WheneverGeorge R. R. Martinis brought up, the jokes about The Winds of Winter, the upcoming novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, are never far behind. The last book, A Dance with Dragons, was published the same year thatGame of Thronesstarted to air, andMartin can do little else without The Winds of Winter being mentioned.
So, it’s a relief to see a positive story for a change, as fans mobilise to show Martin some love. The PureASOIAF community - a group of fans who solely discuss Martin’s work,not the TV adaptations- put together a book, full of messages and thank yous from fans, as well as accounts detailing how his work has impacted their lives. Now, we have confirmation that he’s received the book, so he can pore over the almost 1,000 submissions that fans sent in.
A Song Of Ice And Fire Fans Thank George R. R. Martin For His Work
“In late January 2024, PureASOIAF began a project to spread joy and thanks to George for his work,” readsa postfrom PureASOIAF administrator Jon-Umber. “The request immediately exploded into nearly 1,000 letters from fans across the globe, in various languages. We received sincere wishes from popular YouTubers, received art from several well-known official artists and unofficial fan artists, and more. Folks submitted deeply personal and moving accounts of how the series affected them and bettered their lives.”
Due to how personal and moving these tributes were, it was decided that they would all be put into a physical book, rather than just sent over to Martin online. This proved to be difficult, and various production issues pushed the project back and inflated the cost even further. But ultimately, it was complete in May and sent over to Martin.
“Contrary to popular belief, very little bad-mannered entries had to be edited out of this effort,” Jon-Umber continues. “Of the nearly 1,000 letters we received, fewer than a dozen were overly negative or trolling. The vast majority were genuine well-wishing and thanks—Which was amazing to see and directly contradicts the notion that ASOIAF’s fan community is toxic, aggressive, and bitter.
“So thank you, PureASOIAF, for showing your true colors as wonderful, altruistic, and thankful folks.”
Whatever the fandom, it’s great to see a community come together for something positive like this. Hopefully, this put a smile on Martin’s face, and eases any pressure he may feel as he continues to work on The Winds of Winter and its follow-ups.
