(1948- ) US editor and writer whose career can be divided into four overlapping parts, in more or less chronological order: as a writer of sf; as a writer and producer for television; as an editor of original Anthologies; and as a dominant creator of dynasty fantasy. He began to publish work of genre interest with "The Hero" for Galaxy in February 1971, and his success was thereafter rapid. "A Song for Lya" (June 1974 Analog), a novella about a human convert to an alien Religion whose Eschatology is based in Biology, won the first of his four Hugos to date; three others followed for "Sandkings" (August 1979 Omni), which also won a Nebula, "The Way of Cross and Dragon" (June 1979 Omni) and "Blood of the Dragon" (July 1996 Asimov's). He won a second Nebula in 1986 for "Portraits of his Children" (November 1985 Asimov's), and a Bram Stoker Award for The Pear-Shaped Man (October 1987 Omni; 1991 chap). Other notable early stories include a short series about an unusual form of interstellar Transportation begun with "The Second Kind of Loneliness" (December 1972 Analog), and another begun with "Override" (September 1973 Analog), about the commercial exploitation of Zombies. Perhaps because of his training as a journalist and his employment in the mid-1970s as a teacher of journalism, Martin in his period as sf author seemed most comfortable with stories which are fast-paced and economical. "Nightflyers" (April 1980 Analog), a Horror in SF story set aboard a spaceship and involving a Computer impressed with human Psi Powers, is another outstanding novella, very unevenly filmed as Nightflyers (1987).
His first solo (and most significant sf) novel, Dying of the Light (April-July 1977 Analog as "After the Festival"; 1977), is a vivid Planetary Romance set on a drifting planet which, while passing close by a sun, has been the site of a huge festival; some short stories are set in the same universe. Windhaven (May 1975 Analog as "The Storms of Windhaven"; exp 1981) with Lisa Tuttle, also a Planetary Romance, is set on a lost colony planet that has reverted to feudalism. Fevre Dream (1982) is a tale of Vampires and Mississippi steamboats whose realistic treatment owes as much to sf as to supernatural fiction. The Armageddon Rag (1983) is a thriller in which the kind of outcome imagined in Norman Spinrad's "The Big Flash" (in Orbit 5, anth 1969, ed Damon Knight) – an apocalypse triggered by ritual murder – is aborted in the nick of time. His most substantial sf project is the series collected in Tuf Voyaging (coll of linked stories 1986), about the problem-solving exploits of an ecological engineer whose "seedship" – a vast Starship containing a multi-species cell library plus extensive Cloning and Genetic Engineering facilities – is a relic of the bygone Galactic Empire.
In the late 1980s Martin moved into television, first writing for the new The Twilight Zone series (1985-1987) and then becoming heavily involved with the development of Beauty and the Beast. In parallel with these enterprises he launched Wild Cards, a set of Braided tales placed in an Alternate History – though the premise of the Wild Cards sequence is rather more sophisticated than most such in Comics – starring Superheroes; the possibility of trademark infringement forced the substitution of the term "Ace" for "Superhero". This Shared-World anthology series (Martin prefers the label "mosaic novels", on the grounds that individual volumes are more coherently organized than in most such anthologies) currently (2010) extends to at least eighteen volumes, beginning with Wild Cards: A Mosaic Novel (anth 1986; vt Wildcards 1987). Martin earlier edited the notable New Voices series of Anthologies of novellas by the nominees for the John W Campbell Award for Best New Writer (of which he was himself one), beginning New Voices in Science Fiction (anth 1977; vt New Voices I: The Campbell Award Nominees 1978), New Voices II (anth 1979), New Voices III (anth 1980), New Voices 4 (anth 1981) and The John W. Campbell Awards Volume 5 (anth 1984).
His most ambitious project may be his most recent, the intense and extensive Song of Ice and Fire sequence of Fantasy novels set in a taxing Secondary World [see The Encyclopedia of Fantasy under links below], and comprising to date A Game of Thrones (1996), A Clash of Kings (1998), A Storm of Swords (2000), A Feast for Crows: Book Four of A Song of Ice and Fire (2005) and A Dance with Dragons (2011) [for further details see Checklist below]. Though the sequence is essentially fantasy-based, Martin has set his harrowing dynasty drama on a planet more specifically described than in most fantasy epics; the ten-year winter which afflicts the huge cast inexplicitly (but unmistakably) evokes a solar system understandable in terms of Physics (> Great Year). Song of Ice and Fire, originally designed to occupy four sizeable volumes, has expanded enormously, without any slackening of tension or pace.
