GEORGE R.R. MARTIN | Master Class | Higher Learning

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Bestselling author of the A Song of Ice and Fire cycle, George R.R. Martin, joins students and faculty to discuss his celebrated novels' adaptation to the small screen as HBO's Game of Thrones. This Higher Learning event was held on March 13, 2012 at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Visit the Higher Learning Digital Resource Hub to learn more about our upcoming events at TIFF Bell Lightbox and to access bibliographies, filmographies and additional resources associated with this event. www.tiff.net/higherlearning/

[@UnknownSun556]

He spent ten years in Hollywood, no wonder there's so much betrayal and treachery in ASOIAF.

[@ricoco7891]

Joey Hunjas Game of Thrones is just an adaptation though, and "Game of Thrones" is the name of the first book in ASOIAF franchise. Yeah it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but it is technically correct, and calling the series for what it is and what the original author named it rather than the adaptation by a 3rd party.

[@caddaye7687]

Sea Raider The first book is “A game of thrones” whereas the show is ‘game of thrones’. HBO just looked at the books and thought that ‘Game of thrones’ sums up the story, which it sought of does.

[@WreckItRolfe]

You forgot about the rape.

[@filipferencak2717]

I guess we now know where the line "I grew up in King's Landing" came from...

[@Conn30Mtenor]

actually, his interest in history is where that comes from. The real-life rulers of the ancient and medieval history, the Greek and Macedonian kings and despots, the Caesars and the Medieval Popes and Kings. They were a 80/20 mix of horrible and noble.

[@twiggy_witch]

Why isn't this called "Maester Class"? What a missed opportunity.

[@galadballcrusher8182]

@Mist Spirit Actualy... in game of thrones game for pc..... not the telltale one.. the other one... he voiced over a character who was designed based on his looks too ... a maester ;)

[@Io-Io-Io]

Hahaha und hohoho und hihihihihi.

[@TerryKashat]

That’s so good I thought that’s what it is was already titled 😂

[@lordseaworth6055]

@THOMAS LATHAM Have not heard that meme in ages!

[@elizabethtaification]

Lmaoo I love this comment too much 😂😂

[@PocketCraft]

George R.R. Martin is such a decent, honest and humble guy. I really enjoyed this interview. What makes it even better is that you can tell the interviewer is genuinely a fan of his work and is eager on what he has to say. Great watch.

[@kea7119]

I totally agree with you.

[@Chris_W]

And a great listen ^^ i had this interview on the background as i was doing the tedious task of cleaning up. Very fascinating!

[@TyrusPerises]

He's actually kind of a selfish money grubby asshole if you analyze some of his actions, peddling waterlogged rpg books to his fans at outrageous prices, for example, pawling overpriced miniatures instead of working, bleeding his fans for charitable donations when he made 15 million last year alone.

[@spacedew]

yeah I hate when you can see the piece of shit interviewer forcing himself to ask questions and pretending that he gives a damn.

[@thewildvagipuss]

Agreed he has a kind of unpretentious way of explaining his work and life that I really like

[@thetruthiswithin9172]

"I like to reward readers that are reading closely and paying attention"...I felt that

[@Lawlzinator]

He's one of the nicest authors you'll meet. Answered two of my questions at a public library benefit, one of them when I came up to him to get my book signed. Took a picture with him too. Such a genuine person.

[@moonmeadow]

Although I'm in Germany and not the US I hope to meet him one day! Reading ASOIAF right now and it's so great, and George seems like such a nice guy to talk to

[@Cyrus0w]

That's so sweet; thank you for sharing

[@ilgoth9393]

I've been working on my own novel for a year now while studying. For some odd reason, everytime I listen George RR Martin, I get some kind of a boost and flow state.

[@filipjonsson1527]

+Ilgoth Yeah, I'm working on my own novel too, and I often listen to interviews of George R.R. Martin because I do get a boost to write more and better, and that my struggles can be overcome. There is something to this man that just inspires you. Good luck with the writing!

[@cammythekid3581]

What sort of novel?

