For one, I assume we’re supposed to be charmed by Dunk’s common folk background and his simple, yet humble nature, but I hated how many times he would try to convince us of how good a person he was simply because he didn't hit Egg at any point in the story. It felt a little forced, you know? Like George R.R. Martin himself was reaching into the story and trying to reinforce the idea that this kind of violence was typical “back in those days” (days that didn’t exist, mind you, this is a fantasy world), and it just had me thinking that if Dunk were really a fine bloke, then these thoughts wouldn’t have entered his mind in the first place. Which is odd that this was even an issue with me because I was immediately on board with Ned Stark from the start (both in the show and the book), so I know George R.R. Martin is capable of writing an honest and true person without adding his trademarked cynicism!
In fact, the best part of The Hedge Knight was the dynamic between Dunk and Egg (as was to be expected), and even though the novel centers around their blossoming brotherly relationship, their interactions still felt far and in-between massive swaths of descriptive text. I mean, I speak with some experience, but damn does this man enjoy a wall of text, doesn’t he? I know a lot of people love his loquaciousness, but as someone whose favorite parts of the original story were the dialogue scenes featuring characters like Tyrion, Tywin, and Olenna Tyrell especially, I’ve got to say it was a little disappointing to have to wade through all the fluff just to get to the good stuff. Sure, I know this complaint makes me sound super anti-intellectual or whatever, but I’m just saying… do I really need to know what everyone’s sigil or flag or emblem looks like!? Especially considering this book is only eighty or so pages, and it just makes me wonder whether or not Dunk, the character Dunk, would actually care about any of this stuff, or if it’s just George R.R. Martin doing his normal thing where his excessive prose sounds more like a tour guide at a poorly attended museum rather than someone telling a captivating story. And who knows, maybe that’s the way fans like it? I mean, people always talk about A Song of Ice and Fire through a list of facts as if these are real historical facts they’re presenting, and it’s like… do you want to read a book with a narrative, or are we just going to go through a list of events in chronological order as if we’re reading T.V. Tropes. I'm being negative, I know, sometimes I wish I were able to read these books long before the show even existed, because the truth is that my opinion on the Game of Thrones property has soured so much that I treat any new installment in the universe with active hostility. People are always saying The House of the Dragon fell off (including Georgie himself), but I only ever watched the first episode where that one king dude let his wife die during childbirth because he wanted a son, and it just felt like more of the same. I know the defense of this “dark and grim” style of writing is always that it’s representative of “those times”, but I’ve already watched eight seasons of the original show, so I’m just over it, you know?
“All men are fools, and all men are knights.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the world sucked then and it sucks now, we're all aware, now can we say a new thing now? I’m not trying to say that every story needs to be sunflowers and roses, but there’s a very specific meanness and cruelty to George R.R. Martin’s writing that tends to attract the worst kind of insufferable cross-armed dude at the book club, and I’m just a little exhausted of talking about the land of Westeros and all of its horrors. It's funny because when I heard they were making a show called Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (based on these Dunk & Egg stories) and that it was another prequel to Game of Thrones, my immediate thought was, “why the fuck would I want to watch that?" House of Dragons itself failed to capture my attention because they kept alluding to the White Walker threat and it's like... we already saw that in the main show? It turned out that the danger wasn't as world ending as the prophecies foretold, funny how things work out. I know that most of my anger should be directed at D&D, the creators of the show adaption, but you know what? If George had just finished the books in a timely manner, then they wouldn’t have been able to ruin the hell out of his story in the first place, now would they? And look, I know people love to say that authors don’t owe anybody anything or whatever, but here's my controversial opinion: I think they do. Sorry, but the relationship between author and reader does become symbiotic at some point, and if you start a series, then the sad fact is that at the very least you owe your loyal readers, the people who go out and buy all these books, something! It shouldn’t take thirty years to write seven books, and there’s no excuse that can convince me otherwise. Of course, on the flip side, I’m totally not in the same camp as those supposed Song of Ice and Fire “fans” that believe with their whole hearts that George R.R. Martin should allow another author to step in and finish the series for him. It's baffling, do these people even like reading!? Are we here because we like A Song of Ice and Fire or not? Why would long term fans of a beloved series want someone else to walk right up and write the definitive ending to one of the most anticipated conclusions in all of fiction!?!? I say this as someone who isn’t even particularly impressed with George R.R. Martin’s prose, but if he isn’t interested in finishing the series, then it’s just going to stay unfinished. I guess some things are best left unsaid.
I was going to move right past the bit where I proudly claimed that I don't love Martin’s writing, but I guess I should probably try to defend myself a little! Don’t get me wrong, I’m filled with contempt for what the show became, but I did really love watching all the fantastic actors breathe life into George R.R. Martin’s characters simply because, and this will be really controversial, but I’ve always found his style to be somewhat dull and meandering. From what I’ve read of his (this book and the first Game of Thrones book), it almost always felt like he was more interested in creating fantasy worlds and lore than he was writing the stories featured in those fantasy worlds. Well, maybe that’s not fair, because I don’t think anybody can deny how masterfully done his more clever plots come together, but sometimes the impact is lessened by his near constant penchant for needless bloat. Martin doesn’t so much paint a picture as he does list out its properties to you in a droning HAL 9000 inflection that has the same grasp for flair as reading a grocery list. Anyway, I kind of liked this book, but it wasn’t really the transcendent story from this universe that I was originally hoping for. I think it’s to the point where I’ve gotten all that I can really get from ASOIAF, because it’s really hard for me to fight the thought that we're just rehashing the same points over and over again. Sure, The Hedge Knight is technically lighter comparatively to every other installment in the series, but there’s still a cynical edge to it that gives the tone an almost juvenile appeal to it. Like, the only person that could really enjoy the messaging to its fullest extent is someone whose mental age never passed the age of fifteen. The Zack Snyder approach to storytelling, if you will. Okay, that was out of pocket, but even the big climactic scene where Dunk defends his crush against the evil prince Aerion felt like something conjured up out of the lonely male’s fantasy. And while there’s nothing wrong with wish-fulfillment in stories, it’s a bit rich coming from the “subverting expectations” writer who became famous for writing a “realistic take” on Lord of the Rings. Also, how come it’s always female characters and queer characters who always face the brunt of George R.R. Martin’s realism? Why is his idea of realism for marginalized groups always the most horrific violence and humiliation he can think of? And why are all the Targaryens so pretty? If we're stuck on realism, then let's take a gander at the real royal family, they certainly don't have beautiful purple eyes, that's for sure. Instead they're all out here looking like rejects from The Hills Have Eyes. Just a few things to think about.
