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George R.R. Martin is a huge fan ofThe Lord of the Rings, and while his most popular work,A Song of Ice and Fire, always gets compared to J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, he reiterated that the English author was not a huge influence on the saga.
It’s easy to see the resemblance and much easier to assume that Martin took inspiration from Tolkien. After all, their stories are set during medieval times with many similar tropes and elements. Both also deal with themes of fantasy and historical fiction, with heroes and villains and mythical creatures.
Who influenced George R.R. Martin if it’s not J.R.R. Tolkien?
Game of ThronesauthorGeorge R.R. Martinnever shied away from admitting his love forJ.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings. Its profound impact on him shaped his fascination for literature and the fantasy genre. In fact, he believes the famed book series is the greatest among modern fantasy titles.
Many times he has been asked if he’s read Tolkien’s works and how it influenced his writing. Of course, he has read them in his adolescent years, but he asserted that they hadno immediate impactonA Song of Ice and Fire. “Tolkien wasn’t a direct influence to me when I decided to write A Song of Ice and Fire although my books are in the fantasy canon,” he toldAdria’s News.
George R.R. Martin: Original Plan for Game of Thrones Was to Make It a “Four-book trilogy”
Interestingly, he described his own novels as “dirty fantasy” and rawer than that of Tolkien’s. Well, anyone who has read or watchedGame of Throneswould certainly agree. IfThe Silmarillionauthor wasn’t an influence on Martin’s books, then who was? John Vance, the author ofThe Dying EarthandThe Lyonesse Trilogy.
He spoke highly of this writer in aninterviewand admitted that among the many writers he looks up to, Vance is his idol. “There’s a lot of other writers that I admire, too. I think Jack Vance is probably my favorite fantasy and science fiction author,” he explained.
This makes more sense because Vance’s stories feature morally ambiguous characters in a dark, morbid world. Even the violent scenes are told matter-of-factly that they give off a vibe of an almost regular occurrence. This is quite evident inGame of Thrones, and now it’s easy to see why Martin loves this author so much.
George R.R. Martin’s critique of Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings
Even fans criticize the people they admire, and Martin did so with Tolkien’s books in an interview at theToronto International Film Festival. One of his main concerns was the author’s illustration of good and evil. He pointed out how easy it is to figure out the heroes and villains inThe Lord of the Ringsbecause of their appearances. Bad guys are usually ugly and dressed in black, while good ones are notably attractive.
‘Game of Thrones’ Has Its Own Version of Gollum but Only Hardcore ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Fans Will Realize It
This isn’t the case withGame of Thrones. Evil can have a pretty face, and we’ve seen that in the show, and those with physical deformities can sometimes have the kindest of hearts.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3531
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
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Game of Thronesgeorge rr martinJRR TolkienThe Lord of the Rings
