When was A Game of Thrones published?

With all due respect to GoT fans, please stop watching the "Game of Thrones" TV shows. Why? Because you’re distracting George R.R. Martin from finishing the sixth book in the fantasy series that the shows are based on. Stop it! 

While a better question might be when will the next book finally be published, all we can do for now is look back. When was the first book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, "A Game of Thrones," published?

Or scroll past the quiz to reveal the answer!