Martin is a vigorous storyteller with a flair for vivid imagery. All of his collections – A Song for Lya and Other Stories (coll 1976), Songs of Stars and Shadows (coll 1977), Sandkings (coll 1981), Songs the Dead Men Sing (coll 1983; cut 1985), Nightflyers (coll 1985), Portraits of his Children (coll 1987) and Quartet: Four Tales from the Crossroads (coll 2001) – contain striking work. His own output declined for some time, during his years of concentrated editorial work, but new stories continue to appear. Everything he writes conveys a sense – not entirely common – of great energy fully under control. He is a 2012 recipient of the World Fantasy Award for life achievement. [BS/JC]
see also: Aliens; Asimov's Science Fiction; Astounding Science-Fiction; Black Holes; Crime and Punishment; Dinosaurs; Fermi Paradox; Gothic SF; Heroes; Hyperspace; Music; Omni; Seiun Award; Skylark Award; Superman; Television; Yinhe Award.
George Raymond Richard Martin
born Bayonne, New Jersey: 20 September 1948
died
works
series
Song of Ice and Fire
individual titles
- Dying of the Light (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1977) [hb/Haruo Miyauchi]
- Windhaven (New York: Timescape Books, 1981) with Lisa Tuttle [hb/Vincent Di Fate]
- Fevre Dream (New York: Poseidon Press, 1982) [hb/Barron Storey]
- The Armageddon Rag (New York: Poseidon Press/Nemo Press, 1983) [hb/Milton Charles]
- Tuf Voyaging (Riverside, New York: Baen Books, 1986) [coll of linked stories: hb/David Willson]
- Shadow Twin (Burton, Michigan: Subterranean Press, 2005) with Daniel Abraham and Gardner Dozois [chap: date of prior ebook release not known: hb/Michael Kormack]
- Hunter's Run (London: HarperCollins, 2007) with Daniel Abraham and Gardner Dozois [rev vt, much exp, of the above: hb/photographic: Tony Sweet/Getty Images]
collections and stories
- A Song for Lya and Other Stories (New York: Avon Books, 1976) [coll: pb/Patrick Woodroffe]
- Songs of Stars and Shadows (New York: Pocket Books, 1977) [coll: pb/]
- Sandkings (New York: Pocket Books/Timescape, 1981) [coll: pb/Rowena Morrill]
- Sandkings (no place given: Fictionwise, 2001) [story: ebook: cut version of the above: title story only, first published in Omni, August 1979: na/]
- Songs the Dead Men Sing (Arlington Heights, Illinois: Dark Harvest, 1983) [coll: hb/Paul Sonju]
- Nightflyers (New York: Dell Books, 1981) [chap: dos: first published in Analog, April 1980: as Binary Star No 5: pb/George Tsui]
- Nightflyers (New York: Bluejay Books, 1985) [coll: exp of the above as coll: pb/James Warhola]
- Portraits of his Children (Arlington Heights, Illinois: Dark Harvest, 1987) [coll: hb/Ron Lindahn and Val Lakey Lindahn]
- The Pear-Shaped Man (Eugene, Oregon: Pulphouse Publishing, 1991) [story: first published in 1987 in Omni: pb/George Barr]
- Quartet: Four Tales from the Crossroads (Framingham, Massachusetts: The NESFA Press, 2001) [coll: hb/Charles Vess]
- The Ice Dragon (New York: Tor Starscape, 2006) [novella: first published in Dragons of Light (anth 1980) edited by Orson Scott Card: pb/Yvonne Gilbert]
- Fast-Friend (Burton, Illinois: Subterranean Press, 2008) [dos: bound with Starlady below: hb/Martina Pilcerova]
- Starlady (Burton, Illinois: Subterranean Press, 2008) [dos: bound with Fast-Friend above: hb/Martina Pilcerova]
works as editor
series
New Voices
Wild Cards (not all title variations have necessarily been recorded)
- Wild Cards: A Mosaic Novel (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1986) [anth: Wild Cards: pb/Stan Watts]
- Wildcards (New York: Science Fiction Book Club, 1987) [anth: vt of the above: Wild Cards: hb/]
