Just hung out together too. The Wild Card series edited by Martin is based on a super hero RPG he ran with a bunch of his author buddies in the 80s. Basically the authors wrote short stories about their own characters and that evolved in the series.
A lot of people think cons are a recent thing, but they've been around for decades. These people all wrote for the same magazines, had the same editors, went to the same conventions. It's pretty cool.
I got to sit at dinner with George Martin when he and I were both guests at the Lucca Comics & Games convention in Italy in 2007, where he casually dropped that HBO was picking up A Song Of Ice & Fire as a TV show with a "one season per book" premise. He was the lovable old nerd that you see here in the interview, and was gracious with his time. It's why I just can't be mad about never getting to read the final books!
Other personal note is that I have been a huge Roger Zelazny since I was a kid and my Dad started shoving his paperbacks at me. He was listed as a guest at a summer convention in 1995, but sadly he became very ill and died before I got that chance to meet him and thank him for his work.
From every story I’ve heard he’s suppose to be a real nice guy who is willing to “shoot the shit” with fans for hours if you catch him when he’s not busy. Exception to the rule is if you harass him about when the next book is coming out.
@@nilus2kI feel so anxious for the guy because I can imagine just how much pressure that even is. If I ever meet him I would probably just want to give him a hug and leave it as that.
@@brianhobaugh you know... I was wondering for 2 weeks if I'm nit just a very creepy person with this comment lol! But yea I just feel like this guy needs a hug more than people that ask him so many questions about this world he tells stories about in appreciation for his work.
Aw, he looks so happy talking about books he loves, by people he loves. It's like the time Stephen Colbert was talking to Stephen King about Lord of the Rings. And such a good pitch for seeking out and reading that whole series.
Ok, this is so frickin cool. Do you all think that Dom being able to interview GRRM is due to all the good karma he must've acrewed due to reviewing and suffering through the 50 shades movies , books and due to the fact. He honestly gave twilight a chance to reappraise it honestly and not just discount it?
I have several pain syndromes. On my first visit to one pain specialist he kept asking “Well, what’s it like? Describe it to me.” He apparently didn’t like my answers because he kept asking. And asking. I finally rather snapped and brought out a long quote from one of G.R.R. Martin’s story, The Glass Flower. “What can you say about pain? Words can trace only the shadow of the thing itself. The reality of hard, sharp physical pain is like nothing else, and it is beyond language. The world is too much with us, day and night, but when we hurt, when we really hurt, the world melts and fades and becomes a ghost, a dim memory, a silly unimportant thing…” It continues. He was quiet for a bit, then asked what I had been quoting because he thought it was probably the best, rather poetic description of pain he’d ever heard. Thank you, Mr. Martin, for shutting that particular doctor up and making him actually listen to me.
Thanks for giving us George on his favorite Sci-Fi. He has such a great knowledge of the amazing 70s & 80s books, some of which have fallen out of fashion recently.
Yes, I really wish we had more interviews of him just discussing fantasy and sci-fy that he likes instead of the same old questions about ASOIAF that he has answered a thousand+ times.
I feel like GRRM had such a good time on this, like I don't know about anybody else but somebody getting so excited about one of my favorites books would just make me happy
Omg I was obsessed with Roger Zelazny when I was younger, it almost felt like a jump scare to hear him talk about it. Absolutely wild! I can definitely see the inspiration though.
Opps commented too soon, I didnt know about the show being developed! The title always bothered me as well. I vote for something along the lines of "The Children of Amber".
HOLY SHIT! This is amazing Dom! Been watching you for years and have been a part-time Patreon (when I can afford it); it's incredible to see you interacting with an author you've reviewed. I'd love to see you talk to Ransom Riggs or Rick Riordan; lets keep the R.R. thing going apparently lol
I humbly disagree, I enjoyed the Heroes Of Olympus series w/ the Roman plot line even more than the PJ series. I also really enjoyed the Trials of Apollo series, it was fun seeing 'humanism' from the Gods side, even if the girl he had to answer to was more than a bit annoying.
I discovered your channel because of your ASoIaF/GoT comparison videos, so this is especially surreal to me. Congrats dude, you deserve to meet such literary legends.
I read the first book back in 1993 at the behest of a friend who was wanting to run an Amber DRPG campaign. Ended up staying up until I finished it and went to the library to find the next one the day after.
