GEORGE R. R. MARTIN is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire--A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons--as well as Tuf Voyaging, Fevre Dream, The Armageddon Rag, Dying of the Light, Windhaven (with Lisa Tuttle), and Dreamsongs Volumes I and II. He is also the creator of The Lands of Ice and Fire, a collection of maps from A Song of Ice and Fire featuring original artwork from illustrator and cartographer Jonathan Roberts, and The World of Ice & Fire (with Elio M. Garcia, Jr., and Linda Antonsson). He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico. JOHN JUDE PALENCAR is an artist and illustrator known throughout the world for his distinctive, ethereal style and unique conceptualization. For more than 20 years he has received honors for his contributions to the field of illustration including Gold and Silver Medals from the Society of Illustrators, two Gold Book Awards and from Spectrum, and Best Hardcover and two best Paperback Awards from the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy artists for three consecutive years. Besides being an active artist and illustrator, he has served on the juries of several international art competitions.