George R. R. Martin – Interesting Literature

Five Fascinating Facts about George R. R. Martin

Interesting George R. R. Martin trivia

1. Contrary to popular belief, George R. R. Martin’s middle initials are not a homage to J. R. R. Tolkien. Although George R. R. Martin is often referred to as ‘the American Tolkien’, it would appear that the two middle initials shared by both masters of fantasy literature are a coincidence and not a direct tribute to Tolkien on Martin’s part. Martin was born George Raymond Martin, and adopted a further middle name Richard upon his Catholic confirmation at age 13 (as, in fact, Martin himself confirms – as it were – in this video, at around 8:30 minutes in).

Guest Blog: The Walking Dead from Chaucer to Game of Thrones

By William Gosline Like any true genius, Robert Kirkman ‘steals’. In his situation, not to do so would be foolish. As the principal show-runner of one of the most popular programs on cable television, Kirkman has the considerable resources of the Entertainment industry at his disposal. Talent flocks to the Walking Dead: great character actors, crack … Read more

Five Fascinating Facts about Game of Thrones

Quick facts about A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones

We felt it was high time we gathered together the five best facts we’ve uncovered about the HBO TV series Game of Thrones, and the books on which the series is based, George R. R. Martin’s fantasy cycle, A Song of Ice and Fire.

1. George R. R. Martin’s series A Song of Ice and Fire was inspired by the pet turtles he had as a child. Martin would invent stories involving the turtles … but, because the turtles kept dying, the young Martin imagined that they must be hatching ‘sinister plots’ to kill each other off. One wonders if there was a Joffrey turtle, a Littlefinger turtle, and a Cersei turtle!