[@ilgoth9393]

cameron kirk Did you mean me? I'm writing dark fantasy, where world is "bit broken" and weather is more extreme. Human race has freed themselves from slavery and are now trying to regain their old home and rehabit it. At the same time, world changes once again and new land is discovered. Time era is renaissance like, so they have gunpowder. So in battle, muskets, short swords, few cannons etc.

[@cammythekid3581]

+Ilgoth sounds interesting!

[@ilgoth9393]

Thank you folks, nice to get encouragement. :)

[@AzaleaJane]

"Is this going to turn out well, or are they going to ruin it?" Yes.

[@dmp1520]

dick 1 and dick 2 really nailed it.

[@shogo_guy]

@@dmp1520 Wow! Funny AND original

[@dmp1520]

@@shogo_guy as original as d1 and d2 were with their endless dick jokes. My answer was inspired by their emmy winning writing.

[@sswenr567]

Yhv b. I can just ggbyb yputty’sy bygy yay

[@svant3]

First it will turn out well, then they’ll ruin it!😄

[@devinrai]

Just imagine. Inside this man's head is the ending of ASOIAF.

[@hiswordremains]

+Devin Rai *GONGGG*

[@andyd6055]

Inside this mans mind he he could make I badass things happen in the shows. Like a the ice dragon coming out of e wall and joining the white walkers

[@DebateCafe]

+Devin Rai Break it open, let's steal what's inside!

[@devinrai]

Martin .Luther That can easily happen in ASOIAF. Remember, Old nan's stories.

[@devinrai]

Martin .Luther what are you even saying? Stop with the overthinking. All I'm saying is Nan told stories about The Children, White walkers, dragons etc. Up until, 3rd book we didn't think that they were real but they are. Children, WWs, Dragons are all real. Magic is real. There is no reason that ice dragons cannot be real too.

[@doctornov7]

I could listen to George RR Martin for hours.

[@gorgolyt]

You're in luck then.

[@peterjoyfilms]

@@gorgolyt Not really, it's only 1hr10

[@svant3]

I have

[@konradcavebear5311]

badass R.R. with the flame suspenders.

[@muffinman5741]

more like nerd

[@brucelee12]

He's our nerd though, the King of nerds.

[@AngelCakes1997]

+brucelee12 King George, First of his Name.

[@TJansonable]

hes a savage!

[@jaypond4368]

Thats the thing about being successful. You can wear whatever the hell you want and everyone loves it.

[@AlbertAlbertB.]

10 years it has been already; and the book is still in the making. Season 2 of GOT still had to come out by then... Such blissful times.

[@gregdawe2786]

this guy is a master interviewer, asks question shuts up. even holds to mic away so you cant hear him clear his throat or laugh. good interview. love George

[@Iksbrown]

I think the biggest difference between Tolkien and Martin is that Tolkien was more influenced by mythology, whereas Martin draws his inspiration from history. It really shows in their work, with LOTR coming of as an enchanted fairy-tale like story and ASOIAF being gritty, dark and realistic.

[@squamish4244]

ASOIAF is only gritty _relative_ to LOTR. Almost everyone is still a lord or lady, and GRRM basically took 1,000 years of medieval history, picked out the greatest hits and compressed it all into a five-year time span. And people still die spectacular gothic deaths in his stories. GRRM, like any writer, is a storyteller first and foremost. If he was truly "gritty, dark and realistic", he'd write about a peasant plowing his field all day like 90% of medieval people actually did, or about a king dropping dead suddenly of disease like Henry V did of dysentery at 35 in 1422, thus robbing him of the chance to take the crown of France - a very anticlimactic ending if ever there was one. That's actual medieval realism. Or George could be truly gritty and manage to finish one damn book in the last 12 years. Good lord.

[@WritingDialogue]

I think the biggest difference is that Tolkien actually finished his story.