Besides, just knowing the conventions of George R.R. Martin's work and his interest in punishing characters who are morally good in the name of “subversion”, I found Dunk's more heroic acts thoroughly unmoving. I'm just wondering when the other shoe will drop? We all know it will, I’m fresh to your tricks, Martin! Really though, I always find it interesting because whenever an author goes out of their way to surprise readers, to "win" against them and prove themselves the smartest in the land, they always ironically end up being predictable in their haste to, and say it with me now, subvert expectations! And George R.R. Martin is no different in this regard, as he always loves to write his little “gotcha” moments so the audience doesn’t get too comfortable. Why do you think that corny ass quote from the show, “If you think this story had a happy ending, then you haven't been paying attention” became so widespread? It’s because he writes his stories for the kind of people who think it's so unique and different to make every story have bad things happen instead of good things. Woah, some real groundbreaking stuff here, really flipped the whole chess board around, my guy. Besides, men in general just love writing stories that allow them to play out the violent daydreams in their heads. They dream up these made up scenarios where terrible things happen to their loved ones so they can be justified in their outbursts. The Nobody and John Wick movies, Oberyn Martell’s entire arc during Game of Thrones, Dunk going beast mode on the evil prince to defend his girl, none of these stories are about the people getting hurt, or the systemic failure that would allow such pain to be inflicted without repercussions, they’re just here to adhere to the male fantasy of acting out under the guise of “protecting what’s theirs.” Of course, all of this is just my opinion (this is my way of throwing a stick of meat in the other direction to throw the starving hyenas off my scent). So yeah, this was alright. I don’t know if I’ll continue the series, but it’s not like I'm running out of time, now am I? My understanding is that Dunk & Egg is yet another unfinished work of George R.R. Martin, so if we go by the release schedule of ASOIAF, then I’d say I have at least a hundred years to catch up! Anyway, if nothing else, George R.R. Martin does know how to craft an intriguing narrative, and even if you have to sift through hundreds of monotonous details in order to find it, it's worth it. Probably, I don't know.
But wait a minute, I'm still lonely / I guess anyone can dream, but when you lose someone it seems / So unimportant, al~though every person changes / Different times and different ways, but never all the same.
July 1, 2014
This short story is so refreshing after the marathon that is ASOIAF. When I read this the first time, I had just finished up the first 5 books in a row. I was completely exhausted and not interested in reading anything else anytime soon. About a week went by and I found my curiosity about these prequel short stories couldn't be put at bay any longer.
In The Hedge Knight, we meet Dunk and Egg and go on a journey with them to a tourney. While the original books are absolutely amazing, they can be quite overwhelming at times. In comparison, this short story was full of sunshine, happiness and rainbows. I loved getting to meet a full family of Targaryens and experience Westeros while it wasn't in the middle of war. If you have finished the ASOIAF series, this short story is a must-read!
In The Hedge Knight, we meet Dunk and Egg and go on a journey with them to a tourney. While the original books are absolutely amazing, they can be quite overwhelming at times. In comparison, this short story was full of sunshine, happiness and rainbows. I loved getting to meet a full family of Targaryens and experience Westeros while it wasn't in the middle of war. If you have finished the ASOIAF series, this short story is a must-read!
January 14, 2026
We’re back in Westeros! With the show arriving next year, it would hardly do GRRM justice for a devoted fan like me not to read this.
Unlike A Song of Ice and Fire, The Hedge Knight is a stark contrast to the grim, brutal, and harrowing tone that defines the main series. In comparison, this story feels cheeky and lively. This short tale is the perfect read for anyone wanting to delve back into GRRM’s saga. The story follows Dunk and Egg, both of whom arrives at a tournament solely dedicated to knights.
While I find this story fun and refreshing, the buildup felt a bit slow at the beginning. And, the sudden influx of characters can be tricky to follow, but that aside, it is a fantastic short story. The dynamic between the iconic duo? Absolutely chef’s kiss. I can’t wait to read more about them.
4.4 stars
Unlike A Song of Ice and Fire, The Hedge Knight is a stark contrast to the grim, brutal, and harrowing tone that defines the main series. In comparison, this story feels cheeky and lively. This short tale is the perfect read for anyone wanting to delve back into GRRM’s saga. The story follows Dunk and Egg, both of whom arrives at a tournament solely dedicated to knights.
While I find this story fun and refreshing, the buildup felt a bit slow at the beginning. And, the sudden influx of characters can be tricky to follow, but that aside, it is a fantastic short story. The dynamic between the iconic duo? Absolutely chef’s kiss. I can’t wait to read more about them.
4.4 stars
September 1, 2025
And so my GRRM binging journey begins, and what a place to start. The Hedge Knight is such a wonderful story to begin with and you cannot help but adore Dunk and Egg, and feel excitement at what lays ahead...
August 6, 2013
I have to say that comic books, which are sometimes called graphic novels now, have become more sophisticated. Writers like Moore, Gaiman and Miller, among others, have brought complex and dark realism.
THE HEDGE KNIGHT is more of a medieval knight's tale with a great deal of enriched history to a fantasy world of great complexity.
In this tale, a knight with no lord to follow joins a tourney in the hopes of securing fame and fortune (i.e. winners in medieval tourneys sometimes got to keep the armor and horses of opponents which would be the value of a house today). He falls for a female woman who is being beat up by a man and his hirelings. After defeating them, he discovers him to be the grandson of the high king and in these regions it's death to touch such royalty.
His only hope is a trial by combat, and, in the tradition of their seven gods, there will be 7 on each side. The hedge knight must then find 6 others to fight in his name when he has absolutely no reputation.
If you have read neither, I would recommend the George Martin novelette first and then compare it to the comic.
Enjoy!
ARTISTIC PRESENTATION: B plus to A minus; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: A minus; STORY/PLOTTING/EDITING: B plus to A minus; WESTEROS FOCUS: A minus; ACTION SCENES: B to B plus; OVERALL GRADE: A minus; WHEN READ: last read mid 2011 (third time).
February 13, 2022
عمل اخر من اعمال جورج ر.ر. مارتن فى عالمه الخلاب عالم ويستروس الجميل الملئ بالمؤامرات و الدسائس و كل الخدع الحربية التى احيانا لا تقف اشياء مثل الشرف و النبل عائق امامها .
When it came to George R.R.Martin stories in Westores , u can easily expect conspiracies and intrigues that sometimes things such as honor and nobility don't stand impediment to them .
الاخ جورج ر.ر.مارتن هنا فاجأنى مثلما فاجأ الجميع انه استطاع انهاء قصة اخيرا بل و تخلى عن دمويته المشهور بها فى قتله شخصياته الرئيسية و انتهت القصل ب مقتل 2 فقط فى 100 صفحة و هذا عجيب و غريب بالنسبة للاخ جورج .
Finally u can see a story in Westores with an ending and surprisingly with just 2 kills ! so not bloody too and that's so rare .
الان فى عالم اخر عالم مغامرات الفارس "دنك" و المرافق له " إيج " هذا الطفل العنيد المشاغب الملئ بالاسرار و المفاجات .
دنك الطويل كان قد تم ذكره عل لسان جوفرى فى صراع العروش انه من الفرسان الاقوياء الذى كان له صيت فى عصره و استطاع ان يصبح بسبب نبله و شجاعته من الفرسان الذى استحقوا مكانتهم فى كتاب " كتاب الاخوان " المتعلق ب كل العظماء الذين انضموا الى حراس الملوك و لكن هذا فى قصة اخرى لاننا هنا نتكلم عن بدايته فقط .
