Game of Thrones Fans Need to Read Author’s Other Fantasy Story (Before the Movie Releases)

For devoted followers of “Game of Thrones,” who’ve read George R.R. Martin’s series “A Song of Ice and Fire” but haven’t explored his previous work, now is an ideal moment to delve further into Martin’s literary world. This is because an adaptation of his short story titled “In the Lost Lands” is set to premiere in theaters on March 7th, 2025. You can find this story within the book “Dreamsongs: A RRetrospective,” which is available in print, digital, and audiobook formats. Reading this story and the entire book will provide you with an early understanding of “In the Lost Lands” and a broader perspective on Martin’s literary output as a whole. Keep reading to learn more about “In the Lost Lands,” “Dreamsongs,” and their connection to Westeros.

While ‘In the Lost Lands’ may share some elements with ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’, they are distinct worlds with their unique narratives. So, if you’re hoping to find hidden connections between the two, I’d advise against it. The movie adaptation of ‘In the Lost Lands’ presents a post-apocalyptic backdrop, blending modern technology and fantasy elements. This blend gives off an action-packed adventure vibe, which is reminiscent of George R.R. Martin’s concise storytelling style.

The movie in question was penned by Constantine Werner and helmed by Paul W.S. Anderson. It features Milla Jovovich portraying Gray Alys and Dave Bautista as Boyce. In this magical realm, Alys is recognized as a formidable sorceress whose abilities are in high demand, yet her services always carry an exorbitant fee. In this tale, the queen hires Alys, who embarks on a journey into the Forbidden Realms to fulfill the monarch’s desires. Boyce, a monster hunter, joins her, eventually realizing that Alys’ abilities are not always as they appear.

It appears the film version of Martin’s story will likely make significant departures, which might persuade fans to read the original tale beforehand. While not every alteration in an adaptation is negative, understanding the context and having a basis for comparison just makes the experience more enjoyable, potentially enhancing both versions of the narrative.

History of Gray Alys

Discussing the context, it’s valuable to understand where this story fits within George R.R. Martin’s literary journey and body of work. He provides a significant amount of background in his book, “Dreamsongs”. This collection contains 34 stories, with all but one published prior to “A Game of Thrones“. Additionally, there are nine interludes between the stories that essentially function as Martin’s memoir. In these sections, he shares insights about each stage of his career and his thought process during writing and publishing. In the audiobook version, George R.R. Martin reads these interludes himself.

In these parts, Martin discusses his understanding of science fiction and fantasy, pointing out that as a child, he didn’t make much distinction between the two. However, in the 70s and 80s, there was a significantly larger market for science fiction compared to fantasy. Given that he could earn a living by writing short stories and novelettes within the genre, Martin chose to focus on space-travel tales. He even created his own sci-fi universe, which he named “The Thousand Worlds,” and most of his early published work is set in this world.

Martin considers “In the Lost Lands” as one of his initial works that fall under the category of “pure fantasy,” as it doesn’t take place in The Thousand Worlds and lacks prominent sci-fi aspects, featuring only magic instead. This part of the book also contains two other tales, published prior to “In the Lost Lands” (1982), and were first seen in the anthology “Amazons II.” Later on, these stories were added to Martin’s 1986 collection of short stories titled “Portraits of His Children.

Among stories from this period, “In the Lost Lands” stands out as Martin’s initial endeavor into creating an extensive fantasy series. This was something he expressed in a 2021 blog post upon the announcement of its film adaptation. He wrote, “I genuinely intended to write a whole series featuring Gray Alys, I truly did, and I even drafted a second part. I had planned parts of the opening pages too.” However, one day he set it aside and never returned to it.

Later in his post, Martin added, “Perhaps if the film becomes extremely successful, it might lead to sequels, ultimately granting Gray Alys her long-awaited series.

Short-form Writing & Adaptation

In the blog post referenced earlier, Martin playfully admitted his struggle to produce more Gray Alys stories, as he’s also delayed in completing his A Song of Ice and Fire series. For readers curious about why The Winds of Winter is still pending, exploring “In the Lost Lands” and other shorter works may offer some insights.

Currently, Martin is primarily recognized for his epic series, “A Song of Ice and Fire.” This work is distinguished by its extended narrative structure. Each book features multiple perspectives, with characters situated across the Seven Kingdoms and Free Cities. The narrative switches between these characters’ stories from chapter to chapter, thus enriching each character’s individual tale while also painting a broader picture of life within Westeros. It is expected that these perspectives will ultimately intersect in the struggle against the Others.

This writing style is remarkably grandiose, and it’s surprising to see such a vast departure from Martin’s usual work. The scope is overwhelming in comparison to short stories and novellas, and the frequent shifts in perspective can significantly influence the reader’s sense of involvement. Martin is meticulous in his craft, ensuring that we are consistently reeled back into each character’s thought process, which contributes significantly to why A Song of Ice and Fire has expanded from a trilogy into an unfinished seven-book series.

For those eagerly awaiting “The Winds of Winter“, it’s interesting to note that many haven’t read any fully completed works by George R.R. Martin yet. Reading standalone stories like “In the Lost Lands” can offer valuable insights instead. As for those discontented with the ending of “Game of Thrones“, they may find satisfaction in experiencing a distinct style of adapting Martin’s work, which could provide some closure if nothing else.

Connections to A Song of Ice and Fire

It’s worth noting that “In the Lost Lands” is not connected geographically with any of George R.R. Martin’s other creations, such as Westeros and The Thousand Worlds. However, it offers an intriguing peek into how Martin develops his fictional worlds, the questions he enjoys exploring, and the mysteries he prefers to keep unexplored. This understanding can be invaluable when speculating about “The Winds of Winter” or simply gaining a richer understanding of Westeros.

Reading “Dreamsongs” offers you an opportunity to draw connections with George R.R. Martin’s other fantasy tales as well. For instance, this compilation contains his tale “The Ice Dragon,” a story frequently mentioned within the “ASoIaF” community. While it doesn’t take place in Westeros, it does feature a society with dragon riders during a medieval monarchy era. Moreover, Martin has created an original fantasy creature in this book – an “ice dragon,” which is larger and more intimidating than fire-breathing dragons but melts when exposed to excessive heat or sunlight. Interestingly, hints in “The World of Ice and Fire” suggest that ice dragons might reside in the northern parts of Westeros, leading many fans to anticipate their appearance when the Others advance south.

In addition, numerous fan theories are built around the character development of Gray Alys, as she shares traits with characters such as Melisandre, indicating George R.R. Martin’s frequent use of a particular sorceress archetype. Notably, the name Alys appears frequently in Martin’s works, notably for the character Alys Rivers who plays a significant role in “House of the Dragon.” Given her apparent importance in the Dance of the Dragons, understanding Alys more deeply could prove beneficial in following the show as it progresses.

The movie titled “In the Lost Lands” premieres on Friday, March 7th, so you have ample opportunity to read the original short story beforehand. You can locate this story in Martin’s book “Dreamsongs“, which is accessible in print, digital, and audiobook versions, or in the book “Portraits of his Children“, which is available exclusively in print form.

2025-02-17 21:40

History of Gray Alys

Short-form Writing & Adaptation

Connections to A Song of Ice and Fire

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