George R.R. Martin's Blog, page 7

A few years back, Neil Gaiman and I did a joint event in New York City, when we were both in town.

It was a lot of fun, as events with Neil always are.   We told some funny stories, talked about books and comics, about SANDMAN and WILD CARDS and days at cons… and touched on some serious topics too.

I would like to upload  a video of the event if I could, but I am not sure one exists.   If anyone was recording us, I have never seen the tape.   But VARIETY had the best report of the session.

https...

Things are moving along nicely with our Dunk & Egg spinoff, HBO’s adaptation of my novella THE HEDGE KNIGHT.

Most of the auditions — not all, but most — are done, and we should be able to announce some more cast members shortly.   We have our Tanselle, Steely Pate, Baelor Breakspear, the Laughing Storm, a couple of Fossoways, Aerion Brightflame (boo, hiss), Prince Maekar, and the rest.   Lists are being built on Ashford Meadow.     I am told they just had the first table read, and that it went g...

Well, this is cool.

It would appear that I have my own dinosaur.

Say hello to MERAXES.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/tiny-arm-dinosaur-meraxes-argentina

He has a big head and little bitty arms, like Tyrannosaurus Rex, to whom he is not related.

He cannot fly or breathe fire, alas.   (Though maybe that’s for the best).

He hails from Argentina.

Queen Rhaenys would have been very pleased.

I know I am.

If you missed seeing our adaptation of Howard Waldrop’s classic short NIGHT OF THE COOTERS when it was out on the film festival circuit, I’m pleased to say that you have another chance.   This year’s Balticon will be featuring a program of short films, and COOTERS will be one of the movies they are showing.

Balticon will be held over Memorial Day weekend (May 27-31),  in Baltimore, Maryland.

Home

Meantime, our second Waldrop short, Steven Paul Judd’s adaptation of MARY-MARGARET ROAD-GRADER, ha...

Last month I zipped down to the Isleta Resort south of Albuquerque for an afternoon, to deliver the keynote speech for the 75th anniversary luncheon of the New Mexico Press Women, and to receive their Courageous Communicator Award.

That was a singular honor, and one that really set me to thinking.   Our world needs courageous communicators more than ever in these dark divided days, when so many people would rather silence those they disagree with than engage them in debate and discussion.    I d...

I was saddened to read that Melanie, the singer/ songwriter whose career took off after a memorable performance at Woodstock, died on January 23, at the age of 76.   Her real name was Melanie Safka.

I was not at Woodstock, alas (though Parris was), but I started hearing Melanie on the radio soon thereafter.   Never met her, never attended a concert, but I always loved her music.   She had a lovely voice, and wrote some wonderful songs with roots in both rock and folk.   “Candles in the Rain,” “T...

VARIETY broke the story a couple of days ago, so this will be old news to many of you, but…

We have our hedge knight.

And he has his squire.

Peter Claffey will play Dunk.   He’s a former professional rugby player turned actor.   And he’s tall.   Ok, maybe not quite as tall as Ser Duncan the Tall, but still plenty tall, and with the magic of television…

His readings were terrific.   I think you’re going to love him.

As Egg, we’ve cast Dexter Sol Ansell.   Most recently seen in the HUNGER GAMES ...

THIS MESSAGE HAS BE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MINIONS OF FEVRE RIVER

Long before the Wall fell, the Targaryens reigned with fire and blood.

From the conflict between Rhaenyra and Alicent to Daemon burning the Crabfeeder army,
explore the reign of the Targaryen Empire in Westeros with the official House of the
Dragon coloring book.

Featuring over 75 original illustrations and thick paper, this coloring book offers you a way to
relive the most dramatic moments from the show.

Preorder your copy of Hous...

It was Robert A. Heinlein who said we can never pay back the people who helped us when we started, so we need to pay forward instead.

The last week of February saw me return to the Chicago area, for a visit to my alma mater, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.   Not for a homecoming or a class reunion, no… but to give away a chair.   February 28 was the official investiture for Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan, a fellow Medill alum (Class of ’97) as the inaugural holder of the George R.R. M...