Ever since his fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire was adapted into the hit TV series Game of Thrones by HBO, George R.R. Martin has shot to a level of fame and success that most authors can only dream of. Martin’s brutal but extraordinary fantasy land of Westeros has captured the imagination of millions and arguably paved new ground for the genre.
In 1996, Martin wrote a short introduction for The Faces of Fantasy: Photographs by Pati Perret, in which he eloquently captures why the fantasy genre is one that has endured since humans first began telling stories. From Beowulf to The Hobbit to Harry Potter, fantasy has remained one of fiction’s most popular genres and, in just a few lines, Martin perfectly explains why we humans have always, and will always, continue to dream of far away places where the impossible is possible.
If you often find yourself daydreaming about exploring Middle-Earth, attending Hogwarts, or discovering Narnia at the back of your wardrobe, then check out this video of Martin’s beautiful speech.
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