If You Think This Has a Happy Ending: New Book Offers a Behind-The-Scenes Look at Game of Thrones

WDCB’s Gary Zidek talks to Entertainment Weekly editor at-large James Hibberd about his new book, FIRE CANNOT KILL A DRAGON: GAME OF THRONES AND THE OFFICIAL UNTOLD STORY OF THE EPIC SERIES.

LISTEN

WDCB's Gary Zidek catches up with Entertainment Weekly editor-at-large James HIbberd to talk about his new book FIRE CANNOT KILL A DRAGON.

“There’s nothing like this out there, if people think of actors on TV sets living these pampered lives and being catered to, the people who made Game of Thrones had to physically endure things that, as a reporter just being there for tiny pieces of it, completely wrecked me. It’s amazing what they went through to get this show made.” - FIRE CANNOT KILL A DRAGON author and Entertainment Weekly editor-at-large James Hibberd talking about the amount of effort that went into making Game of Thrones.

Entertainment Weekly editor-at-large and author James Hibberd

Almost a year and a half after Game of Thrones ended it’s historic run as one of the most talked about TV shows of all-time, a new book is diving deep into the behind-the-scenes story of the massively popular HBO series. And who better to write the comprehensive chronicle of the show’s history than Entertainment Weekly editor-at-large James Hibberd. He’s been covering the show since it’s very beginnings.

Today, millions of people all over the world are instantly able to engage in conversations about the Starks, Lanisters and Targaryens.  But ten years ago, only readers of George R.R. Martin’s A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE novels would’ve recognized those names. While Martin’s books were best-sellers, the HBO series that started in 2011 took those stories to a massive new audience. Around 19.3 million viewers tuned in to watch the series finale on May 19, 2019.

Hibberd’s FIRE CANNOT KILL A DRAGON offers an exhaustive history of Game of Thrones from its origins as a TV project to its highly controversial series finale. He’s able to offer insight on a number of questions longtime fans of the series have likely pondered over the years.

Some of the cast members from the final season of Game of Thrones

“In terms of the pragmatics of making a television show, they got to the point where they were bursting at the seams and felt like they couldn’t do what George was doing in the books, in terms of adding these new story-lines and characters. Even if the books were out, even if the books were completed, the show just practically speaking had to figure out a way of creating its own final arc.” - FIRE CANNOT KILL A DRAGON author James Hibberd talking about the challenge of adapting George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels into the TV series Game of Thrones.

FIRE CANNOT KILL A DRAGON: GAME OF THRONES AND THE OFFICIAL UNTOLD STORY OF THE EPIC SERIES is out now and available everywhere books are sold. Click here for more info.

And Game of Thrones the TV series is available to watch on HBO platforms.