The Amber Chronicles is my husband's favorite book series. We just watched this together. What a lovely interview! (We even named one of our kids Corwin.)
I know it was about 30 years ago, but hearing the fondness that he talks about his friend with, I'm truly sorry he lost someone that seemed to bring out the best in both of them. I've not yet read a book by Martin, but I feel Ive learned a lot about him just from how he speaks of his friend. Also, having a writer's meetup every first Friday sounds awesome! I once had been invited by my high school English teacher (along with a few other students she'd selected) to go on a writing excursion around the city. We walked to a few locations and wrote something about the place (it could be fictional or non-fiction, whatever we wanted). Most of everyone else there were adults, so it was really cool as a "kid" getting to be around those who were older and hear their in-the-moment writing. I think after each location, we reconvened and read what we'd written. I don't really write anymore, but I too would've liked to have been a fly on the wall when Martin and the other writers were discussing ideas. Great way to fuel the creative juices, lol.
One of my very favorite authors (Roger Zelazny,) and series/books growing up late 70s and early 80s. Actually had an assignment for an English Class, to write a letter to an Author you enjoyed and say hello and let them know what you liked (and perhaps didn't) about their work. I picked Roger as I was reading the Amber series and was thoroughly loving/enjoying it ! Roger actually sent me a hand written post card from a Hyatt Regency hotel, I believe in San Francisco. He said he'd received my letter and thanked me and encouraged me continue dabbling with my own creative writing. Blew my mind as an early teen to receive a personal correspondence from him. Still most grateful for him taking the time and say hello to a young fan like myself! Wish I'd had the change to see him at a convention at some point. Wish his family the very best! And encourage any lovers of fantasy/scifi to check out the Amber series and any of the other books the George mentioned here in this fantastic interview! Thank you both for having and posting this! Much appreciated!!! 😎👍
Oh my gosh. Lord of Light was my favorite book when I was a teenager. I wrote fan mail to Roger Zelazny (never got an answer, darn it). Then there was this period where fantasy overtook science fiction in the publishing world - I wasn't happy, I loved Tolkein, but everyone else seemed a pale comparison - anyhow when RZ started the Amber series, I thought he was selling out, and I gave up on him. Perhaps in my old age, I should give Amber another chance. But I definitely need to get Lord of Light out and read it again. Thanks so much for this!
I'm so glad we can see this. Such an interesting interview. Fascinating. It's ovely to see you talk about book you like. And of course its amazing to learn about all these iconic people, hear about them hunging out. George sharing these moments is so precious. So, yes, this was very interesting, touching and fun video. Thank you!
I'm legitimately more hyped to think that Dom visited NM as cool as the interview with GRRM is. Even if you only got to see Santa Fe, I hope it treated you well and you consider a return visit! Also, another great one by Zelazny is A Night in the Lonesome October. My wife grew up with it and now we read it together every year. Would be very short to get through all at once but the chapters are broken up by days of the month so it makes a really fun read a day at a time leading up to Halloween.
Ive been lucky enough to have been in community with lots of older artists and they all talk like this. Just happy to reminisce about a life time of getting to know other people who just did what they loved. Im so happy for GRRMs continued success. Maybe now ill finally read princes of amber lol.
I've loved Zelazny and his Amber books since my mom randomly bought me one of his books and, ironically, one of Samuel R Delaney's books as well, when I was 9 years old. I read them in the Russian translation first, then after moving to the US I devoured every book I could find, especially by Zelazny. My respect for Martin (and for Stephen Colbert!) just shot up into the stratosphere.
Such a cool conversation! Really enjoyed hearing George's insights on 70s and 80s sci-fi/fantasy history. I had to stop partway through for spoilers since I think I want to read the books now. Thanks Dom & George!
@JamieChambers you said it wonderfully and perfectly "lovable old nerd". Also, when you hear Stephen Colbert attached to this future series in which George is giving his blessings. I am sooooo getting excited about "stick to the story" high fantasy quality work coming soon. I've watched Dom for awhile, what a joy to see this interview.
This is so cool...good job! Have you ever considered doing Lost in adaption for the Expanse series? I'm reading the books right now and they did an amazing adaption
You know i think RR Martin loved this, its very rare to be interviewed by a person who loves the books and actually knows A LOT about them. Makes it more fun .