احداث القصة القصيرة بدات قبل 100 عام من احداث صراع العروش اثناء ما كان التارجريان فى الحكم و لكن بلا تنانين لانتهائهم بعد الحرب الكبيرة التى سميت ب "رقصة التنانين " و الذى بها انتهت معظم التنانين ب قتلهم .
The story events in century before the known game of thrones events while the Targarians were in power, but without dragons after most of them died in " Dance of the Dragons war " .
القصة تدور حول دنك الذى يريد ان يثبت نفسه ك فارس جدير بالاحترام ف يتجه الى " آشفورد " لديخل فى مسابقة مبارزة مع فرسان من العائلات الكبرى و فى طريقة بقابل الفتى "إيج" و يتخذه كمرافق له و تبدا الاحداث عندما يصل هناك و يقع فى مشكلة عند الاعتداء على احد امراء التارجريان ليقع تحت المحاكمة و تبدا الاحداث فى اخذ منعطف دموى لكن به خيانة و شرف و صداقة و نبل بين الفرسان توضح معنى ان تكون فارس محافظ عل نذورك .
The story is about Dunk, who wants to prove himself as a worthy knight so He heads to Ashford to enter a duel competition with knights from great families , in his way he meets Egg and takes him as his squire , When Aerion Targarian attack some poor people , Dunk stood up to him and that lead to a trial and events begin to take a bloody turn .
Story about betrayal , honor , friendship and nobility that proves the meaning of being a true knight.
قصص ممتعة جدا و لا تخلو من المفاجأت و الخيانة كما هو الحال فى ويستروس دائماً .
So exciting about this adventures and Ser Duncan the Tall .
When it came to George R.R.Martin stories in Westores , u can easily expect conspiracies and intrigues that sometimes things such as honor and nobility don't stand impediment to them .
الاخ جورج ر.ر.مارتن هنا فاجأنى مثلما فاجأ الجميع انه استطاع انهاء قصة اخيرا بل و تخلى عن دمويته المشهور بها فى قتله شخصياته الرئيسية و انتهت القصل ب مقتل 2 فقط فى 100 صفحة و هذا عجيب و غريب بالنسبة للاخ جورج .
Finally u can see a story in Westores with an ending and surprisingly with just 2 kills ! so not bloody too and that's so rare .
الان فى عالم اخر عالم مغامرات الفارس "دنك" و المرافق له " إيج " هذا الطفل العنيد المشاغب الملئ بالاسرار و المفاجات .
دنك الطويل كان قد تم ذكره عل لسان جوفرى فى صراع العروش انه من الفرسان الاقوياء الذى كان له صيت فى عصره و استطاع ان يصبح بسبب نبله و شجاعته من الفرسان الذى استحقوا مكانتهم فى كتاب " كتاب الاخوان " المتعلق ب كل العظماء الذين انضموا الى حراس الملوك و لكن هذا فى قصة اخرى لاننا هنا نتكلم عن بدايته فقط .
احداث القصة القصيرة بدات قبل 100 عام من احداث صراع العروش اثناء ما كان التارجريان فى الحكم و لكن بلا تنانين لانتهائهم بعد الحرب الكبيرة التى سميت ب "رقصة التنانين " و الذى بها انتهت معظم التنانين ب قتلهم .
The story events in century before the known game of thrones events while the Targarians were in power, but without dragons after most of them died in " Dance of the Dragons war " .
القصة تدور حول دنك الذى يريد ان يثبت نفسه ك فارس جدير بالاحترام ف يتجه الى " آشفورد " لديخل فى مسابقة مبارزة مع فرسان من العائلات الكبرى و فى طريقة بقابل الفتى "إيج" و يتخذه كمرافق له و تبدا الاحداث عندما يصل هناك و يقع فى مشكلة عند الاعتداء على احد امراء التارجريان ليقع تحت المحاكمة و تبدا الاحداث فى اخذ منعطف دموى لكن به خيانة و شرف و صداقة و نبل بين الفرسان توضح معنى ان تكون فارس محافظ عل نذورك .
The story is about Dunk, who wants to prove himself as a worthy knight so He heads to Ashford to enter a duel competition with knights from great families , in his way he meets Egg and takes him as his squire , When Aerion Targarian attack some poor people , Dunk stood up to him and that lead to a trial and events begin to take a bloody turn .
Story about betrayal , honor , friendship and nobility that proves the meaning of being a true knight.
قصص ممتعة جدا و لا تخلو من المفاجأت و الخيانة كما هو الحال فى ويستروس دائماً .
So exciting about this adventures and Ser Duncan the Tall .
January 12, 2026
"Are you mad? This man attacked my son!"
"This man protected the weak, as all true knights must."
Dunk the lunk, thick as a castle wall 🔥
Every time I read this, I like it more. Really stoked they're adapting it, unlike most things,I think fleshing it out could make it even more powerful.
"This man protected the weak, as all true knights must."
Dunk the lunk, thick as a castle wall 🔥
Every time I read this, I like it more. Really stoked they're adapting it, unlike most things,I think fleshing it out could make it even more powerful.
July 26, 2025
This was a fun read.
February 18, 2026
After that joke of a series finale of one of my favourite shows (yes, Game of Thrones), I found my interest in Westeros's history—for the most part, the rule of the Targaryens and their puzzling family tree—growing. That's when I came across this series of novellas by GRRM detailing the adventures of Dunk, a Hedge Knight and Egg, his squire.
I have spent hours scouring the web for A Song of Ice and Fire trivia and so I was surprised to see that Egg's identity is not known right away. Even then, the reveal was pretty spectacular.
I enjoyed this story so much! Unlike ASOIAF, where the Targaryens have been almost completely wiped out, this story takes place during the reign of Daeron II. It introduces us to the strong, kind and just Baelor Targaryen on the one hand, and the monstrous Aerion Targaryen on the other. This stark contrast reminds me of this Ser Barristan Selmy quote from A Storm of Swords—
"Every time a new Targaryen is born, he (King Jaehaerys) said, the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land."
Even when it comes to a short story, GRRM knows how to captivate readers. The story starts a little slow—if you've read GRRM before, you know this to be true of most of his works—and somewhere in the middle the pace quickens and before you know it, you're hooked. This books leaves you wanting more.
Dunk is an extremely likeable character. I thought he had a lot in common with Hodor and if this could have been some sort of life Hodor would've led had that incident never occurred.
Also, Egg is PRECIOUS. I can't wait to read the next books in the series.
In conclusion, I love the Targaryens.
I have spent hours scouring the web for A Song of Ice and Fire trivia and so I was surprised to see that Egg's identity is not known right away. Even then, the reveal was pretty spectacular.
I enjoyed this story so much! Unlike ASOIAF, where the Targaryens have been almost completely wiped out, this story takes place during the reign of Daeron II. It introduces us to the strong, kind and just Baelor Targaryen on the one hand, and the monstrous Aerion Targaryen on the other. This stark contrast reminds me of this Ser Barristan Selmy quote from A Storm of Swords—
"Every time a new Targaryen is born, he (King Jaehaerys) said, the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land."
