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When would it be best to read these 3 short stories? Before or after the Song of ice & fire series? Please no spoilers!
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,
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Waldo Varjak
I believe the author wrote these short stories concurrent to the writing of his Song of Ice & Fire perhaps using the opportunity in fewer word count to embellish and buttress his own knowledge and understanding of the world within which he writes by working in elements of medieval period research. As I suspect for the aurthor, these stories can enhance the reader's appreciation of the larger Song.
They are stand alone stories. As such, they are self contained. Everything you need to know is within the story itself. This is not fan fiction.
They are stand alone stories. As such, they are self contained. Everything you need to know is within the story itself. This is not fan fiction.
Mitali
Preferably after the Song of Ice and Fire series. The two series are not directly connected, but they are set in the same world. The stories in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms take for granted that you're at least slightly familiar with that world, so it would be better to read the ASOIAF books first, as they include all the world building.
But even if you read AKOT7K first, you shouldn't have much of a problem. If you're confused about the setting, you can consult the wiki (http://awoiaf.westeros.org/). The stories are short, so they are a good way to get used to the author's writing style before picking up the ASOIAF books, all of which are huge doorstoppers.
But even if you read AKOT7K first, you shouldn't have much of a problem. If you're confused about the setting, you can consult the wiki (http://awoiaf.westeros.org/). The stories are short, so they are a good way to get used to the author's writing style before picking up the ASOIAF books, all of which are huge doorstoppers.
Morgane
Maybe you'd get a tiny bit lost without having read A Game of Thrones first, just for context and basic Targaryen history, but it doesn't matter that much. During your reading of ASOIAF is fine too, like between books.
George
I have not read ASoI&F nor watched the TV series. I had absolutely no problem w/ these stories. Maybe a familiarity w/ the main series might have deepened my enjoyment, but my total ignorance of it never left me feeling confused or put off.
Charles Reid
These tales are completely standalone. In fact the people who love GOT probably dont even particularly like these stories because these contain actual humans rather than a world people entirely with sociopaths. Later on when you read the SOIAF books you'll understand just how the world has fallen and what it could have been. And it will give you a LOT of insight on what that world was/can be. You'll come to love and idolise Dunk and Egg. And when youre finished with these books you will.. eventuall.. be able to find out their fates through the SOIAF histories.
Yan
Immediately after. This will much help you to understand the whole concept.
Chris Comerford
Ultimately, the way GRRM wrote it makes it pretty standalone. There are little nods to the larger ASOIAF series, but overall it stands by itself. Great stuff.
Bert
Check http://scifi.stackexchange.com/a/3461... for various options.
Rick Wittkopp
There is nothing that would spoil Fire and Ice. If you think it would be good to get a sense of Westeros, these are great reads before. Fire and Ice refer to a lot of folklore and legends, much as we would talk about Disney Movies or Johnny Appleseed in America. I read them after and enjoyed them immensely, but I also knew how the characters in this were regarded by characters in Fire and Ice, so that may have played into it. In the end I don't think there is a wrong answer, other than I am not sure if the gravitas of some of the characters will be fully appreciated without the historical references gleamed in the larger series.
Nemo Velazquez
I thnk is better to read them after de series, there is a lot of reference to lords, families and other characters that would be imposible to remember if you haven't read the 5 main books
Sam
I think reading knight of the seven kingdoms would give you a little more context as to the history of the world, before diving into the full game of thrones story.
Henry Wood
You should read at least the first asoiaf book so you know the world, but the stories in this book are set a long time before asoiaf starts
Brandon
I believe these 3 short stories where all written and published between the first and 2nd novels in the ASOIAF series, so there isn't any spoilers in them to the series.
Sandra Jackson - Alawine
You can read it first if you like, the events take place before ASOIAF. That said if you have already read ASOIAF you automatically know some of the people and what is going on from the History recounted in ASOIAF.
Todd Loyd
I'm going to be the dissenting voice here....Others answering this question are saying, you don't need to, but I cannot imagine reading this without understanding a little of the world Martin created in ASOIAF. I just finished this book myself and had to constantly reference things online just to stay on top of what I was reading.
Dan Pepper
I'd read them before A Feast For Crows/ A Dance With Dragons (which you should totally read together in the order Sean T. Collins created at Boiledleather.com. Other than that I don't think it's that important and it's not crucial one way or the other, but there are things in the fourth and fifth book, especially one specific thing, which having read Dunk and Egg will greatly help you to understand. It's not a crucial bit of information to enjoy or understand the main series, but it's cool.
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