History of George R. R. Martin in Timeline
George R. R. Martin is an American author, television writer, and producer, most famous for his epic fantasy novel series *A Song of Ice and Fire*, adapted into the acclaimed TV series *Game of Thrones*. He's also involved in the *Wild Cards* anthology and contributed to the worldbuilding of the video game *Elden Ring*. Martin's work is celebrated for its complex characters, intricate plots, and realistic portrayal of medieval-inspired political intrigue and warfare, significantly impacting the fantasy genre and popular culture.
1 day ago : George R.R. Martin Addresses Fans' Frustration Over 'The Winds of Winter' Delay.
George R.R. Martin responded to frustrated fans regarding the delayed release of 'The Winds of Winter,' expressing that some fans will inevitably be angry about the wait. He provided updates but no firm release date.
September 20, 1948: George R. R. Martin's Birth
On September 20, 1948, George Raymond Richard Martin, also known as G.R.R.M., was born. He is an American author, television writer, and television producer.
1953: Family Moves to Federal Housing Project
In 1953, Martin's family moved to a federal housing project near the Bayonne docks, shaping his childhood experiences and fostering his imagination.
November 1963: Letter Published in Fantastic Four
In November 1963, a letter written by George R. R. Martin to the editor of Fantastic Four was printed in issue #20, marking his first published contribution to the comic book world.
1964: Attended First Comic-Con
In 1964, Martin bought the first ticket to the world's first Comic-Con, held in New York, marking his early involvement in comic fandom.
1965: Alley Award for Best Fan Fiction
In 1965, Martin won comic fandom's Alley Award for Best Fan Fiction for his prose superhero story "Powerman vs. The Blue Barrier".
1970: Earned B.S. in Journalism
In 1970, Martin earned a B.S. in journalism with a minor in history from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, graduating summa cum laude.
1970: First Science Fiction Short Story Sale
In 1970, at age 21, Martin began selling science fiction short stories professionally.
February 1971: "The Hero" Published
In February 1971, Martin's first sold story, "The Hero", was published in Galaxy magazine.
1971: Completed M.S. in Journalism
In 1971, Martin completed his M.S. in Journalism, also from Medill at Northwestern University.
1972: Bobby Fischer's Victory Sparks Chess Craze
In 1972, Bobby Fischer's victory in the world chess championship led to an American chess craze.
1972: Alternative Service as a VISTA Volunteer
In 1972, Martin began alternative service work as a VISTA volunteer, attached to the Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation, due to obtaining conscientious objector status during the Vietnam War.
1973: Hired as Tournament Director
In 1973, Martin was hired as a tournament director for the Continental Chess Association, allowing him to work as a writer five days a week.
1973: Hugo and Nebula Awards Nomination
In 1973, Martin's story "With Morning Comes Mistfall" was nominated for the Hugo Award and Nebula Awards.
1974: End of VISTA Volunteer Service
In 1974, Martin completed his two years of alternative service as a VISTA volunteer with the Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation.
1975: Marriage to Gale Burnick
In 1975, George R. R. Martin married Gale Burnick after meeting her at an East Coast science fiction convention.
1975: "for a single yesterday" Inclusion in Anthology
In 1975, Martin's story "...for a single yesterday" was selected for inclusion in Epoch, a science fiction anthology edited by Roger Elwood and Robert Silverberg.
1976: Chess Craze Subsides
By 1976, the chess craze subsided, but Martin had become more established as a writer.
1976: English and Journalism Instructor at Clarke University
From 1976, Martin worked as an English and journalism instructor at Clarke University (then Clarke College).
1976: Move to Dubuque
In 1976, George R. R. Martin and his then-wife, Gale Burnick, moved from their Chicago apartment to a house in Dubuque.
1976: Hugo Losers' Party Conceived
In 1976, Martin and Gardner Dozois conceived and organized the first Hugo Losers' Party for past and present Hugo-losing writers, coinciding with Martin's own Hugo nominations for the novelette "...and Seven Times Never Kill Man" and the novella The Storms of Windhaven, co-written with Lisa Tuttle.
