Check out gorgeous new illustrations from the world of ice and fire
By Dan Selcke
Ten years ago, an excyclopedia of sorts dedicated to exploring the mythology behind George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, adapted by HBO as Game of Thrones, hit bookshelves: The World of Ice and Fire is still a go-to resource for superfans to this day.
The authors of The World of Ice and Fire, Elio García and Linda Antonsson, worked with Martin himself to put together The World of Ice and Fire and later The Rise of the Dragon, which is a companion book to Martin's book Fire & Blood. To celebrate the anniversary of The World of Ice and Fire, they commissioned several artists to create work that could have gone into that book, and published them on their website Westeros.org.
For your perusing pleasure this Wednesday, enjoy this artwork, starting with a rendering of Sunfyre, the dragon ridden by King Aegon II Targaryen during the Dance of the Dragons, which is currently being adapted for TV in House of the Dragon. This piece was created by Ertaç Altınöz:
Next, Rudolf Hima depicts Grey Ghost, another dragon from the time of the Dance, although this one has yet to show up in House of the Dragon:
René Aigner turns in a lovely image of the ruined castle of Harrenhal during the Great Tourney where Rhaegar Targaryen named Lyanna Stark the Queen of Love and Beauty, the event that kicked off Robert's Rebellion some years before the start of Game of Thrones:
Dragons are back and so is Ertaç Altınöz, this time with a rendering of the dragon morning, who comes into play towards the end of the Dance of the Dragons:
Rudolf Jima turns in an image of Joffrey Velaryon's dragon Tyraxes, about to make short work of a goat in the Dragonpit of King's Landing:
We return to the Tourney at Harrenhal for a depiction of the mysterious Knight of the Laughing Tree, illustrated by Joshua Cairós:
Did someone say dragons? Here's Helaena Targaryen from House of the Dragon riding her dragon Dreamfyre, again illustrated by Ertaç Altınöz:
Next, Rudolph Hima illustrates the flight of the dragon Stormcloud, who has a part top lay in the Dance of the Dragons:
We're definitely seeing some themes emerge in these pieces of artwork. Next up, artist Mark Smylie depicts some of the jousting at the Tourney at Harrenhal:
In this lovely image by René Aigner, a young Ned Stark delivers the sword Dawn to Ashara Dayne:
In the first image to be pulled from the modern events of the Song of Ice and Fire novels, Daenerys Targaryen sees visions during her visit to the House of the Undying in the far city Qarth:
Finally, Fran Vegas illustrates the ruins of Summerhall, a castle burned down in a burst of Targaryen hubris...or maybe hope. With a lot of luck, maybe we'll get to see this event towards the end of the upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms:
Thanks to all these artists for their amazing work, and to García and Antonsson for arranging the event!
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h/t Los Siete Reinos