content: '''Samwell Tarly''', or simply '''Sam''', is a fictional character in the ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation, ''Game of Thrones''.
  Introduced in 1996's ''A Game of Thrones'', Samwell is the eldest son of Lord Randyll Tarly of Horn Hill and his wife Lady Melessa Florent. A self-professed coward with a love for books and songs, Samwell was forced by his father to abandon his birthright and join the Night's Watch so that his younger brother could become heir to Horn Hill. While at the Wall, he meets Jon Snow and quickly becomes his closest friend and ally. He subsequently appeared in 1998's ''A Clash of Kings'' before becoming a point-of-view character in 2000's ''A Storm of Swords'' and 2005's ''A Feast for Crows''.
  Samwell is portrayed by English actor John Bradley in the HBO television adaptation.