To celebrate the season premiere of Game Of Thrones on HBO this spring, I’ve decided to share with everyone a series of illustrations that I started back in 2004, in preparation of doing my own illustrated version of the books. But first a little personal background: I had an insatiable appetite for Fantasy when I was in High School and read hundreds of books – some great, some average, and some absolutely dreadful. George R.R. Martin’s A Game Of Thrones (and the Song Of Ice and Fire Series) were in the first category, and they were one of the few Fantasy series that I made the time to keep up with as I got older. The books are an absolute treasure of master storytelling, and rightly deserve the magic HBO touch. (Click Images To Enlarge)

This group of drawings centers around a grand Tournament, which takes place early on in the story. We see the action through the eyes of Sansa Stark, an eleven-year old girl on the cusp of womanhood. Her viewpoint of the city of King’s Landing is one of unabashed romanticism – the knights are all gallant and true, the ladies elegant and demure, the songs sad and sweet. Her King’s Landing is one of intricate pageantry, chivalry, excitement, and almost unbearable beauty. But as they say, “life is not a song” – and you will have to read the books (or watch the show!) to find out what tragedy befalls her there.

And one last note: the Tournament proves that although Knights can be horrors, Hounds can be heroic (see the portrait of the burn-faced, Sandor Clegane above), even if just for a fleeting glimpse.
Game of Thrones Premieres Sunday, April 17th on HBO.