Even when it comes to a short story, GRRM knows how to captivate readers. The story starts a little slow—if you've read GRRM before, you know this to be true of most of his works—and somewhere in the middle the pace quickens and before you know it, you're hooked. This books leaves you wanting more.
Dunk is an extremely likeable character. I thought he had a lot in common with Hodor and if this could have been some sort of life Hodor would've led had that incident never occurred.
Also, Egg is PRECIOUS. I can't wait to read the next books in the series.
In conclusion, I love the Targaryens.
February 13, 2022
"ومن يدري ماذا سيخبئ لنا الغد؟"
-السير آرلان عند كل غروب شمس.
- جوفري : هذا هو كتاب الأخوة الشهير كل البطولات العظيمة للحراس الملكيين العظماء.. السير آرثر داين "سيف الصباح" ... السير دانكن الطويل، أربع صفحات للسير دانكن! لابد أنّه كان رجلا فريدا
- جيمي لانستر : هذا ما يقولونه.
* الموسم الرابع من مسلسل صراع العروش الحلقة الأولى.
قبل 100 عام تقريبا من أحداث السلسلة التلفزيونية/الروائية المشهورة صراع العروش، تلك الفانتازيا الساحرة التي أدهشت الناس لسنوات عديدة، فجعلتهم يترقبون أحداثها بشغف كبير، ويتابعون التفاصيل حتى الصغيرة منها، يهتمون بأخبارها، حتى أن البعض وصف المسلسل المقتبس عن الروايات بأنه الأعظم في التاريخ.. قبل أن يقوم الكاتبان (الغبي والأغبى منه) بقتل المسلسل في الموا��م الأخيرة.
..
تبدأ أحداث قصتنا هذه، قصة السير دانكن الطويل وبداية مغامراته مع الفروسية مع مرافقه الوفي إيغ.
قصة ممتعة أرشحها لمحبي عالم جورج ر ر مارتن الساحر.
-السير آرلان عند كل غروب شمس.
- جوفري : هذا هو كتاب الأخوة الشهير كل البطولات العظيمة للحراس الملكيين العظماء.. السير آرثر داين "سيف الصباح" ... السير دانكن الطويل، أربع صفحات للسير دانكن! لابد أنّه كان رجلا فريدا
- جيمي لانستر : هذا ما يقولونه.
* الموسم الرابع من مسلسل صراع العروش الحلقة الأولى.
قبل 100 عام تقريبا من أحداث السلسلة التلفزيونية/الروائية المشهورة صراع العروش، تلك الفانتازيا الساحرة التي أدهشت الناس لسنوات عديدة، فجعلتهم يترقبون أحداثها بشغف كبير، ويتابعون التفاصيل حتى الصغيرة منها، يهتمون بأخبارها، حتى أن البعض وصف المسلسل المقتبس عن الروايات بأنه الأعظم في التاريخ.. قبل أن يقوم الكاتبان (الغبي والأغبى منه) بقتل المسلسل في الموا��م الأخيرة.
..
تبدأ أحداث قصتنا هذه، قصة السير دانكن الطويل وبداية مغامراته مع الفروسية مع مرافقه الوفي إيغ.
قصة ممتعة أرشحها لمحبي عالم جورج ر ر مارتن الساحر.
May 9, 2019
4,25 stars - Audiobook - enjoyed hearing it while picknicking on the Maas. New characters, new adventures but a known world, the same of game of thrones.
December 27, 2024
Fun and uplifting.
October 12, 2023
This was very entertaining and fun to read. I missed this world.
Really loved following the characters. I don’t have to say anything about the world building and the writing (it’s GRRM).
I shouldn’t have put off reading this. Fans of ASOIAF, you must not miss this.
Really loved following the characters. I don’t have to say anything about the world building and the writing (it’s GRRM).
I shouldn’t have put off reading this. Fans of ASOIAF, you must not miss this.
December 26, 2015
Welcome one and all to The Hedge Knight book one of the remarkable prequel series to A Song of Ice and Fire. The Hedge Knight focuses on Dunk a young man whose master, friend, and mentor Ser Arlan of Pennytree has recently died. Dunk finds himself at a crossroads wondering if he should become a hedge knight like Ser Arlan or join a city watch for a simpler more stable life and future. Dunk decides to be a hedge knight. Dunk the Lunk as Ser Arlan affectionately called him took the moniker Ser Duncan the Tall and enters a tournament that ends up being far more important than any person could imagine.
I loved The Hedge Knight and the series title characters Dunk and Egg. They are really fun characters taking on the world around them from the point of view of a simple hedge knight and his squire. Dunk is a hard man not to like and his adventure starts with a bang. The tie ins from the main series are really enjoyable and it's interesting to see some famous characters rather than reading of their incredible reputation.
The Hedge Knight is a novella I'd recommend to any fan of ASOIAF.
I loved The Hedge Knight and the series title characters Dunk and Egg. They are really fun characters taking on the world around them from the point of view of a simple hedge knight and his squire. Dunk is a hard man not to like and his adventure starts with a bang. The tie ins from the main series are really enjoyable and it's interesting to see some famous characters rather than reading of their incredible reputation.
The Hedge Knight is a novella I'd recommend to any fan of ASOIAF.
July 6, 2017
I never knew how much I needed this until now!!! I have missed westeros so much and this was such a great way to see it from a different perspective and time! Dunk and Egg are the duo we deserve, I love them and their dynamic so much! This story felt so meaningful and I truly adored it, looking forward to seeing what these two get up to!!
October 22, 2014
A very interesting prelude to the Song of Ice & Fire series. I really liked the characters & it was interesting seeing the ancestors of other characters I've come to know so well.
November 8, 2012
Perhaps, I'm a bit biased, I can admit that. I love Westeros. I love A Song of Ice and Fire. I didn't give every book five stars, so I feel I'm reasonable enough. With that being said, I loved this short story.
My initial fear when I first heard of this story was that neither Dunk nor Egg, the two protagonists, would have anything to do with the main story in ASOIAF. That turns out to be not true, so I just wanted to put that out there. A lot of Daenery's great relatives make appearances and both the protagonists are actually some pretty important characters in the fictional history of this world. So that had me all smiles throughout my read.
It started off, and it felt very predictable, though still enjoyable, though in classic Martin fashion, he kind of flips everything on it's head and takes it all in a different, and way better direction than my simple mind could have imagined.
The one flaw is that there are a lot of names and it gets hard to keep track. If you're a big nut like me, it's handy to have a google tab open so you can look at sigils and family trees and see who is related to who and all that nerdy good stuff.
I can't wait to get started on the next one.
My initial fear when I first heard of this story was that neither Dunk nor Egg, the two protagonists, would have anything to do with the main story in ASOIAF. That turns out to be not true, so I just wanted to put that out there. A lot of Daenery's great relatives make appearances and both the protagonists are actually some pretty important characters in the fictional history of this world. So that had me all smiles throughout my read.
