George R.R. Martin's Blog, page 216

Cage Matches

The Suvudu cage match is going down to the wire. More than 26,000 votes cast, I am astonished to see. Last time I looked Jaime was down about 130 votes. If you'd like to cast a vote or make a comment on the match, go to

http://www.suvudu.com/2010/04/cage-match-2010-championship-5-rand-althor-versus-15-jaime-lannister.html#more

But do it soon. Voting closes at 8pm Eastern.

All this interest in imaginary people fighting other imaginary people while their respective fans pontificate about who w...

Trial of Seven

The epic tournament of fantasy champions on Suvudu is down to its final match: Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, versus Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn.

They're fighting on the tourney grounds outside King's Landing... and on Suvudu:

http://www.suvudu.com/2010/04/cage-match-2010-championship-5-rand-althor-versus-15-jaime-lannister.html#more

Rand has his Heron Mark sword, his channeling ability, the One Power. Jaime has a sword, a lance, a horse. And... since Rand accepted his challenge to m...

Winter Is Coming... Around the Globe

I've received a lot of emails from readers outside the United States, asking if the GAME OF THRONES television series will be shown in their countries.

The answer to that is complicated, and depends in large part on the country.

HBO does have a number of branches, partners, subsidiaries, and affiliates abroad, who take all of their programming. All of those will be showing the series.

In Canada, the show will be seen on HBO Canada, same days and times as in the US.

In Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, ...

Stick 'Em With the Pointy End

Filming on HBO's GAME OF THRONES series will be resuming in June, in Northern Ireland.

Maisie Williams, who will play Arya Stark, is preparing for her part by practicing her needlework. I though you might enjoy seeing these recent pictures of her that her mom was kind enough to send me.



Her sword, of course, is the full-scale replica of Needle produced by the good folks at Valyrian steel.



You can get a Needle for your very own Arya at http://www.valyriansteel.com/

The Taxman Cometh

All the little bits of paper have been dealt with, and my accountant has come and gone. Now the ball is in his park. The only thing left for me to do is write several whopping big checks, once he's crunched the numbers.

Yay! Another monkey off my back.

All I have to do now is write my script for the HBO series, finish editing the new Wild Cards book FORT FREAK, write up my version of the last Suvudu cage match so Jaime doesn't lose to Rand al'Thor, complete A DANCE WITH DRAGONS, review some ...

Rand al'Thor Talks Trash

Courtesy of the wizards at Suvudu, I have just been informed that Rand al'Thor has responded to Ser Jamie Lannister's challenge to make their cage mathc final a Trial of Seven.

Rand's response:

"Ser Lannister, you do not fool me with your 'challenge'—nor do I feel challenged in any way by our upcoming match.

"I will meet on whatever field of battle you deem fit; it makes no difference to me. If you prefer for your people to be able to see your demise, I salute that.

"Bring as many of your warrio...

Clearance Sale at Valyrian Resin

All good things come to an end, alas.

Valyrian Resin's line of Ice & Fire minibusts is one of those. My license with Haute Products has now run its course and expired, so there will be no more releases.

(A pity. Their sculptor Justice Joseph was working up some great figures).

HOUND STANDARD


There's a silver lining in the cloud, however. To move its unsold inventory, Valyrian Resin has just anounced a special sale on the resin minibusts still in stock.

DANY STANDARD


Jed Haigh writes:

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More on Warriors

Robin Hobb, Joe Lansdale, Cecelia Holland, and Carrie Vaughn talk about the inspiration for their contributions to WARRIORS on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist:

http://fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com/2010/04/little-more-information-on-warriors.html

Mouthing Off

There's a new interview/ podcast with me just up at Gamer's Haven:

http://www.gamershavenpodcast.com/eparchive/interview009georgerrmartin.mp3

Those of you who aren't sick of me mouthing off yet should check it out.

Hugo Nominations

This year's Hugo nominations are out:

http://www.aussiecon4.org.au/index.php?page=66