1976: Completed First Novel
In 1976, Martin completed his first novel, Dying of the Light, right before he moved to Dubuque.
1977: Southwest Regional Director
From 1977, Martin served as the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) Southwest Regional Director.
1977: Dying of the Light Published
In 1977, Martin's first novel, Dying of the Light, was published. The success of Star Wars also impacted the publishing industry.
1977: Death of Tom Reamy
In late 1977, the sudden death of Martin's friend and fellow author Tom Reamy caused him to reevaluate his life.
1978: Writer In Residence at Clarke University
From 1978, Martin became Writer In Residence at Clarke College.
June 1979: Gale Burnick's Graduation and Move Plans
In June 1979, Gale Burnick graduated from Clarke University. Following her graduation George R.R. Martin resigned from his job and they decided to move to New Mexico.
1979: Resignation and Move to Santa Fe
In 1979, Martin resigned from his job and moved from Dubuque to Santa Fe, New Mexico, seeking to become a full-time writer.
1979: Sandkings
In 1979, Martin wrote Sandkings, which he considered one of his best science fiction-horror hybrids.
1979: End of SFWA Regional Directorship
In 1979, Martin's term as the SFWA Southwest Regional Director ended.
1979: End of Clarke University Residency
In 1979, Martin's time as Writer In Residence at Clarke College concluded.
1980: Nightflyers
In 1980, Martin wrote the novella Nightflyers, which later had its screen and television rights purchased.
September 1981: Parris McBride moves in with Martin
In September 1981, Parris McBride moved in with George R.R. Martin, becoming his longtime partner.
1982: Fevre Dream Published
In 1982, Martin published the vampire novel Fevre Dream, set in the 19th century on the Mississippi River.
1983: "Lost Year" Obsession with Superworld RPG
In 1983, Martin became completely obsessed with Chaosium's role-playing game Superworld, stopping literature writing for most of the year, which he refers to as his "lost year."
1983: The Armageddon Rag Published, Career Impact
In 1983, Martin published The Armageddon Rag, whose commercial failure significantly damaged his career as a novelist.
1984: Offer to Write Haviland Tuf Collection
In 1984, Betsy Mitchell of Baen Books offered Martin a chance to create a collection of Haviland Tuf adventures, which he accepted after The Armageddon Rag's failure.
1984: Nightflyers Rights Purchased
In 1984, Vista purchased the screen and television rights to Martin's novella Nightflyers.
1986: Annual participation in Bubonicon
Since 1986, George R. R. Martin has participated annually in Albuquerque's smaller regional convention Bubonicon, near his New Mexico home.
1987: Portraits of His Children Published, Wild Cards Series
In 1987, Martin published a collection of short horror stories, Portraits of His Children, and continued overseeing the development of the Wild Cards book series.
1987: Nightflyers Film Adaptation
In 1987, the film adaptation of Martin's novella Nightflyers was released, with Martin co-writing the screenplay.
1989: Co-Supervising Producer for Beauty and the Beast
In 1989, Martin became the co-supervising producer for the TV show Beauty and the Beast, and wrote 14 of its episodes.
1991: Return to Novel Writing
In 1991, George R. R. Martin returned to writing novels after becoming frustrated with TV production limitations, such as budgets and episode lengths. Inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien, he desired to write an epic fantasy without the constraints of television.
1996: SFWA Vice-President
From 1996, Martin served as the vice-president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
1996: A Game of Thrones Published
In 1996, George R. R. Martin's first novel in the series "A Song of Ice and Fire", titled "A Game of Thrones", was published.
1998: Bram Stoker Award
In 1998, George Guthridge and Janet Berliner won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in the Novel for their Children of the Dusk.
1998: End of SFWA Vice-Presidency
In 1998, Martin's term as the vice-president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) ended.
2001: "Night of the Vampyres" Published
In 2001, Martin's political-military fiction piece, "Night of the Vampyres", was collected in Harry Turtledove's anthology The Best Military Science Fiction of the 20th Century.
2003: Guest of Honor at World Science Fiction Convention
In 2003, George R. R. Martin was the Guest of Honor at the 61st World Science Fiction Convention in Toronto.
