George R. R. Martin

September 20, 1948 (age 77)

The American author and screenwriter, George R. R. Martin, is a writer of Science Fiction, fantasy, and horror novels and short stories. He is famous for the bestselling epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire that was recently adapted into the award-winning television series, Game of Thrones, for HBO.

Martin's family was not very wealthy, but Martin quickly learned to improve his life using his imagination, writing monster stories and tales about a mythical kingdom inhabited by his pet turtles. He was also a fan of comic books, especially the superheroes in Marvel Comics. Martin avoided the draft during the Vietnam War by obtaining a conscientious objector status, and instead volunteered for Americorp before obtaining his B.S. and M.S. in journalism.

Martin began publishing Science Fiction short stories in pulp magazines in the 1970's. He went on to write a few novels but was discouraged after his fourth novel, The Armageddon Rag, flopped. Martin took a break from writing novels and began his screenwriting career for television shows such as the revived Twilight Zone and Beauty and the Beast. Despite the difficulty he had with his fourth book, Martin's writing is known for its complexity, from the plotlines to the characters. His readers become attached to the characters and genuinely care about their fate. Which, if you know anything about Martin, can lead to sadness since none of his characters are safe, and even the most loved characters may face death on any page.

In addition to being a writer and screenwriter, Martin was a book series editor, a college instructor in journalism, and a chess tournament director. He has won numerous awards for his writing and was declared to be "One of the most influential people in the world" by Time Magazine in 2011. He is also an animal activist, attends conventions, and is often available for his fans making him not only an awesome writer, but an awesome person.

See bibliography: George R. R. Martin