It started off, and it felt very predictable, though still enjoyable, though in classic Martin fashion, he kind of flips everything on it's head and takes it all in a different, and way better direction than my simple mind could have imagined.
The one flaw is that there are a lot of names and it gets hard to keep track. If you're a big nut like me, it's handy to have a google tab open so you can look at sigils and family trees and see who is related to who and all that nerdy good stuff.
I can't wait to get started on the next one.
February 19, 2026
Relectura:
Leí el primer y segundo cuento en el 2021 (Aún no guardaba libros en Goodreads) pero me quedo pendiente el tercero así que los estoy releyendo para adentrarme fresquita al último cuento.
•
"—¡Buena suerte! —exclamó una mujer a pocos pasos.
Un anciano se acercó para darle la mano.
—Que los dioses le den fuerza —dijo.
A continuación, un hermano mendicante de hábito marrón y desgastado bendijo su espada, y una joven le dio un beso en la mejilla. "Están de mi lado."
—¿Por qué? —preguntó a Pate—. ¿Qué ven en mí?
—A un caballero que recordó sus votos —respondió el armero."
En un mundo en donde lo caballero de los hombres era en su mayoría solo el título,Duncan demuestra lo que es un caballero en profesión y en ejemplo de como ser como persona.
Por siempre Ser Duncan por siempre vos mi caballero.
Es increíble lo bueno que pueden salir las cosas cuando se acoplan a los libros y escuchan al autor (no como HOTD que parece más un fanfic)
Leí el primer y segundo cuento en el 2021 (Aún no guardaba libros en Goodreads) pero me quedo pendiente el tercero así que los estoy releyendo para adentrarme fresquita al último cuento.
•
"—¡Buena suerte! —exclamó una mujer a pocos pasos.
Un anciano se acercó para darle la mano.
—Que los dioses le den fuerza —dijo.
A continuación, un hermano mendicante de hábito marrón y desgastado bendijo su espada, y una joven le dio un beso en la mejilla. "Están de mi lado."
—¿Por qué? —preguntó a Pate—. ¿Qué ven en mí?
—A un caballero que recordó sus votos —respondió el armero."
En un mundo en donde lo caballero de los hombres era en su mayoría solo el título,Duncan demuestra lo que es un caballero en profesión y en ejemplo de como ser como persona.
Por siempre Ser Duncan por siempre vos mi caballero.
Es increíble lo bueno que pueden salir las cosas cuando se acoplan a los libros y escuchan al autor (no como HOTD que parece más un fanfic)
July 5, 2024
2⭐️
I decided I will stop here. I am not interested in the characters and story enough to continue reading other novellas.
I decided I will stop here. I am not interested in the characters and story enough to continue reading other novellas.
February 11, 2026
Read as part of Dreamsongs, although technically this is a reread for me as I have a very vague memory of reading this as part of the Legends short story collection (where it was originally published) a million years ago.
This is a prequel novella, and written in a (relatively) brighter, shinier, happier tone than you usually get in GoT. Martin is kind of doing a sleight of hand trick here by tweaking the tone like this. It’s still Ice and Fire with most of the themes and motifs that come with that, only instead of all that stuff playing out on a grand scale that effects entire kingdoms and continents the focus is instead limited to the world that Dunk can see directly around him. A good example of how this works is the Fossoway cousins. You can look at their story and see the regular GoT thing of powerful members of noble houses plotting against and betraying each other, but since we’re seeing all that through Dunk’s eyes it just becomes this thing of “Here’s two cousins who don’t get along, one of them just happens to be a real prick.” We’re seeing events that have real consequences for the people of Westeros (this is the beginning of the Fossoway feud, their House eventually splits and the two sides are fighting each other on opposite sides of wars by the time of the series proper), but we’re seeing them through the eyes of a guy who isn’t particularly interested in thinking about the big picture, and the blinkers that character is wearing allow Martin to present all this as just a fun adventure about knights having a tourney.
Martin spends the first half of the story or so doing medieval slice of life stuff, and for me at least that was the superior half of the tale. I would very happily read about Dunk planning his budget and figuring out how to keep his horses fed while talking to the local blacksmith about getting his armor repaired. It does get a little muddy once Dunk gets to the tournament though. It’s tough to keep all the Targaryens running around straight, and most of the knights are just various flavors of stock Westeros character types. The principal cast however (Dunk, Egg, the Fossoways, the blacksmith, The Evil Targaryen Who’s Name Is Probably Aegor Or Blargon Or Varnor Or Something Look There’s So Many Fucking Targaryens Here I Can’t Possibly Be Expected To Remember All Their Stupid Names) are all well fleshed out and fun to have around.
I’ll also say that a thing this story does well is illustrate class and economic disparities in this world. We see it in the trial by combat, where Dunk is at the mercy of an almost comedically unfair justice system, and then further at the mercy of the whims of the disinterested and uncaring nobles overseeing that justice system. But we also see it when Martin talks about money and how much of it people have relative to each other. Dunk spends a lot of time worrying about money in The Hedge Knight. At one point he remarks that he’s got enough funds to live comfortably as a commoner for a year, but being a knight is so expensive that even with all that cash in his pocket, by the standards of the world he’s trying to break in to he’s essentially penniless and one bad day away from being priced out of being a knight forever.
Martin often makes similar points about inequality in the main series of Ice and Fire books, but it usually comes in the form of misery porn about commoners getting slaughtered, assaulted and starved by sociopathic nobles and their soldiers. He’s definitely taking a lighter touch with this stuff in The Hedge Knight but it works well enough, and also helps flesh out a lot of those slice of life segments of the story I mentioned earlier.
An entertaining read overall. I think trying to remember a million different knights and Targaryens who are all essentially different versions of the same three or four guys you get everywhere you go in Westeros drags the whole thing down a little, but that still leaves you with a four star story.
This is a prequel novella, and written in a (relatively) brighter, shinier, happier tone than you usually get in GoT. Martin is kind of doing a sleight of hand trick here by tweaking the tone like this. It’s still Ice and Fire with most of the themes and motifs that come with that, only instead of all that stuff playing out on a grand scale that effects entire kingdoms and continents the focus is instead limited to the world that Dunk can see directly around him. A good example of how this works is the Fossoway cousins. You can look at their story and see the regular GoT thing of powerful members of noble houses plotting against and betraying each other, but since we’re seeing all that through Dunk’s eyes it just becomes this thing of “Here’s two cousins who don’t get along, one of them just happens to be a real prick.” We’re seeing events that have real consequences for the people of Westeros (this is the beginning of the Fossoway feud, their House eventually splits and the two sides are fighting each other on opposite sides of wars by the time of the series proper), but we’re seeing them through the eyes of a guy who isn’t particularly interested in thinking about the big picture, and the blinkers that character is wearing allow Martin to present all this as just a fun adventure about knights having a tourney.
