Fire & Blood is being re-released with all-new illustrations

Last November, A Song of Ice and Fire author Georg R.R. Martin released Fire & Blood, his “imaginary history” of House Targaryen, from Aegon the Conqueror’s reign to the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. It’s a great read that sheds some light on the rise and fall of the most powerful House in Westeros, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Martin’s work.

The book is filled with black and white illustrations from artist Doug Wheatly, giving readers a glance at the Targaryens who ruled Westeros, as well as their dragons…the book has lots of dragons.

Now, Martin has announced that Fire & Blood will be re-released with all-new never before-seen-illustrations. “Last November Bantam published my book of imaginary history, FIRE & BLOOD, in a lovely trade hardcover edition, lavishly illustrated by Doug Wheatley,” he wrote on his Not a Blog. “Still on sale all around the world from your favorite local bookstore or online bookseller.”

"But now Subterranean Press, my favorite small press, is about to release an even MORE gorgeous edition, for the hardcore book collectors out there.   It’s a limited edition in two states, numbered and lettered… with all the amazing Wheatley illustrations, PLUS some brand new original artwork from Gary Gianni, one of the world’s great fantasy artists."

The newly illustrated version has an absolutely stunning cover:

Fire & Blood. Artist Gary Gianni. Image Credit:

Subterranean Press

I’m not sure who the red-haired woman standing atop a pile of knights is. The best answer I’ve seen comes from Redditor Raventree, who thinks the image is meant to be a “symbolic representation of Valyria/House Targaryen and their base of power. [C]onquest through dragons.” I endorse this.

Anyway, if you want to preorder a copy of the newly illustrated Fire & Blood, then I hope you’ve been saving your gold dragons, because it’s ridiculously expensive. There are two versions: a lettered edition and a numbered edition, both of which are signed by Martin. The lettered edition is already sold out, which is just as well, because it cost $1,000 a copy. The Numbered edition is still in stock but still well out of my book budget at $325.

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