Own the Iron Throne

June 9, 2012 at 6:23 pm

In Westeros they have to fight and kill and scheme for the Iron Throne.

Out here in the real world, you can just buy it.

The HBO Shop is offering a full-sized (yes) replica of the Iron Throne for sale. You can own your very own for a mere $30,000. Plus shipping and handling:

http://store.hbo.com/game-of-thrones-life-size-replica-iron-throne/detail.php?p=373634&v=hbo_shows_game-of-thrones&ecid=SMM-HBO-00396&pa=SMM-HBO-00396

I don’t who keeps records of these things, but this may well be the largest and most expensive item of merchandising ever offered for a TV show. Unless STAR TREK sold a full-sized flyable ENTERPRISE when I wasn’t looking.

Hey, maybe if they sell enough of these, they will do the Painted Table next!

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Tags: game of thrones, hbo

Audiobooks Times Three

June 9, 2012 at 5:37 pm

Some cool news for those of you who like listening to books as well as reading them… Random House Audio will be producing brand-new audiobook versions of three of my older novels. If you’re not familiar with any of the work I did before A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE… well, here’s your chance to sample some of it.

And we’ve got some great narrators lined up to read the books as well… names that should need no introduction for fans of HBO’s GAME OF THRONES series.

RON DONACHIE (Ser Rodrik Cassel) will be reading my historical horror novel, FEVRE DREAM.

MICHELLE FAIRLEY (Lady Catelyn Stark) will read WINDHAVEN, the SF adventure I wrote with my dear friend and collaborator Lisa Tuttle.

IAIN GLEN (Ser Jorah Mormont) will be doing the honors and reading my first novel, DYING OF THE LIGHT, a romantic SF tale set in my “Thousand Worlds” history.

These won’t be out for a while yet — recording sessions have to be scheduled, etc — but I will be sure and let you know when they are, so you can give a listen.

It’s a thrill for me to have these three great actors bringing my characters to life again.

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Tags: audiobooks, game of thrones

Last Chance for Longclaw

June 1, 2012 at 11:43 am

Just got a note from Chris Beasley at Valyrian Steel.

He writes, “Just wanted to let you know that Longclaw is almost permanently sold out. I do not expect it to last through the month of June.”

So if perchance you’re one of the folks who has been saving your dimes and nickles to pick up one of the Longclaw replicas, act now, or you may soon be out of luck. These swords are limited editions, so once they are gone, they are gone. Valyrian Steel will not be making any more.

(I should add that Valyrian Steel has obtained a license from HBO to produce replicas of the weapons seen on the TV series, so they will be producing a “show Longclaw” at some point down the line. I don’t believe that one will be a limited run. This post relates only to their current version of Jon Snow’s blade, produced under a direct license from me — the “book Longclaw,” that is. That’s the one that is almost sold out).

To order, head over to the Valyrian Steel website at
http://www.valyriansteel.com/shop/

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Tags: limited editions, valyrian steel

Back from Montana

May 30, 2012 at 11:09 am

Back home again from Missoula, Montana, where I spent the weekend as GOH at Miscon 26.

’twas my first trip to Montana, and I can’t say I really saw much of it, but Missoula was a pleasant little city, and the con itself was great. They drew 1300 people, I’m told, a record for Miscon, and I think all of them had a great time. I know I did. Miscon fen party like we did in the old days, and the hotel — Ruby’s, a small indy with local ownership — was really great. None of the nonsense with noise complaints and shutting down parties and elevators that has plagued so many cons of late. In fact, some of the hotel management partied with us.

So a tip of the hat to Justin, Cthulhu Bob, Clay, and the rest of the Miscon Miscreants, and to Tim, Dustan, and Vicky from Ruby’s. You were great.

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Tags: conventions, travel

Best TV Program

May 23, 2012 at 11:58 pm

Hey, listen up, true believers.

GAME OF THRONES won the Stan Lee Award for Best Television Program.

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/05/scott-snyder-and-sara-pichelli-dominate-stan-lee-awards/

It’s not a No-Prize, but it’s pretty cool.

‘Nuff said.