Martin spends the first half of the story or so doing medieval slice of life stuff, and for me at least that was the superior half of the tale. I would very happily read about Dunk planning his budget and figuring out how to keep his horses fed while talking to the local blacksmith about getting his armor repaired. It does get a little muddy once Dunk gets to the tournament though. It’s tough to keep all the Targaryens running around straight, and most of the knights are just various flavors of stock Westeros character types. The principal cast however (Dunk, Egg, the Fossoways, the blacksmith, The Evil Targaryen Who’s Name Is Probably Aegor Or Blargon Or Varnor Or Something Look There’s So Many Fucking Targaryens Here I Can’t Possibly Be Expected To Remember All Their Stupid Names) are all well fleshed out and fun to have around.
I’ll also say that a thing this story does well is illustrate class and economic disparities in this world. We see it in the trial by combat, where Dunk is at the mercy of an almost comedically unfair justice system, and then further at the mercy of the whims of the disinterested and uncaring nobles overseeing that justice system. But we also see it when Martin talks about money and how much of it people have relative to each other. Dunk spends a lot of time worrying about money in The Hedge Knight. At one point he remarks that he’s got enough funds to live comfortably as a commoner for a year, but being a knight is so expensive that even with all that cash in his pocket, by the standards of the world he’s trying to break in to he’s essentially penniless and one bad day away from being priced out of being a knight forever.
Martin often makes similar points about inequality in the main series of Ice and Fire books, but it usually comes in the form of misery porn about commoners getting slaughtered, assaulted and starved by sociopathic nobles and their soldiers. He’s definitely taking a lighter touch with this stuff in The Hedge Knight but it works well enough, and also helps flesh out a lot of those slice of life segments of the story I mentioned earlier.
An entertaining read overall. I think trying to remember a million different knights and Targaryens who are all essentially different versions of the same three or four guys you get everywhere you go in Westeros drags the whole thing down a little, but that still leaves you with a four star story.
February 7, 2026
I need more Dunk and Egg stories, please, GRRM!
I just love these two so much, they heal something in me.
Re-reading this story felt like comfort food for the heart.
I just love these two so much, they heal something in me.
Re-reading this story felt like comfort food for the heart.
February 18, 2026
Advertencia: Esta reseña contiene sentimientos. Muchos sentimientos.
—¿Por qué? ¿Qué ven en mí?
—A un caballero que recordó sus votos.
Es gracioso como, a veces, lo más simple tiene más encanto.
N, no estoy diciendo que es un cuento “simplón”, porque no lo es; solo me sorprende la capacidad de George R. R. Martin al mezclar figuras, tramas y arquetipos simples para convertirlos en un cuento de caballería capaz de dejarte un sentimiento tan agradable y esperanzador.
“El Caballero Errante” se sostiene con las figuras y arquetipos más típicos de este tipo de lecturas, pero lejos de resultar predecible o aburrida, refleja a través de su protagonista los ideales de una forma humana, entendible y aplaudible, no como una lección moralina de índole paternalista. Aquí, con una narrativa tan agradable como sus personajes principales, carente de presunción, Martin privilegia el crecimiento de su protagonista tratándolo con una de esas dosis de realidad de su mundo, pero sin dejar de priorizar ese derecho reflexivo en su obra, tanto en sus personajes, como en sus lectores.
No sé si Martin es lector de Habermas, pero la neta, me alegro de leer una obra caballeresca que no tire a lo kantiano.
El libro comienza de una forma bastante simple: Dunk, el escudero de ser Arlan de Pennytree, entierra a su mentor para luego reflexionar si podría ser un caballero. Y aquí es cuando comienza la primera duda. ¿Dunk fue nombrado por el caballero o no? Sin importar la respuesta, él se dirige a Ashford con el fin de participar en un torneo en donde podría entrar a la casa de un señor y, muy importante, porque no sabe hacer ninguna otra cosa y no quiere terminar robando o siendo la imagen negativa de los caballeros errantes.
Desde el inicio, este rasgo de personalidad nos demuestra que Dunk, con cierta inocencia (algo que señalo por el contraste entre su tamaño y su personalidad), tiene ideales acerca de la caballería, sí, pero tampoco es alguien que no esté consciente ya de cómo es el mundo en realidad. Dunk decidió su camino desde el inicio, ir a Ashford es el momento en donde ya cruza el umbral, pues antes de que inicie la historia él ya tuvo el llamado de la aventura, un mentor.
Me gustó. Y tanto me gustó que lo enviaré a mi Highway Star.
Qué riqueza. Qué delicia. El cuento ya es muy bueno por sí mismo sin tener que leer la saga original; pero sumado a ella, enriquecen de tal forma este mundo en tantos niveles distintos que no puedo más que aplaudir al autor.
Con Dunk como punto de vista con un narrador equisciente, el mundo de Canción de Hielo y Fuego se enriquece en su construcción más profunda y personal, no solo con un lore vasto (que a veces cae en lo basto) en sistemas y construcción de un macromundo, sino en los aspectos más delicados del día a día, lo concreto sobre lo abstracto: Mostrar el mundo para que tú, como lector, lo descifres a cada paso, convirtiéndolo en un ente vivo.
Con Juego de Tronos, uno de los aspectos de los que me quejé, es que la historia solo se cuenta a través de la noble cuna, pues aunque se dan menciones generales para que yo, como lectora, adivine que es lo que pasaba en el pueblo común, al estar desprovista de sus puntos de vista, no puedo visualizar como conceptualizan el mundo, cual es su visión, su filosofía, sus limitaciones al estar carentes de conocimiento y contactos o privilegios para desenvolverse en el mundo; con “El Caballero Errante”, puedo explorar eso, puedo visualizarlo. Los detalles comunes, como la forma en la cual se aborda y explica el torneo en contraste con el celebrado para la nueva Mano, Nedito Estarc, son una forma precisa y elegante de meterle una descarga eléctrica a su prometeito.
Está vivo.
☛ e s t r u c t u r a
El cuento sigue una estructura narrativa clásica, de esas de toda la vida, que los más conocedores señalaran como una mezcla entre Aristóteles y Gustav Freytag; con un narrador en tercera persona equisciente y siempre sobre la perspectiva del protagonista, un gran acierto dado que nos permite acceder de esa forma a su psique, a sus emociones y a la forma en la que se enfrenta el mundo que le rodea con toda su complejidad, punto que sirve para poder entender y su evolución personal, vital para este primer cuento.
Siguiendo esta línea simple, nos encontramos también con los elementos característicos de este tipo de estructuras: una introducción en donde se establece el conflicto interno, un desarrollo para presentar a los antagonistas y aliados, un clímax simbólico y una resolución que se establece como la base de una historia que ya no solo se limita a las aventuras de Dunk y Egg, sino que son de gran importancia dentro del universo creado por George R. R. Martin para su el universo creado en su saga de Canción de Hielo y Fuego.