[@SvenDzahov]

Hot take: GRRM is far more influenced by mythology. Jon Snow with the king of winter/ king of corn/king of crows Is comparable to 7 different regional Norse, Celtic, Gaelic and English mythological lores at once. There’s a whole bunch of this but it’s hyper niche. Look up Cerkunnos and think about how the concept of Life and Death/summer and winter plays into the story. Robert and Ned Renly and Stannis. Etc etc, the whole story is about the dichotomy of life and death aka a song of ice and fire

[@SvenDzahov]

@@squamish4244this stuff literally happens constantly Baelor Breakspear dropped dead in combat which was not supposed to be lethal where as he was the heir and hope to the throne, highly competent warrior and compassionate man. Rhaegar as well But I mean Areys the 1st dies of a heart attack leaving Maegor the opportunity to take the throne. Sir Willem dies from complications foiling Doran’s plots. Many kings and princes died in the spring sickness which lead to Egg becoming king. A house fire kills off half of the dynasty at one point. And almost every epic moment where the hero prevails is foiled by something. The whole story is the process of let downs getting us to where we are when the story starts lol, the book begins with a king who is deeply in debt needing to replace his Hand because the former died

[@squamish4244]

@@SvenDzahov Well, I would take issue with random deaths happening as part of the narrative of ASOIAF and not the backstory. Baelor's death was also a heroic sacrifice death in the tradition of epic fantasy and tragedy. I'm thinking of something like what if Tywin had consolidated his hold over the Seven Kingdoms and then got an infection and died. That kind of thing.

[@gc8909]

1:05:00 “are they gonna ruin it” made a tear come to my eye.

[@ThatDangerousWolf]

He must be so heartbroken. I know he has made some statement about it, but I feel like he really held himself back just to be respectful and nice. I can’t even imagine what went on in his mind when he watched the last few seasons.

[@jokebapack2]

When you realise that writing can be a professional career? About 3 years ago. Listen to this guys! The road of a writer is harder than most.

[@samfrank6290]

It was a joke lol

[@97epicman]

The interviewer in this one was very good. He seemed genuinely interested in George RR Martin and came across as an intelligent guy himself.

[@andrewpellom1761]

52:50 "When is your next book coming out?" Me watching this video in 2018: "LOOOOOOL" Edit: it is now 2022: LOOOOOOL

[@NeuroticCrow]

Update in 2020: LOOOOOOOOL

[@ritwikraha]

*cries in lockdown

[@omarora4590]

52:50

[@kimocrates5512]

*cries in 2021*

[@waynesaint1401]

Update in 2021: LOOOOOOOOL

[@55bueller]

This guy is getting people back into reading actual books, I will always have such respect for him because of that!

[@ClayburnGriffin]

I love the shot of all the bored nerds as he discusses football.

[@damianosangelis284]

Clayburn Griffin George even said in another interview that outside of these kinds of talks that he almost loathes talking about ASOIAF, because he's around it so much as it is. He said he could talk about football and other things for hours though. Who can blame him, if you were a plumber would you want to go meet you're friends somewhere and just talk about plumbing for a few hours after you just got done plumbing all day?

[@fikafikafikarrr]

YES! take that nerds! YES!!!YES!!!

[@turtleanton6539]

@@fikafikafikarrr Fuck you

[@balabanasireti]

@@damianosangelis284 He can do that with his friends. The interviews are about ASOIAF. End of story.

[@jamese8825]

If there is one thing I hate is the comparisons.....why can't you like both??? Why must there be discernible lines drawn between Tolkien and Martin....can't we all just say, LONG LIVE FANTASY!!!!!!!!!!

[@michaelerrigo3173]

Amen brother!! I feel the same way about Star Wars and Star Trek.

[@ericbleyendaal2669]

Absolutely. It's easy for one time viewers or casual readers to judge them in the same category. But when you look at their sources (LOTR taking from mythology and legend, ASOIAF from history), and the worldviews of the writers (JRRT a WWI vet, GRRM an antiwar activist from the Vietnam era), its very difficult to see similarities beyond the genre. They're so different, they might as well not even share the genre.

[@JzeusGames]

AHHH MAN BROTHER!!!!

[@chuckshingledecker2216]

Excellent point! Tolkien invented the modern Fantasy genre, but he was also doing something VERY different. It is supposed to be a story that entertains, but at the same time the frame narrative plays with the convention that all the Middle Earth material came from manuscripts following the Epic of the early Medieval period, like Beowulf. It's not supposed to be a straight up novel. So comparing the two types of stories is practically like comparing apples and oranges.

