Vying for the Iron Throne

<p> <I>Game of Thrones</I> has changed the landscape of television during an era hailed as the Golden Age of TV. An adaptation of George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy <I>A Song of Fire and Ice</I> the HBO series has taken on a life of its own with original plotlines that advance past those of Martin's books.</p><p> The death of protagonist Ned Stark at the end of Season One launched a killing spree in television--major characters now die on popular shows weekly. While many shows kill off characters for pure shock value death on <I>Game of Thrones</I> produces seismic shifts in power dynamics--and resurrected bodies that continue to fight. This collection of new essays explores how power death gender and performance intertwine in the series.</p>