2005: Dubbed "The American Tolkien"
In 2005, Lev Grossman of Time called Martin "the American Tolkien".
2008: Martin did not endorse Barack Obama
In 2008, George R. R. Martin did not endorse Barack Obama.
March 2010: HBO Greenlights Game of Thrones
In March 2010, HBO made the decision to greenlight the "Game of Thrones" series for production, after initial issues with the pilot episode.
June 2010: Production Start of Game of Thrones
In June 2010, production for the "Game of Thrones" series was scheduled to begin after HBO greenlit the series in March 2010.
2010: Publication of Who Fears Death
In 2010, Nnedi Okorafor's science fantasy novel Who Fears Death, later adapted into an HBO television series with Martin as executive producer, was published.
February 15, 2011: Marriage to Parris McBride
On February 15, 2011, George R. R. Martin married Parris McBride in a small ceremony at their Santa Fe home.
April 17, 2011: Game of Thrones Premieres on HBO
On April 17, 2011, the first episode of "Game of Thrones", titled "Winter Is Coming", premiered on HBO in the United States and Canada, initially drawing 2.2 million viewers.
April 19, 2011: HBO Orders Second Season of Game of Thrones
On April 19, 2011, just two days after the series premiere, HBO ordered a second season of "Game of Thrones".
June 2011: Wild Cards Volumes Published
As of June 2011, 21 Wild Cards volumes had been published in the series.
August 19, 2011: Larger Wedding Ceremony and Reception
On August 19, 2011, George R. R. Martin and Parris McBride held a larger wedding ceremony and reception at Renovation, the 69th World Science Fiction Convention.
2011: Game of Thrones Television Series
In 2011, A Song of Ice and Fire was adapted into the Primetime Emmy Award-winning television series Game of Thrones.
2011: Time 100 List Inclusion
In 2011, George R. R. Martin was included on the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.
April 1, 2012: Second Season of Game of Thrones Premieres
On April 1, 2012, the second season of "Game of Thrones" premiered in the United States on HBO.
April 10, 2012: HBO Orders Third Season of Game of Thrones
On April 10, 2012, nine days after the second season's premiere, HBO renewed "Game of Thrones" for a third season.
June 3, 2012: Second Season of Game of Thrones Concludes
On June 3, 2012, the second season of "Game of Thrones" concluded in the United States on HBO, with viewership rising to 4.2 million by the season finale.
July 2012: Production Begins for Game of Thrones Season 3
In July 2012, production for the third season of "Game of Thrones" began.
November 24, 2012: Filming wraps for Season 3
On November 24, 2012, filming concluded in Iceland for the third season of Game of Thrones, which is based on the first half of the novel "A Storm of Swords".
2012: Awards for A Dance with Dragons
In 2012, "A Dance with Dragons" was nominated for several awards and won the Locus Poll Award for Best Fantasy Novel.
2012: Endorsement of Barack Obama
In 2012, George R. R. Martin endorsed Barack Obama for re-election, calling him the most intelligent president since Jimmy Carter.
2012: Tor Contract for Wild Cards Volume 23
In early 2012, Martin signed another Tor contract for the 23rd Wild Cards volume, High Stakes.
March 31, 2013: Game of Thrones Season 3 Premieres on HBO
On March 31, 2013, the third season of "Game of Thrones" premiered on HBO.
April 2, 2013: HBO Orders Fourth Season of Game of Thrones
On April 2, 2013, HBO ordered the fourth season of "Game of Thrones", just two days after the third-season premiere.
June 9, 2013: Game of Thrones Season 3 Concludes on HBO
On June 9, 2013, the third season of "Game of Thrones" concluded on HBO, drawing 14.2 million viewers.
July 2013: Filming Begins for Game of Thrones Season 4
In July 2013, filming commenced for the fourth season of "Game of Thrones".
August 9, 2013: Reopening of Jean Cocteau Cinema
On August 9, 2013, the Jean Cocteau Cinema, owned by George R. R. Martin, officially reopened for business after being completely restored.