☛ n a r r a t i v a
El estilo de George R. R. Martin reluce desde el primer instante; sin embargo, a diferencia de la saga principal, al ser cuentos y estar bajo un solo punto de vista limitado, esto se mantiene más íntimo y centrado, haciendo que junto con Dunk, descubramos el mundo en esta baja fantasía en donde lo que se prioriza es la desmitificación de la imagen de los caballeros desde el punto de vista de alguien de a pie que, a diferencia de los grandes señores, no cuenta con la formación ni la astucia para entender las argucias políticas; además, Martin desarrolla cada subtrama, desde los primeros guiños para decirnos que Egg no es un simple mozo, hasta el orden con el cual se nos presentan los personajes secundarios.
Posee además su estilo característico, una prosa ligera pero detallista que puede apreciarse sin que resulte ser demasiado pesada, pues su grueso está en el desarrollo de la trama.
☛ h i s t o r i a
Pasando directamente a los spoilers, algo que me ha encantado de este cuento es, precisamente, la historia; y no solo porque aquí se represente un hombre común en un sistema clasista, elevándose desde lo más bajo a través de su esfuerzo personal y recalcando la poca movilidad social de la época (incluso, me encanta que tenga elementos como su altura, pues hace un contraste con su personalidad pero, también, con la fuerza bruta del pueblo, algo que considero que Martin, a pesar de hablar de intrigas políticas en su saga principal, siempre mantiene reflejado con personajes como ser Davos). No, la razón por la cual me gusta es porque este suceso en particular es lo que da origen a toda su saga con algo magistral: la defensa de una marionetista desencadenando la muerte del heredero al trono, la mano del rey, un príncipe que por lo que se ve, podría haber hecho un gran contraste en Westeros en una época en donde la unión con Dorne era resiente y en donde los Targaryen ya habían perdido su mayor activo, los dragones.
Aunado a esto, y regresando a la desmitificación, Martin no romantiza la época hablándonos de las cosas más bellas en existencia (y aquí agradezco a la serie por cierta escena al inicio que no solo es una declaración de intenciones, sino que te muestra la suciedad de la época como parte de una rutina), sino que agarra y destroza la hipocresía de la caballería, la corrupción y el nepotismo.
☛ p e r s o n a j e s
Y, como siempre en la escritura de Martin, aquí tenemos un fuerte.
☛ Dunk. Ser Duncan el Alto. El personaje principal y desde cuyo POV se centra la historia, resulta ser un chico que, guiado por las enseñanzas de su mentor y al tener ideales bastante claros, emprende su camino como caballero en un mundo donde lo que importa es el nombramiento y no el ideal, haciéndole así frente a situaciones que le son completamente ajenas y en donde su carácter sale a relucir, no como alguien elevado que tome decisiones precisas a través de una estricta moralidad, sino haciendo uso del sentido común, ese que le permite decidir lo más simple: esto está bien, esto no.
Con su ingenuidad y cierta inocencia, se va abriendo paso por el mundo en un curioso contraste de altura e inseguridad, aprendiendo de la importancia de aceptarse en todas sus aristas, pues así como es ser Duncan, el caballero de Lecho de Pulgas; también es Dunk, el niño huérfano que sabe dar buenas zurras.
Me ha gustado el personaje porque siento que leerlo es lo mismo que hacerlo con un chico de esa edad, vamos, que bien este podría ser un libro para adolescentes y de verdad que lo disfrutaría.
☛ Egg. Príncipe Aegor Targaryen. Un chiquillo que en ningún momento se esconde tanto como dejarle a Dunk pensar lo más cómodo dentro de su mundo reducido. Me encantó el personaje porque muestra toda la viveza y la inocencia propia de su edad, a pesar de que este enturbiada por las acciones de una familia negligente. Es la voz de la razón en cuanto a las justas y su química con Dunk resulta ser el corazón del cuento.
☛ Baelor. Baelor Rompelanzas. Príncipe de Roca Dragón, Mano Derecha del Rey y Heredero a la corona. El príncipe y caballero ideal, el personaje incidental que ayuda al movimiento de la obra y que representa un punto de quiebre en este mundo pues, a su muerte, es cuando inicia la decadencia de una familia que en ese instante parecía, si no llena de la gloria pasada, al menos sí estable.
☛ Aerion, Llamabrillante El antagonista que siendo príncipe no representa los altos ideales que Dunk tiene de cualquier caballero. ¿Qué podemos decir? Podríamos hablar de la necesidad de mantenerse en el poder cuando han perdido sus dragones, pero la neta es que a este le patina el coquito, porque nada tenía que ir a molestar a su hermanito pequeño queriendo castrarlo y convertirlo en “esposa”, así que el momento en el que le rompen la jeta es por demás satisfactorio.
☛ Daeron, el borracho. Básicamente es un vato puñetas. Que si, tenía sueños de dragón, pero eso no quita que fuera un cobarde miedica que bien merecía sus par de cachetadas guajoloteras.
☛ Raymun Fossoway. El verdadero caballero de esa casa a diferencia de su primo el nalgas meadas.
☛ Steffon Fossoway. El nalgas meadas.
☛ La Tormenta que Ríe, Lyonel Baratheon. En general, ganas tengo de hacerle edits en tiktok con canciones bien puercas. Es precioso como está ahí porque no se quiere perder la oportunidad pero, a la par, pregunta si algo será o no caballeroso.
☛ Tanselle. La chica que le gusta a Dunk pero cuya existencia marca toda la diferencia en su entendimiento, primero contando una historia, luego como la persona cuya integridad defiende, y luego la persona que le ayuda a formar su propia identidad con su escudo.
☛ Maekar. Otro puñetas.
☛ m i s c e l á n e a
☛ Sí, por supuesto que pensé en “A Knight's Tale”, la cual pudo (o no) haber sido influenciada por este cuento.
☛ El escudo como una forma de forjar la identidad de un personaje con elementos que hacemos visibles.
☛ La ironía. ¿Quién es el verdadero caballero?
☛ El mensaje social. Y yo que pensaba ese señor solo me iba a dar chisme de gente pudiente.
☛ El Juicio de Siete. Desde que se vea como Dunk no cuenta con el poder de comprar gente, como Aerion, hasta la forma en el que terminó inspirando a hombres mejores que él, como Baelor.
☛ También me gusta como Egg formó parte muy activa de esto, por su amistad y por lo que se convertirá en el futuro.
☛ La cosa más pequeña, como defender a una marionetista, puede cambiar el futuro de un reino.
☛ La justicia no es elegante, pero incluso los menos elegidos pueden derrotar a un dragón.
☛ r e s e ñ a s
☛ Juego de Tronos
August 21, 2024
The A Song of Ice and Fire books are usually associated with epic, high fantasy storytelling, whether it's the huge, sprawling scope of the main series or the grand tales of the Targaryen dynasty in
Fire & Blood
. That's why it's surprising and refreshing to read The Hedge Knight, a more "street-level" Westeros story that is much smaller in scope but no less well-told. The novella (the first of a trilogy) is set between the first two Blackfyre Rebellions during the reign of Daeron II Targaryen and follows Ser Duncan "the Tall," a newly-minted wandering hedge knight (sort of the western version of a ronin) searching for glory and honor, and the little orphan boy that becomes his squire as they attend the faithful Tourney at Ashford Meadow that will change the course of the Targaryen dynasty and the realm in general.