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Tags: game of thrones, hbo

Social Gaming

May 22, 2012 at 10:21 am

I don’t know much about social media. I don’t have a facebook or twitter account. But I’ve been told a few people have them, and that some of those people like to play social media games. I’m told the biggest social media game involves running a farm.

Surely, I thought, there must be something one could do on social media that would be more fun that growing turnips and feeding chickens. Like, say, scheming and plotting, murders and marriages, contesting for power.

HBO shared the feeling, and together we have granted the license for a social media game based on GAME OF THRONES to a great new start-up company called Disruptor Beam ((http://disruptorbeam.com/ )) Game development is already well under way.

Jon Radoff, CEO of Disruptor Beam, says:

“This will be the first Facebook game based on the TV series and books and, trust me, this game isn’t just going to be another Farmville! George RR Martin is working very closely with Disruptor Beam to ensure the game will deliver an authentic experience. I can tell you that it will not only be highly story and character-driven, but Game of Thrones Ascent will give you the chance to experience the world from your own perspective and with your own friends.”

“Sounds fun, right!? Want to know more? Well, additional information about the game will be released in the coming months, including details about how to participate in a pre-release beta program. To follow its progress, be sure to !œlike! Game of Thrones Ascent on Facebook (http://facebook.com/gameofthronesascent) or follow on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/GoTAscent).”

I saw several early versions of the game demonstrated, and Jon and his designers took great pains to make sure the flavor of the novels is here. I saw alliance building, treachery, marriages, murders, and most of all the constant struggle to be the greatest house in Westeros.

So create a character, pick a liege lord to swear to, and start playing the game the way Tyrion would, because in this game you win or you die.

(No turnips will be involved).

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Tags: game of thrones, videogame

Next Sunday

May 21, 2012 at 5:46 pm

Coming next Sunday, to a television near you.

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I’ll be watching from Montana.

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Tags: game of thrones, hbo

Extras, Extras

May 18, 2012 at 11:26 am

I get emails all the time from fans who want to be on GAME OF THRONES.

Here’s your chance. The call has gone out for extras for season three.

https://www.extrasni.com/news

Of course, it helps if you actually live in Northern Ireland.

Or the Republic of Ireland.

Or Scotland or England or the Isle of Man… y’know, someplace where you can actually get to the shoot. If you’re in South Africa, Brazil, or Japan, your chances of getting a call are not good, alas.

On the other hand, if you’re a bearded long-haired amputee from Derry, you should be gold.

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Tags: game of thrones, hbo

Game of Thrones RPG

May 15, 2012 at 12:07 pm

Cyanide http://www.cyanide-studio.com/games/got/ has released their new Game of Thrones Role Playing Game today, on Xbox, PlayStation 3, and PC. I’m excited because this has been a long journey, from concept art and story outlines, to the demo I was shown a year ago, to what is now a complete game getting some positive notice http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/04/24/five-reasons-cyanides-game-of-thrones-rpg-actually-looks-pretty-awesome/

I admit, I haven’t played a lot of the newer games, but I liked the look of the demo a lot. The armor is battered, the weapons are scarred, and the towns looked muddy and lived in.

Here’s a short behind the scenes video detailing some of the process.

<lj-embed id=”301″/>

I got to approve a lot of concept art and story choices ahead of time, and I hope the players will feel like the final result fits in well with the story I’ve told in the books.

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Tags: cyanide, game of thrones, videogame

Speaking of Limited Editions…

May 12, 2012 at 3:21 pm

(Which we were, a couple posts down)

… Subterranean Press will soon be published a new signed, limited, slipcased limited edition of my first novel, DYING OF THE LIGHT, lavishly illustrated by the amazing Tom Kidd.

You can order your own copy from the SubPress website, here:

http://www.subterraneanpress.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=martin10&Category_Code=PRE&Product_Count=24

Also, Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist is giving away a copy for FREE in one of their contests. To enter, go here:

http://fantasyhotlist.blogspot.ca/2012/05/win-copy-of-limited-edition-of-george-r.html

Good luck to all, and enjoy the read.

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Tags: limited editions, subterranean

Not a Blog

Own the Iron Throne

Audiobooks Times Three

Last Chance for Longclaw

Back from Montana

Best TV Program

Social Gaming

Next Sunday

Extras, Extras

Game of Thrones RPG

Speaking of Limited Editions…

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