November 21, 2013: Filming Completed for Game of Thrones Season 4
On November 21, 2013, filming for the fourth season of "Game of Thrones" was completed.
2013: Martin owned Jean Cocteau Cinema
In 2013, George R. R. Martin owned the Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
April 6, 2014: Game of Thrones Season 4 Premieres
On April 6, 2014, the fourth season of "Game of Thrones" premiered in the United States on HBO.
April 8, 2014: HBO Orders Fifth and Sixth Seasons
On April 8, 2014, following the success of season four, HBO ordered both the fifth and sixth seasons of "Game of Thrones".
June 15, 2014: Game of Thrones Season 4 Concludes
On June 15, 2014, the fourth season of "Game of Thrones" concluded. With its fourth season, Game of Thrones became the most-watched HBO series in history, averaging 18.4 million viewers across multiple platforms.
July 2014: Filming Begins for Seasons 5 and 6
In July 2014, filming began for the fifth and sixth seasons of "Game of Thrones".
2014: Endorsement of Tom Udall
In 2014, George R. R. Martin endorsed Democratic Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico.
2014: Fundraising Campaign on Prizeo
In 2014, George R. R. Martin launched a campaign on Prizeo to raise funds for Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary and the Food Depot of Santa Fe. The campaign raised $502,549.
2014: Martin Uses WordStar on MS-DOS
In 2014, George R. R. Martin revealed in a BBC interview that he uses WordStar editor software on an MS-DOS computer for his writing, disliking spell-check and internet distractions. He uses a separate computer for internet tasks.
2014: Low Ball Published
In 2014, Low Ball, the 22nd volume of Wild Cards, was published by Tor Books.
2014: Showing of 'The Interview' at Jean Cocteau Cinema
In 2014, the Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe, New Mexico, owned by George R. R. Martin, decided to show the film 'The Interview' amidst pressure to pull it from theaters, citing Martin's strong belief in the First Amendment.
January 2015: Pledge to Meow Wolf
In January 2015, George R. R. Martin pledged $2.7 million toward a new art space for Meow Wolf, an arts collective in Santa Fe.
July 2015: Filming Begins for Game of Thrones Season 6
In July 2015, filming for the sixth season of "Game of Thrones" commenced with a budget over $100 million for the entire season, spanning five countries.
August 2016: High Stakes Released
In August 2016, High Stakes, the 23rd Wild Cards volume, was released.
August 31, 2016: Filming Begins for Season 7
On August 31, 2016, filming for the seventh season of "Game of Thrones" began at Titanic Studios in Belfast, delayed due to necessary weather conditions.
December 2016: Speaker at Guadalajara International Book Fair
In December 2016, George R. R. Martin was a key speaker at the Guadalajara International Book Fair 2016 in Mexico, where he provided hints about the next two books in the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series.
2016: Support for Hillary Clinton and Criticism of Donald Trump
In 2016, following Bernie Sanders' defeat, George R. R. Martin supported Hillary Clinton in the presidential election and criticized Donald Trump, comparing him to King Joffrey from 'A Song of Ice and Fire'.
February 2017: Filming Ends for Season 7
In February 2017, filming concluded for the seventh season of "Game of Thrones", which consisted of seven episodes and largely contained original content.
2017: Funding of The Miskatonic Scholarship
In 2017, George R. R. Martin announced that he was funding The Miskatonic Scholarship. This scholarship allows a writer of Lovecraftian cosmic horror to attend the Odyssey Writing Workshop.
2017: Executive Producer for 'Who Fears Death' Adaptation
In 2017, George R. R. Martin confirmed his role as an executive producer for the HBO television series adaptation of Nnedi Okorafor's 2010 science fantasy novel, 'Who Fears Death'.
2017: Recalled Writing Hybrids
In 2017, Martin recalled that he had started writing science fiction-horror hybrids in the late 1970s.
April 2018: Blog Moved to Own Website
In April 2018, George R. R. Martin moved his blog, 'Not a Blog', from Livejournal to his own website.
2018: Martin's Favorite Books
In 2018, George R. R. Martin listed The Lord of the Rings, The Great Gatsby, Gone with the Wind, Great Expectations, Lonesome Dove, Catch-22, and Charlotte's Web as books that changed his life.