[@jamese8825]

Comparisons need to end amongst fantasy junkies. We are few and far between, but we are fiercely loyal. J.R.R. created a beautiful story of good V.S. evil. The Hero prevails against a powerful evil. G.R.R. created a world where each person is capable of being evil and good. I hope for more and more and more fantasy which tackles all different kinds of themes. I myself hope to one day publish my own fantasy. I in NO WAY mean to reach the heights of the fore-mentioned authors, but I'd love to contribute to a genre I love.

[@konstantinlapshin5010]

Amazing human being. You can instantly see that he is down to earth, genuine, and decent. And that voice...very soothing. That giggle is amazing too :) What about the suspenders? Fire!!

[@HettieGrace]

I LOVE the Song of Ice and Fire series, one of the best writers I have ever experienced. Long live G.R.R Martin

[@cestraig]

My annoyance with George Martin is that he created a masterpiece. I just don't see how any fictional fantasy writer could ever create something so detailed with so much depth and so much content, like dead walking, dragons, magic, giants etc. It gives any future fantasy writer a real hard job to create anything new and unique lol.

[@babyblue_22]

My annoyance with George Martin is waiting 12 years for the sixth book, with still no release date in sight 😥

[@cestraig]

@@babyblue_22 😂😂

[@Bluemilk92]

He has pretty much admitted that ASoIaF has become his masterwork. He knows it will be what he's remembered for. If he sticks the landing, then we will be talking about him 100 years from now, like we do with Tolkien. I can't imagine the pressure. He has the chance to become an actual legend.

[@cestraig]

@@Bluemilk92 Has he written many other unrelated novels?

[@Bluemilk92]

​@@cestraig If you're joking I'll take the L. He has like 20 years of content before "The Song." A ton were short... Novellas. *Check "A Song for Lya. * Real quick reads. He has the 1000 worlds universe. Think ASoIaF, with more time and space travel. Aliens. Weirdly still a lot of incest. Telepathy's a thing. Actually reading his older work will make you spark. "Ah! That's what he's getting at in The Song."

[@mako4874]

what a jolly magical Maester this man is

[@EmperorSimonKure]

Only George R.R. Martin and Santa Claus can wear suspenders and still look stylish.

[@Natalia_Cherryvan19]

And the Doctor.

[@OliviaBeille]

I don't know about stylish, but he sure can wear them, or whatever he wants for that matter and no one could hold it against him because he's the legend.

[@logan5804]

Sarium Kure you should see my buddy anthony

[@liamfahey4001]

It's one of the many reasons that he is "Murder Santa"

[@TheStormcrow2]

Flames on anything are always tacky, but I couldn't care less.

[@doctorine-moderncombat5bea8]

his voice is so soothing lol

[@bicarbonat1]

The host's head nodding is so rapid and frequent is damn near a vibration 8:14

[@thedarkness97]

his foot too..

[@_GOD_HAND_]

this is why i come to youtube

[@Marcow321]

Thanks that made me have a good laugh!

[@bicarbonat1]

DiceCow No prob! 😄

[@tiffii5706]

He looks like a bobblehead.

[@HowardSiow01]

First time I've seen George Martin... Really seems like an honest, candid and just a really great guy... Way to go George :)

[@lifeisactuallyveryboring.7771]

He's very humble and honest, I really admire that in a person.

[@DaytakTV]

ASoIaF is the greatest story ever told! Thank you GRRM and GoT crew!

[@johnwatson8445]

At home sick, listening to ramblings is comforting, and gives me ideas for my own writing.

[@ExNihil0]

This man is just a prophet of the multiverse. A conduit to another universe.

[@BlueDaemonful]

I love how honest he is as well as his dark sense of humour lol

[@TheMasteros22]

The show made his books known to the masses. I saw the first season and then read all of the books and to this day they are the best books i have read.

