10 Questions I Would Ask George R. R. Martin | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post

10 Questions I Would Ask George R. R. Martin

You will not avoid finding any Martin fanboys, especially since you found one right here

69
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/30892842216/in/photolist-Hv5PmV-NmriBC-27dW7e5-P4TTGC-2cDQeu7-NZiUTx-NWNh5o-NErQ25-Ex5RxZ-26x47qk-2a3G4YC-L7ZLbA-29fSoHp-FeNCrb-23MfFib-25wTRZr-25azkXe-S43EjV-H8qrhi-HCLs2s-HCLsfU-J4fwax-ZUyBZ5-H8qtMD-J4fxhc-LUqYJz-SgZW5x-2a7RoRr-QtLkKj-NB74Fs-2b9koUH-K7Zobf-LUu9PX-X8wVca-RAMN9T-M3T1Kh-MemPkL-KgVGB6-HCvkdu-HJcpx5-HJcoGY-GRyFGv-HmPabJ-HCvgJ5-HCvgu7-HJckc1-HCvfGf-GRyCy6-HCvf9S-HmP1a7
Skidmore, Gage. "George R. R. Martin." Flickr. Taken on 11 Nov. 2016.

If I was at a conference and I was given the mike during the Q&A session, I would personally ask George R. R. Martin one of these questions based on curiosities and unanswered questions.

About An Expanded Universe Of Ice And Fire

Robert Scott III

Considering how you did diligent work with "The Lands of Ice and Fire" and "The World of Ice and Fire" and how you collaborate with Daniel Abraham, Gardner Dozois, and other authors, would you trust them to write "Ice and Fire" canon stories that take place outside of Westeros, like writing about the Braavosi adventurer who recorded the Dothraki war against the Ibbish?

About "Avalon"

Wikimedia

You wanted to write a science fiction novel titled "Avalon" which eventually became "A Game of Thrones." I found it interesting that in your early science fiction work, one of the planets was named "Avalon." In fact, there are a lot of similarities between "The Song of Ice and Fire" and your earlier work. So my question would be: Where did you originally have "A Game of Thrones" fit in this canon, like as a sequel to "Dying of the Light" or as its own stand-alone novel?

About Literary Influences

Robert Scott III

Which three of your literary influences would you like to have dinner with?

About Pronunciations

Robert Scott III

When I first read "A Game of Thrones," I admit that I had a hard time pronouncing the names like I would pronounce Tyrion as [tih-ree-AWN]; Daenerys as [DAY-neh-ris]; Yronwood as [ee-RAWN-wood]. Alongside the "The World Of Ice And Fire," have you thought of working alongside linguist David J. Peterson in releasing a pronunciation guide?

About Another Writer Also Dubbed A "Tolkien"

Flickr

I am sure you heard of M. A. R. Barker. He was the writer of the "Tekumel" science fiction series and he was also compared to Tolkien, for the same reasons you were in terms of in-depth world-building. What would you say is considered Tolkienian?

About Fantasy

Robert Scott III

I noticed a lot of similarities between the "Song of Ice and Fire" and your early fantasy short stories, such as "The Ice Dragon" and "In The Lost Lands." Have you always wanted to write a fantasy epic before writing "A Game Of Thrones?"

About Tortured Artists

Pixabay

There is a problem with creative people who are hurting. This leads to the archetype of the Tortured Artist. Considering how your suffering inspired "This Second Kind Of Loneliness" and "A Song For Lya," what advice would you have for writers who feel cheap and disposable?

About Jack Vance

Wikimedia

I found it interesting how the people of the Thousand Islands and the Jogos Nhai plains have this Vancean variety of strangeness compared to Westeros and the rest of Essos. You mentioned how you were paying homages to H. P. Lovecraft but were you also paying homages to Jack Vance as well?

About Literary Fiction

Robert Scott III

Your short story "Remembering Melody" comes very close to what can be defined as literary fiction, since it seems to deal more with the fractured relationship between the narrator and Melody than Melody's own supposed existence. Have you wanted to write literary fiction?

 About The Struggle To Be A Writer

Robert Scott III

You also helped to create the Worldbuilders scholarship, in order to help aspiring fantasy writers. Are there ways in which to pay for one's education in such programs like Clarion West Writer's Workshop?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

Pros And Cons Of Having A Birthday Near The Holidays

The truth of what it is like having a birthday around the holiday season.

329
Christmas decoration
Flickr

It's the most wonderful time of the year!! But for some people, including myself and my Dad, it can have its ups and downs when it comes to having a birthday near and around the holiday season. I personally share a birthday with my Dad two days before Christmas. Yes, Christmas Eve Eve is our birthday. Here are a few pros and cons for having a birthday near the holidays.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas Tree Lights
Pixabay

It is that time of year again. Christmastime. It is one of my favorite seasons for a myriad of reasons. Here are just a few reasons why I love Christmas. This list is in no order of importance.

1. The Christmas decorations

I am that person who will decorate directly after Thanksgiving is over. This year, my roommates and I put the tree up in our apartment before we even left for Thanksgiving break. It is a great stress reliever for me to just sit in my living room and work on the huge amount of work I have before the semester is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl with santa hat
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

'Tis the season to be jolly folks, and if you're anything like me, then at the stroke of midnight on Halloween your home went from wicked to winter

Keep Reading...Show less
mistake
Project Eve

Mistakes are something we all make, no matter how old we get. Most of the time, the mistakes we made are little and sometimes due to something out of our control. Yet, there are mistakes that are bigger than others. Personally, I have mistakes that I wish I could go back and undo. Here they are:

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

5 Things To Do That Are Better Than Writing A Paper

Don't waste your time trying to write that paper when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing.

12493
computer keyboard
Unsplash

Writing a paper is never fun and is rarely rewarding. The writer's block, the page requirement, be specific, but don’t summarize, make sure you fixed any grammatical errors, did you even use spellcheck? and analyze, analyze, analyze.

Papers can be a major pain. They take up so much time and effort that by the end of the process you hate yourself and you hate the professor for making life so difficult. Questions of your existence start roaming in your mind. Am I even cut out for college if I can’t write a single paper? Am I even capable of taking care of myself if I lack the energy to open my laptop and start typing?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments