Westeros

Running Press, a publisher specializing in gift books and associated collectible “kits”, has turned its attention once again to the Seven Kingdoms with its latest book:Game of Thrones: The Noble Houses of Westeros.

A small but handsome, well-made volume using heavy paper stock, the 160 pages within it are devoted to a very brief overview of eleven significant noble families that have featured in the series since its inception, from the Starks and Lannisters and Targaryens all the way to more recent notable such as the Boltons and Freys. This is not really intended as a very informative book, of course: each house section gives a glimpse at the family’s seat, a brief family tree with some remarks on the fates of members living and dead, and photographs of the performers (most of them Helen Sloan’s fine work, but also stills from Macall Polay, Paul Schiraldi, and more.)

A map of Westeros and Essos (the show’s version of Essos, based on an early map that GRRM heavily revised for The Lands of Ice and Fire) opens the book, and is used to provide more localized maps for each seat. All in all, the text is brief, while the imagery is substantial and the obvious focus. Of particular note are a number of new photos of costumes, weapons, and armor, such as Oberyn’s spear and robes, King Tommen’s royal garments, Sansa’s black-feathered costume, and more.

For an aficionado of the show, interested in particular in its costuming, this can make a nice stocking-stuffer. It hits shelves on December 8th.

In a similar vein, their two mini-kits feature miniature sculptures of the three-eyed “raven” and Longclaw. Each comes with a mini-book, one about “the sight” and the other about the Night’s Watch. Like the larger book, each of these features stills of locations and actors, with very brief descriptive texts on occasion. The Longclaw mini kit even comes with a scabbard (painted rather too golden, admittedly, when compared to Jon’s actual scabbard) and display stand. Again, the sort of knick-knack that could make a nice stocking-stuffer, or for the exceptionally completist fan although there’s not hing particularly novel in them. The mini-kits are already available for order.