George R. R. Martin

George Raymond Richard Martin (sometimes called GRRM by fans; born September 20, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey) is an American writer of science fiction and fantasy, and also a screenwriter and producer. He has been an instructor in journalism (in which he holds a master's degree) and a chess tournament director.

Related Topics:
September 20 - 1948 - Bayonne, New Jersey - American - Science fiction - Fantasy - Journalism - Master's degree - Chess

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Martin was a prolific author of short fiction in the 1970s, and won several Hugo Awards and Nebula Awards before he started to turn his attention to novels late in the decade. Although much of his work is fantasy or horror, a number of his earlier works are science fiction occurring in a loosely-defined future history.

Related Topics:
1970s - Hugo Award - Nebula Award - Horror - Future history

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the 1980s he turned to work in television and as an editor. On television, he worked on the new Twilight Zone series, as well as Beauty and the Beast. As an editor, he oversaw the lengthy Wild Cards cycle, which took place in a shared universe in which an alien virus bestowed strange powers or disfigurements on a slice of humanity during World War II, affecting the history of the world thereafter (the premise was perhaps inspired by comic book superheroes). Contributors to the Wild Cards series included Stephen Leigh, Lewis Shiner, Howard Waldrop, Walter Jon Williams and Roger Zelazny. His own contributions to the series often featured Thomas Tudbury, "The Great and Powerful Turtle," a powerful psychokinetic who used VW Beetles as armor.

Related Topics:
1980s - Twilight Zone - Beauty and the Beast - Wild Cards - Shared universe - World War II - Comic book - Superhero - Stephen Leigh - Lewis Shiner - Howard Waldrop - Walter Jon Williams - Roger Zelazny - Psychokinetic - VW Beetle

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Martin's short story of the same name was adapted into the feature film Nightflyers (1987).

Related Topics:
Nightflyers - 1987

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1996 Martin returned to writing novel-length stories, beginning his lengthy cycle A Song of Ice and Fire (ostensibly inspired by The War of the Roses), to great critical acclaim.

Related Topics:
1996 - A Song of Ice and Fire

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~