[@clairelovell7212]

AGREED

[@moonmeadow]

Same

[@Zouna92]

I opened this video and started to browse the internet in another tab and while I was browsing I listened to his interview for over an hour... man he surely was not boring in anyway. Keep up your good work Goerge you're awesome!

[@nontrivialdog]

His giggles lol.

[@arthurdayne8029]

nontrivial dawg ‘hehehehehehe he’

[@user-ju3we4xn2s]

Heard so many praises on the show, checked the time, made in 2013. Made sense

[@SerTahu]

there were quite a few hints in the dialogue. Two of my favourite are these: In Renly's conversation with Stannis, in the books Renly says that Margaery was a virgin when they wed, and Stannis says “In your bed she’s like to die that way.” The other is an occasion in the third book where Jaime is talking with Loras. Loras pulls out his blade, and Jaime says “Now sheathe your bloody sword, or I’ll take it from you and shove it up some place even Renly never found.”

[@johnnyshowbones8689]

Those fire braces are the BOMB.

[@Schmidteren]

I could listen to him for days on end... He truly is a master of telling of stories!

[@mininovaband]

OMG, the interviewer is Leonard Hofstadter!!!

[@platesfly8362]

That's exactly what I thought!!! :D

[@kanedomican2248]

Omg I thought that😂😂

[@andrewmanford]

OMG, the commenter is Martha Raymond!!!!!!!!!!

[@Cheesedays]

Don't care if Tolkien made a language. A Song of Ice and Fire goes into an entire plane of thinking in the philosophical questions it presents.

[@MrDuploelephant]

He gives such detailed and delighting answers.

[@bepkororoti8019]

George seems to be such a genuine great guy, I could listen to him all day long, minus the sports stuff 😁

[@zarens]

i love how every time some one says they like his work, his reaction is allways "aawwwh thank you" he still sounds suprised every time XD

[@AltairDhauglu]

May the old and the new gods bless you with a long life, Mr Martin!

[@jayobsia4699]

I love that he's a Giants fan lol

[@-AwaleAbdi-]

This man needs to breed... His brilliance can't die with him! Pass on your awesomeness, George.

[@jammydodger5838]

You’re still fertile, you need to marry again and breed!

[@florete2310]

NO WAY! So that's what happened to Leonard Hofstadter after he broke up with Penny. He came to interview George R.R. Martin... Good for him.

[@iannd123]

please don't die :(

[@Laurian21]

valar morghulis

[@AAl3xis69]

pit bulol YOU JUST MADE MY DAY!!! XDD

[@jamesrofl1]

pit bulol valar dohaires

[@MarilynY1635]

Ian Darabos OMG...I wasthinking the same thing! Are we bad people!

[@leewalton3178]

Ian Darabos I think it's inevitable. He's seen better days, for sure.

[@klein7630]

this and strombo are best interviews ive seen yet. its basically all of them summed up

[@lordoftuft1411]

By reading the books it might seem like they die randomly, but by actually reading the story you'll find that they don't die randomly. Everything that happens in the books, everyone that dies has a meaning to it, something you should have noticed by now since you're halfway through the 3rd book...

[@Mikeztarp]

This is neither a "master class" nor "higher learning". It's just a long interview about the author's life.

[@sam248]

+Mikeztarp dido

[@DNotzz]

Mikeztarp thats the lesson bud ;) the higher learning is there if you know how to listen.

[@Leto85]

I thought so too after 5:28 minutes in. What can we learn here to improve writing?

[@logan7882]

+Dan N Higher learning and master class implies a different set-up than this. This is literally just an interview. Sure you can learn from it but that doesn't make it a master class. It's not a class.

[@leijten]

Ask GRRM how WoW is doing if you want to learn how to write.

[@josueignaciomm]

Martin's literature is above any other genre or book nowadays. The complexity of every single character he creates, the verosimilitude of the storyline and the outstanding plot development are some of the reasons why he's the best in fiction. I'm professor of literature, and a fan of the genre, and I'm convinced you haven't even read the first two books, and you're anyway daring to do that analysis.

[@slantone]

Thank you George Martin, for opening up your mind and soul, creating a world so rich and complex, real and fantastic - a world that we can all now escape to.

