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Fire, Ice, and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones Hardcover – October 29, 2019

by Rebecca C. Thompson (Author), Sean Carroll (Foreword)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 53 ratings
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Exploring the science in George R. R. Martin's fantastical world, from the physics of an ice wall to the genetics of the Targaryens and Lannisters.

Game of Thrones is a fantasy that features a lot of made-up science—fabricated climatology (when is winter coming?), astronomy, metallurgy, chemistry, and biology. Most fans of George R. R. Martin's fantastical world accept it all as part of the magic. A trained scientist, watching the fake science in Game of Thrones, might think, “But how would it work?” In Fire, Ice, and Physics, Rebecca Thompson turns a scientist's eye on Game of Thrones, exploring, among other things, the science of an ice wall, the genetics of the Targaryen and Lannister families, and the biology of beheading. Thompson, a PhD in physics and an enthusiastic Game of Thrones fan, uses the fantasy science of the show as a gateway to some interesting real science, introducing GOT fandom to a new dimension of appreciation.

Thompson starts at the beginning, with winter, explaining seasons and the very elliptical orbit of the Earth that might cause winter to come (or not come). She tells us that ice can behave like ketchup, compares regular steel to Valyrian steel, explains that dragons are “bats, but with fire,” and considers Targaryen inbreeding. Finally she offers scientific explanations of the various types of fatal justice meted out, including beheading, hanging, poisoning (reporting that the effects of “the Strangler,” administered to Joffrey at the Purple Wedding, resemble the effects of strychnine), skull crushing, and burning at the stake.

Even the most faithful Game of Thrones fans will learn new and interesting things about the show from Thompson's entertaining and engaging account. Fire, Ice, and Physics is an essential companion for all future bingeing.

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  1. Print length
    296 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    The MIT Press
  4. Publication date
    October 29, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    6.31 x 0.96 x 9.31 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0262043076
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0262043076
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

An exciting and informative read for fans of the show who often asked "how would that really work?" and it's a must-read for new fans who will binge-watch the whole series in the future.—Ars Technica—

Mostly this is an excellent and entertaining work, especially as topics such as the material sciences rarely get interesting write-ups. A great addition to fans of 'Science of' books, and one that will likely entertain the more sceptical sort of Game of Thrones fan.

—Starburst Magazine—

This engagingly weird book tackles such fundamental Westeros-related questions as, could a 700ft-high ice wall really last 8,000 years? Nope, it would flow, as glaciers do, and end up more of an ice hillock. And how long would it really have taken Viserys Targaryen to die when molten gold was poured on his head? Less than 3.5 seconds, from a boiled brain. Daft, yes, but tremendous fun.

—Sunday Times—

This engagingly weird book tackles such fundamental Westeros-related questions as, could a 700ft-high ice wall really last 8,000 years? Nope, it would flow, as glaciers do, and end up more of an ice hillock. And how long would it really have taken Viserys Targaryen to die when molten gold was poured on his head? Less than 3.5 seconds, from a boiled brain. Daft, yes, but tremendous fun.

—Slice of Scifi—

Thompson has a dry sense of humour that leavens the thoroughly explained science.

—PHYSICS WORLD—

About the Author

Rebecca C. Thompson, PhD, is a physicist and author of the popular Spectra series of comic books about physics. She is Head of the Office of Education and Public Outreach at Fermilab, the particle physics research facility near Chicago. She served as Director of Public Engagement for the American Physical Society from 2008 to 2019.

Sean Carroll is a theoretical physicist at Caltech and the author of popular science books, including The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The MIT Press; Illustrated edition (October 29, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0262043076
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0262043076
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.31 x 0.96 x 9.31 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 53 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Sean M. Carroll

    Sean M. Carroll

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    Sean Carroll is Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University and Fractal Faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. His research focuses on fundamental issues in quantum mechanics, gravitation, statistical mechanics, and cosmology. He has wide-ranging interests, including in philosophy, complexity theory, and information.

