OF BOOKS AND DRAGONS

Born George Raymond Richard Martin, the epic fantasy and science fiction writer was born on September 20, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey. His writing prowess revealed itself at an early age with him concocting fiction stories for the entertainment of the neighborhood children. Desiring to develop his skill to its full potential, Martin attended Northwestern University in Illinois, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in Journalism. He has dabbled in writing for television productions, and on occasion, has produced several. He has also worked part time as a chess tournament director, Journalism instructor, and has even volunteered at VISTA, an American organization designed to fight poverty. All the while, Martin continued writing. He is a member of the Writers’ Guild of America as well as the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Having written a diverse collection of short stories, novels, novelettes, and screenplays, Martin has had plenty of opportunity to hone his skill, thus being able to conceive complex twists and fascinating plots. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that he has had his fair share of awards and honors. Among them are several Hugo Awards and Nebula Awards, both highly coveted by writers inclined towards the fields of fantasy and science fiction.
George R. R. Martin has received a myriad of praises regarding his writing style and unbounded creativity. Lev Grossman of Time Magazine (2005) has even labeled the author as “the American Tolkien” which can be attributed to Martin’s success with his epic saga entitled A Song of Ice and Fire, a dark and exciting tale of a kingdom torn asunder by unending wars and fragile alliances, yet dotted by an interesting mélange of colorful and spirited characters. Grossman’s article compares the two great authors in his article stating that although Tolkien can be credited greatly for his vast imagination in creating Middle Earth and its inhabitants, Martin can be awarded the same praise for creating a world of realism filled with characters with rich histories and intricacies which can move any reader. His multifaceted characters have depths that cannot be understood at first glance, the main reason readers are held fast to his stories in hopes of discovering what happens next. After reading the first few chapters, readers can often find themselves riveted to their seats, wide-eyed, and frantically scanning pages to know the fates to befall the beloved characters. Furthermore, Martin’s stories are no strangers to death and deception. New readers of his books are often disconcerted to discover that Martin has, yet again, killed off one of the main characters who, up until the death of the said character, was a major force in shaping the story’s plot. More experienced fans have already learned to steel themselves against this painful manipulation masterfully executed by Martin. Knowing that the heroes and heroines of Martin’s stories will have fates as unpredictable as any real individual, fans do not expect any of these characters to fall into the stereotype of happily-ever-after personalities.
Conversely, many critics of the author find his works too dark and cynical but many of his fans come to his defense knowing all too well that this is simply, and uniquely, his style. So far, the only complaint that Martin has been receiving in his blog is the never-ending delay of the fifth installment in the Ice and Fire series entitled Dance With Dragons, which according to the author himself, was to be released in 2008. When the book is finished at last, many will be thrilled, some merely entertained, while others will have their fingers itching to finish their copy so they can remark on the merits and faults of DWD, as many fans opt to call it. For now, fans and critics alike await in repressed excitement for the fifth book.