[@TwiztidMenace]

Pick something and practice. "Fake it until you make it." No one is born great, they become great afterwards. They try, they make mistakes, they fix them, and they press on with new knowledge that they learned from making the mistake. One day they realize they've made every mistake that other people, who are "good at something", have made, and they reason that they must be good at it themselves, now, after practice. So, pick something and practice.

[@CannotFindAUsername7]

1:03:50 how is this auditorium so empty. I would have loved to be there..

[@balabanasireti]

Because interviews with celebrities are expensive.

[@JoannaDeVoe]

This was truly excellent. Super informative & entertaining.

[@thepatriot19]

i love his chapter style im able to read a chapter at a time and jump into a new situation kinda of instead ofnhoppin into where u left off which i shard unless u take notes or something

[@erikoreland3688]

Love the suspenders!

[@voteZDLR]

They're so tacky lol, like, wearing suspenders is one thing but wearing suspenders with flames on them... just wow.

[@swordofillinthien2887]

Flaming suspenders to keep the belly from bursting out.

[@jaylawless1667]

Damn if this talk happened in 2019, that auditorium would be beyond max capacity with folks shoulder to shoulder in the isles.

[@osmya0044]

If it happened in 2021 it would be over zoom boradcasted live from GRRM´s livingroom

[@ninjachannel007]

The interviewer asks all the right questions.

[@MrSpock-wt8py]

54% of “traditionally-published” authors (and nearly 80% of self-published authors) earn less than $1,000 a year WOW GREAT!!! SUCH A STABLE CAREER OMG!!

[@Sanchara]

"These corners of the world all have Starbucks in them" I love that!

[@rickvangils100]

It's still mind blowing how back in late 2012 when this interview as shot he said the next ASOIAF book will be out 'in a few years'. We are closing in on 9 years later and still no book...

[@PlayNiceFolks]

Maybe he got disheartened.

[@MontyQueues]

it's not easy writing an ending after the debacle of HBO

[@maulcs]

@@MontyQueues Part of the debacle is because he couldn't finish these books on time.

[@MontyQueues]

@@maulcs not his fault they didn't follow the actual books, everything was thrown out or watered down

[@maulcs]

@@MontyQueues How are they going to follow books that haven't been written yet? Also, most of books 4 and 5 is just fluff and world building - it took up very little time in the show because there is very little plot in those books.

[@MawuliWare]

love this guy! seems like a good dude!

[@carolineclay109]

There is only one word that i find applicable to George R.R Martin, and that is genius.

[@ayse5712]

i love this man's voice!!! so calming :)

[@abonfireofmasks7702]

Interviewer asks great questions.

[@LeDingueDeJeuxVideos]

So sad to hear about these times where D&D were still respectable

[@YourGrace_06]

The life and times of great American author GRRM..first twist ending I thought of when they were talking about twist endings. Bran getting thrown out the window. That’s the scene that got me hooked on the show. He’s so awesome, I wish they would show the clips to the show. I really wanted to see that beauty and the beast clip. I used to watch that when I was a kid

[@woodsarthobbies6515]

I enjoy watching this interview.

[@limmil9764]

George: You haven't seen much of Casterly Rock yet, it will be an important backdrop in the later books. Me, 2019: SQUUUEEEEE This is still coming !!!

[@smack80]

posted 9 years ago when people still respected GRRM

[@stannisbaratheon6725]

I still respect him, you acting like if he released the book everyone wouldnt suck it up in seconds.

[@CCKeNeNSC]

ASOIAF is even longer, I've got all LotR books in one, with it being not even 1000 pages. The difference in the two tales is that Martin is much more focused on the persons, on theire personality, and the game between them, while in LotR, it is basiclly a quest, but you still have these characters that frodo don't trust. Tolkien didn't work as a author, but he did release The hobbit and LotR. But he made so very much more, middle earth is big. But Martins work is a masterpiece too. Respect both

[@Sunderbunny]

The series is great and once i watched first season i read all the books because i could not wait for the next season to come out. Whenever anything goes from print to film it can never be the same and I think people just dont understand that.