    Carroll is an active science communicator, and has been blogging regularly since 2004. His textbook "Spacetime and Geometry" has been adopted by a number of universities for their graduate courses in general relativity. He is a frequent public speaker, and has appeared on TV shows such as The Colbert Report and Through The Wormhole with Morgan Freeman. He has produced a set of lectures for The Teaching Company on dark matter and dark energy, and another on the nature of time. He has served as a science consultant for films such as Thor and TRON: Legacy, as well as for TV shows such as Fringe and Bones.

    His 2010 popular book, "From Eternity to Here," explained the arrow of time and connected it with the origin of our universe. "The Particle at the End of the Universe," about the Large Hadron Collider and the quest to discover the Higgs boson, was released November 2012, "The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself" in May 2016, and "Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime" in 2019. His next book project is "The Biggest Ideas in the Universe," which will consist of three books. The first, "Space, Time, and Motion," appears in September 2022.

    More information at http://preposterousuniverse.com/

    See more on the author's page
  2. Rebecca C. Thompson

    Rebecca C. Thompson

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    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

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4.6 out of 5 stars
53 global ratings

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Customers find the book informative and well-written. They appreciate its coverage of various topics and how it breaks down science for easy understanding. The book is described as a fascinating and enjoyable read.

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Customers find the book covers many topics for Game of Thrones fans. They appreciate how it breaks down science to make it easy to understand.

"...Highly recommend it it is in-depth but digestible. Really fun book!! I got a copy as a gift and then had to get one for myself." Read more

"...I really like how it breaks down the science to easily learn for anyone. No masters degree required...." Read more

"Fascinating and fun read." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book an enjoyable read.

"A really amazing book and the perfect gift for any Game of Thrones nerd. Highly recommend it it is in-depth but digestible. Really fun book!!..." Read more

"...The book itself looks like a good read though!" Read more

"Fascinating and fun read." Read more

Did a two year old send this?
3 out of 5 stars
Did a two year old send this?
I don’t know why but my book came in damaged. I am giving it as a gift and it looks like it was treated like trash on transit. Good thing my book shelf is a bit of a book rescue but honestly a brand new book shouldn’t look like a two year old handled it. Again I wouldn’t care if this happened to a book I bought used but it’s new. The book itself looks like a good read though!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Gcarr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect gift for a GoT nerd
    Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A really amazing book and the perfect gift for any Game of Thrones nerd. Highly recommend it it is in-depth but digestible. Really fun book!! I got a copy as a gift and then had to get one for myself.
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  • Sofia
    3.0 out of 5 stars Did a two year old send this?
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I don’t know why but my book came in damaged. I am giving it as a gift and it looks like it was treated like trash on transit. Good thing my book shelf is a bit of a book rescue but honestly a brand new book shouldn’t look like a two year old handled it. Again I wouldn’t care if this happened to a book I bought used but it’s new. The book itself looks like a good read though!
    Customer image
    Sofia
    3.0 out of 5 stars Did a two year old send this?
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2020
    I don’t know why but my book came in damaged. I am giving it as a gift and it looks like it was treated like trash on transit. Good thing my book shelf is a bit of a book rescue but honestly a brand new book shouldn’t look like a two year old handled it. Again I wouldn’t care if this happened to a book I bought used but it’s new. The book itself looks like a good read though!
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    One person found this helpful
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  • Jon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Scientifically speaking..how does (insert subject here) work?
    Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book covers so many topics for ANY game of thrones fan to dive head first into. I really like how it breaks down the science to easily learn for anyone. No masters degree required. Would love a followup to this book with even more science revealing secrets on subjects, maybe from other shows as well?
    One person found this helpful
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  • SuzyQ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
    Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2020
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    Fascinating and fun read.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Pict77
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and factual
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A very interesting read, giving real context to ideas like is the ice wall in games of thrones really possible.
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  • Mrs Joanna Crawford
    3.0 out of 5 stars interest
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    do' know ….given as present
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