May 2019: Endorsement of Joe Biden
In May 2019, George R. R. Martin endorsed Joe Biden for president in 2020.
2019: Opening of Beastly Books
In 2019, George R. R. Martin opened a bookstore named Beastly Books, after Beauty and the Beast, next to Jean Cocteau.
2019: Game of Thrones Concludes
In 2019, the television series Game of Thrones, adapted from A Song of Ice and Fire, concluded its run.
2020: Biden for President
In 2020, George R. R. Martin endorsed Joe Biden for president.
2020: Toastmaster at the Hugo Awards
In 2020, George R. R. Martin served as "toastmaster" of the Hugo Awards. During the event, he mispronounced several names, including that of R. F. Kuang, which she considered a microaggression. Martin later apologized for mispronouncing the names.
2020: Pitch of 'Roadmarks' to HBO
In 2020, George R.R. Martin pitched the TV adaptation of Roger Zelazny's 'Roadmarks' to HBO.
January 2021: Animated Drama Series Announced
In January 2021, an animated drama series was announced as being in development at HBO Max.
February 2021: Development of 'Roadmarks' TV Adaptation
In February 2021, it was reported that George R. R. Martin and Kalinda Vazquez were developing a TV adaptation of Roger Zelazny's 'Roadmarks', which Martin had pitched to HBO in 2020.
March 2021: Overall Deal with HBO
In March 2021, George R. R. Martin signed an overall deal with HBO.
June 2022: Jon Snow Sequel Series in Development
In June 2022, reports indicated that a Jon Snow sequel series, with Kit Harington reprising his role, was in early development at HBO and is working titled Snow, with involvement from George R. R. Martin. Also in June, Martin said there were still three other live-action series in development: 10,000 Ships (written by Amanda Segal), 9 Voyages aka Sea Snake (written by Bruno Heller), and the Dunk & Egg prequel series (written by Steven Conrad), tentatively titled either The Hedge Knight or Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
August 21, 2022: House of the Dragon Premieres
On August 21, 2022, "House of the Dragon", a prequel series based on parts of the novel "Fire & Blood", premiered on HBO, set about 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones".
2022: Contribution to Elden Ring
In 2022, George R. R. Martin contributed to the video game 'Elden Ring', focusing on the worldbuilding aspects of the game.
2022: Martin Estranged from the Show
In 2022, George R. R. Martin mentioned that he had been estranged from the show "Game of Thrones" during the production of the last 4 seasons to focus on writing "The Winds of Winter".
2022: House of the Dragon Premieres and Elden Ring Release
In 2022, House of the Dragon, a prequel series to Game of Thrones, premiered, and George R. R. Martin contributed worldbuilding to the video game Elden Ring.
Mentioned in this timeline
Home Box Office HBO is a flagship American pay television...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
The United States of America is a federal republic located...
Bernie Sanders is a prominent American politician currently serving as...
Guadalajara the capital of Jalisco in western Mexico is a...
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr served as the th U S...
Trending
40 minutes ago Kane Brown to Star alongside Taylor Lautner in 'The Token Groomsman' Rom-Com
40 minutes ago Fenerbahçe vs Konyaspor Match, Mourinho Changes, and Ex-Player's Respectful Goal Celebration
40 minutes ago Blue Origin Launches Six Civilians to Space in New Shepard NS-32 Mission
41 minutes ago Satya Nadella addresses Microsoft layoffs, CPO discusses computer science importance amid job cuts.
41 minutes ago Jasmine Crockett: Republicans' Shocking Messages Fuel Trump Concerns, Acosta's Jailed Fears.
41 minutes ago Simon Yates frustrated by Visma's tactics, chases Giro d'Italia leader amidst chaos.
Popular
Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter was an influential Australian zookeeper...
Cristiano Ronaldo often called CR is a Portuguese professional footballer...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Kendra Scott is a prominent American fashion designer and entrepreneur...
LeBron James nicknamed King James is a professional basketball player...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is an American businessman...