[@ZaelotGrunt]

SUSPENDERS GAME TOO STRONG

[@wisdommanari6701]

No such thingz

[@omarcruz2840]

I absolutely hated/hate fantasy but a song of ice and fire is so damned beautiful and full of real history and the human condition is so masterfully portrayed in this fake world that I have fallen balls deep in love with it.

[@NEXUSXEMNAS23]

George R. R. Martin is one of those people i could listen to talk for hours. And I have thanks to youtube lol

[@SaunaFinland]

Yes, I was running out of characters. I already had to rephrase a few sentences to fit everything in there. Your comment was a very welcome addition, though, and neatly summarized. Thank you. I had to pick one character and summarize his/her development in about ten words, so I picked the one I regard as the most powerful change.

[@joshuastclairmusic]

A peak into George RR Martin's mind? Sign me up!

[@k.g.5096]

he's so cute even if he's 70 (I know age doesn't matter) he has such a young spirit!

[@noldaker]

Great interview! Answered a lot of questions I've wondered about.

[@creast2623]

I watch this every night this is so satisfying to fall asleep to 😯😴😂😂

[@KoishNoish]

Personally I think Martin provides more development, wit and realism whilst Tolkien provided more fantasy and intrigue (in some senses). The fact is modern fantasy would not be where it is without Tolkien and I am certain the same will apply to Martin in the many years to come.

[@ernestouribe9494]

When George started talking about football you can see the look on the faces of the people of the audience, they were so bored out of their minds

[@freddykruger5937]

Read the books now that between series...you will appreciate the show all that much more. And now with the show, re-reading the books and appreciate them even more, makes it easier having a physical representation of characters and places in your mind while reading. Both forms benefit the other, but books will always be more in depth and enjoyable (granted only if you enjoy reading to begin with)

[@quizno1965]

I could listen to this guy for ages

[@QueenDaenerysTargaryen]

I like the fire suspenders. Fire and Blood 🔥🔥🔥🐉🐲🐉🔥🔥🔥

[@RCCarDude]

Guy Fieri's alternate future?

[@markstein3569]

What a legend.

[@tomacalin86]

just listening to this guy calms me. he has that kind of voice... :))

[@MakeAStrangerSmile]

Sir GRRM you are my inspiration.

[@gadgetguru36]

Thanks for the post. Read the books, watched the show. Like Tolkien, GRMM takes the usual sword & fantasy genre to new heights. His world is believable and the characters recognizable, fallible with human faults & prejudices. Listening to his candid recollections of the behind the scenes reality of writing for television is enlightening. 1Buttonmasher: Those who can do. Those who can't criticize. To compare GoT to Twilight shows an utter lack of literary comprehension.

[@cirle1552]

He's a lovable Santa Claus

[@666or999]

Except his only gift is death..

[@FakeAnarchist]

666or999 at least sometimes it goes to people who deserve it.

[@Quietstrife]

FakeAnarchist Ned? :^(

[@FakeAnarchist]

TheFlashybrown of course not Ned, his loss is still painful today. the people who did deserve it are Joffrey, Viserys, The Mountain among others

[@paulthoresen8241]

Ned did deserve it, he made bad choices. He was a good man, but he would have lived if he made better choices. Such as having witnesses to being made king, or making it known to the world, not simply depending on a piece of paper that he gave to the enemy to inspect. He also put his life in the hands of a man who wants his wife. It would have also helped him to tell his family the truth about Jon, his wife hates them both on some level because Jon reminds her that he cheated on her.

[@capgangchannel6309]

George RR Martin is probably my favourite author alongside Tolkien.

[@killerhedgehog69]

He's coming to San Antonio Texas in august,cant wait!!!!!!

[@urielperi3280]

1:05:13 So George, did it done well or did they ruined it?

[@PizzaDough99]

I love how he dresses all the time.

[@GeekFurious]

George, I want your book ASAP! But take all the time in the world you need to make it great.

[@rmc10141991]

man i tried to write a novel a few times gave the chapters to friends and family but they all agree they were lacking... i hope to improve some day i enjoy doing it.