"A hedge knight is the truest kind of knight, Dunk. Other knights serve the lord's who keep them, or from whom they hold their lands, but we serve where we will, for men who's causes we believe in. Every knight swears to protect the weak and innocent, but we keep the vow best, I think."Throughout all the Westeros books, we see tales of famed knights like Jaime Lannister, Loras Tyrell, and Barristen Selmy, but in this, we not only get to see knighthood from the low-born perspective, but we see the ins-and-outs of tourneys and lists, and the daily work that it takes to be just a regular knight. And I couldn't help but love and root for Dunk and Egg, as they rub noses with legends and keep their dignity and honor. I'm a deep Ice and Fire fan, so I'm familiar with the time this takes place in, the events that this series surrounds, and the characters, but it's really cool to see it all dramatized, with simple but addictive writing. I liked it so much, I'm jumping directly into the next novella in the series!
"It may be that I've killed you with my lie. If so, I am sorry. I am doomed to some hell, I know. Likely one without wine."
He shuddered, and on that they parted, there in the cool soft rain.
November 3, 2015
Having read all of Martin's Song of Fire and Ice significantly faster than he's writing new ones, and considering he doesn't seem to be making much progress with the next one: four years between the last book and the next, I was at a bit of a loose end for my Westeros fix. Luckily Martin has already published a trio of prequel short stories. Prequel is stretching the definition as this first one is set approximately 100 years before the events of
A Game of Thrones
but the families and names from Westerosi history all sound a little familiar – the Targaryens are on the iron throne and the Baratheons are still glory-seeking tourney addicts.
The Hedge Knight is the first story of Dunk and Egg. Dunk, or Ser Duncan the Tall as he becomes known, is a hedge knight – so called because they are knights without land or master, generally poor, who often sleep in hedges – the final act of his own master, Ser Alan of Pennytree, was to knight his squire Dunk. As an otherwise unproven knight, he wants to make his fortune so he enters the tourney lists. Egg is the young lad who tags along after him, just wanting to be his squire. It doesn't take too long to work out Egg's back story.
In true Martin style, it doesn't take too long for fights to break out and trouble to kick off. Before you know it the tourney is over and Dunk's sense of honour has led him way out of his depth and having to duel against proper knights – he could almost be a Stark. The story is self-contained – although there are already two follow on stories that feature the same characters, there's no need to worry about Martin not writing the sequel in seven years time.
The Hedge Knight is the first story of Dunk and Egg. Dunk, or Ser Duncan the Tall as he becomes known, is a hedge knight – so called because they are knights without land or master, generally poor, who often sleep in hedges – the final act of his own master, Ser Alan of Pennytree, was to knight his squire Dunk. As an otherwise unproven knight, he wants to make his fortune so he enters the tourney lists. Egg is the young lad who tags along after him, just wanting to be his squire. It doesn't take too long to work out Egg's back story.
In true Martin style, it doesn't take too long for fights to break out and trouble to kick off. Before you know it the tourney is over and Dunk's sense of honour has led him way out of his depth and having to duel against proper knights – he could almost be a Stark. The story is self-contained – although there are already two follow on stories that feature the same characters, there's no need to worry about Martin not writing the sequel in seven years time.
August 4, 2016
Aha... If this was meant to prove something; it would *certainly* be that I'm doomed to sink deeper and deeper into the world of A Song of Ice and Fire. This short novella carries everything I loved in the series. Starting with the romanticism and the silky-smooth narrative, then the complex characters, great plot and the serenity that hovers when you finish up a great story.
January 29, 2019
قصد نداشتم این کتاب را بگیرم/بخوانم، اما به اصرار همراهم که میخواست برام هدیه بگیره، گرفتمش.
فکر کنم در کمتر از پنج صفحه اول، جذبم کرد. واقعا نثر جذاب و روانی داشت. تصویرگریهای زیبا هم به جذابیت داستان اضافه کرد. تجربهی خواندن یک فانتزی با تصویرگریهای مرتبط و زیبا، واقعا لذتبخش است. خیلی سریع خوانده شد.
فکر کنم در کمتر از پنج صفحه اول، جذبم کرد. واقعا نثر جذاب و روانی داشت. تصویرگریهای زیبا هم به جذابیت داستان اضافه کرد. تجربهی خواندن یک فانتزی با تصویرگریهای مرتبط و زیبا، واقعا لذتبخش است. خیلی سریع خوانده شد.
July 7, 2016
A very nice piece of art about Chivalry, Nobility, Courage, Prowess and Passion . The accidents taking place here are about 100 years before what we read in (A Song of Ice and Fire). I really liked it and did love the spirit it was written with as it goes in complete harmony with the other books and with (The World of Ice and Fire).
This story is about how Dunk (Ser Duncan the Tall) met Egg (Aegon V afterwards) the Son of Maekar I and the Brother of Maester Aemon :). and How they started their journey in the world of chivalry.
I liked also the sketches in the book, after starting reading it i discovered that there is also a comic book about the same story and it seems that it'd be the next thing to search for and read.
September 28, 2013
A great one-day read.
In the medieval setting of Westeros -about a century before Ice and Fire- Dunk, the hedge knight, aspires to be acknowledged as equal to other knights of the realm. He takes part in a tournament where renowned knights of the Seven Kingdoms, the Kingsguard and royalty (we get to see Targaryens at play) compete as well.
Amidst the jousting and the acts of bravery on the field, a minor quarrel escalates to a sentence of death, which finds the hedge knight in its center. The trial of the seven is the way things will be resolved, with unexpected results for everyone.
I've enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it to fans of the author, as well as to those of medieval fantasy in general. Although knowledge of the Houses' names can be helpful, the reader can easily follow the narration without it.
In the medieval setting of Westeros -about a century before Ice and Fire- Dunk, the hedge knight, aspires to be acknowledged as equal to other knights of the realm. He takes part in a tournament where renowned knights of the Seven Kingdoms, the Kingsguard and royalty (we get to see Targaryens at play) compete as well.
Amidst the jousting and the acts of bravery on the field, a minor quarrel escalates to a sentence of death, which finds the hedge knight in its center. The trial of the seven is the way things will be resolved, with unexpected results for everyone.
I've enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it to fans of the author, as well as to those of medieval fantasy in general. Although knowledge of the Houses' names can be helpful, the reader can easily follow the narration without it.
June 24, 2015
I really love ASOFAI so this biased review should be taken with a pillar of salt.
Loved it. More knights of Westeros and a jousting tourney made for a great read. This is the first of three novellas about Aegon Targaryen aka Egg and his squiring for Ser Duncan a hedge knight.
Fun read and an absolute must for fans of the series. Not sure why I waited so long.
Loved it. More knights of Westeros and a jousting tourney made for a great read. This is the first of three novellas about Aegon Targaryen aka Egg and his squiring for Ser Duncan a hedge knight.
Fun read and an absolute must for fans of the series. Not sure why I waited so long.
November 24, 2025
I can't wait to see "Are there no true knights among you?" scene in 4k.
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