POP+ Write Out of This World: George R.R. Martin on Becoming a Writer

The Museum of Pop Culture's Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame honors science fiction and fantasy’s leading creators and most impactful creations. To align with our annual Write Out of This World competition, and to coincide with the launch of voting for our next Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame class, we are sharing conversations we’ve had with some of our most celebrated inductees.

Long before his bestselling fantasy novel series, A Song of Ice and Fire, would be adapted into the hit HBO drama Game of Thrones (2011-19), George R.R. Martin was already a well-respected and award-winning figure in the fantasy and science fiction world, having published several novels and short story collections. His contributions to the science fiction and fantasy genre were not limited only to print but also included television and film. He worked as a writer on the 1985 reboot of The Twilight Zone series and two years later became a writer for the Beauty and the Beast television series. And with HBO’s Game of Thrones phenomenon having come to an end, the world now eagerly awaits the final chapters in the A Song of Ice and Fire book series.

Why did George R.R. Martin choose science fiction and fantasy as his medium? We sat down with him in 2012 and he answered that very question.

Recommended George R.R. Martin Works:

• A Song for Lya: And Other Stories (1976)
• The Ice Dragon (1980)
• A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One (1996)

We want your help! Your vote decides the next class of inductees to our 'Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame'

• VOTE NOW: MoPOP.org/SFFHOFVote20

Learn more about MoPOP's 'Write Out of This World: Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Story and Comic Contest' + for contests, the latest news, and behind-the-scenes content, be sure to follow MoPOP on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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