- Wild Cards II: Aces High (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1987) [anth: Wild Cards: pb/Richard Kriegler]
- Wild Cards 2 (New York: Pocket/ibooks, 2001) [anth: rev vt of the above: with new introduction: Wild Cards: pb/Brian Bolland]
- Wild Cards III: Jokers Wild: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1987) [anth: Wild Cards: pb/Richard Kriegler]
- Wild Cards IV: Aces Abroad: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1988) [anth: Wild Cards: pb/Richard Kriegler]
- Wild Cards V: Down and Dirty: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1988) [anth: Wild Cards: pb/Frank Riley]
- Wild Cards VI: Ace in the Hole: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel with Melinda M Snodgrass (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1988) [novel by Snodgrass solo: Wild Cards: pb/Timothy Truman]
- Wild Cards VII: Dead Man's Hand: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1990) with John J Miller and Melinda M Snodgrass [anth: Wild Cards: pb/Timothy Truman]
- Wild Cards VIII: One-Eyed Jacks: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1991) with Melinda M Snodgrass [anth: Wild Cards: pb/Timothy Truman]
- Wild Cards IX: Jokertown Shuffle: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1991) with Melinda M Snodgrass [anth: Wild Cards: pb/Timothy Truman]
- Wild Cards X: Double Solitaire: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1992) with Melinda M Snodgrass [anth: Wild Cards: pb/]
- Wild Cards XI: Dealer's Choice: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1992) with Melinda M Snodgrass [anth: Wild Cards: pb/Timothy Truman]
- Wild Cards: Card Sharks: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (New York: Baen Books, 1993) [anth: Wild Cards: pb/]
- Wild Cards: Marked Cards: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (New York: Baen Books, 1994) [anth: Wild Cards: pb/]
- Wild Cards: Black Trump: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (New York: Baen Books, 1995) with Melinda M Snodgrass [anth: Wild Cards: pb/Barclay Shaw]
- Wild Cards: Deuces Down (New York: Pocket/ibooks, 2002) [anth: Wild Cards: pb/Jim Steranko]
- Wild Cards: Inside Straight (New York: Tor, 2008) [anth: Wild Cards: hb/Michael Komarck]
- Wild Cards: Busted Flush (New York: Tor, 2008) [anth: Wild Cards: hb/Michael Komarck]
- Wild Cards: Suicide Kings (New York: Tor, 2009) [anth: Wild Cards: hb/Michael Komarck]
- Wild Cards: Fort Freak (New York: Tor, 2011) [anth: Wild Cards: hb/Hermes Technologies/Jupiterimages]
individual titles
- The Science Fiction Weight-Loss Book (New York: Crown, 1983) with Isaac Asimov and Martin H Greenberg [anth: hb/]
- Night Visions 3 (Arlington Heights, Illinois: Dark Harvest, 1986) [anth: in the Night Visions sequence by various editors: hb/Stephen Gervais]
- Songs of the Dying Earth (Burton, Michigan: Subterranean Press, 2009) with Gardner Dozois [anth: Jack Vance: hb/]
- Warriors (New York: Tor, 2010) with Gardner Dozois [coll: hb/]
- Warriors 1 (New York: Tor, 2011) with Gardner Dozois [anth: cut vt of the above: containing the first third: pb/]
- Warriors 2 (New York: Tor, 2011) with Gardner Dozois [anth: cut vt of the above: containing the second third: pb/]
- Warriors 3 (New York: Tor, 2011) with Gardner Dozois [anth: cut vt of the above: containing the final third: pb/]
- Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love (New York: Gallery Books, 2010) with Gardner Dozois [anth: hb/]
- Down These Strange Streets (New York: Ace Books, 2011) with Gardner Dozois [anth: hb/]
about the author
links
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