I love '9 Princes'! I read it ...when it was new - and never realized he wrote more in the series. Since he wrote so many stand-alone novels this did not surprise me. Then I found out and was delighted. The 5 Corwin books are still some of my favorites. I adored this episode of the book club!
Neil Gaiman has said that Zelazny was one of his greatest influences. I read a lot of his books when I was younger including the Amber series, well worth reading. Hillerman's books are great too, sort of a mix between a police procedural and delving into the life and folklore of the native american people of the American South West, chiefly the Navajo nation.
In so excited to finally see this interview! My nephew had some close interactions with Mr George about the time he transferred to the Art & Design College or a similar school in Santa Fe studying theatre, and may have had some early involvement in Game of Thrones &/or the Jean Cocteau Theater. He has since graduated from St John's College and spent some tome in France, Italy, & at least one other European country. I'm a writer living in Albuquerque, and wish I had gotten involved in those First Friday groups at the Albuquerque Press Club. I was never able to twist my schedule appropriately. Had I known that Mr George had been involved, I surely would have twisted much harder! Everything i learn about you helps me like and admire you more! Thank you for everything you've given to this state, this profession, and this world. Thanks also for being an entirely human entity.
Those writer lunches sound good. And aw, he shouted out his friend Roger in his books. Oberon and the Lord of Light. Also sounds like the Linking Books in Myst.
Not that much like the linking books - Amber's creation/discovery process requires you to physically travel through shadow realms to find/form the world/object you seek. You have no option for editing things without going there. There is the similarity that you can define a world and then go there, but the details are different enough that using one to understand the other will trip you up...
This is really great, I'm so glad for Dom that he got to meet and interview GRRM! And to get to talk to him about old scifi/fantasy, that's really fun 🤠
Zelazney was definitely one of the GOATs of fantasy, of the more weird, philosophical sort. One of the things that they did not mention, but ties directly into Zelazney's fascination with mythologies, just as Amber is the blueprint for all other reality, so are its scions archetypes for literary characters. And both Corwin and Merlin are protagonist archetypes. But, what is really, really cool, is that once you realize that and start rereading, you actually witness their transition along the protag axis. And, yes, I intentionally put in protagonist, rather than heroic archetypes.
My first encounter with Amber was through the Amber Diceless RPG - at university, the RPG society ran a one-shot throne war, and I ended up looking up the books later - I've got 8 of them (a single volume edition of the Corwin cycle and three of the Merlin ones). Amber Diceless is worth checking out if you're into pen-and-paper RPGs, and can track down a copy somewhere - no doubt it's been iterated on since, but it was an early diceless system.
Not only do I recognise that book just by the cover illustration (Nine Princes in Amber), but I already knew it was his favorite book. P.S. "currently being developed by Kirkman for tv" is a nice euphemism for "has been stuck in development hell for more than a decade". I ain't holding my breath on that one.
This is a fantastic interview, and I highly recommend Lord of Light along with the Chronicles of Amber. Also, honorable mention to Eye of Cat. All great books. :-D
Zelazny's Amber is great. The two novels I think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime are The Neverending Story by Michael Ende and The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle.
What a fantastic opportunity and interview!! I've never been a GoT fan (book or show) but couldn't NOT watch such a baller guest, and I really enjoyed listening to his stories about the fantasy & sci fi authors of that age.
I totally agree with his view on "Lords of Light", it may well be my favorite book by Zelasny... and I've red the Ambre cycle. "Let's do a story about the Hindu gods, Buddha, Hindu demons... oh and a christian guy. - Sounds like a cool fantasy novel. - No no no, it's science fiction. All the godly powers, and reincarnation, are powered by science ! - Wait, what ?"
Omg! I have this memory of a book I read in my childhood (I was the kid who read everything I could get my hands on at the library) about a man who travelled through worlds, and that he at some point was a prisoner and they burnt away his eyes, but that they slowly grew back over time. And I have been low key wondering which book that was, or if I somehow made it up? because I have remembered details from it all my life. And here it is! Told to me by George R. R. Martin! What are the freaking odds? Now I have to find and read the whole series! Because I definitely didn’t do that before.
Doorways In the Sand is very fun. But Lord of Light is certainly Zelazny's best. And pleasantly complex for one of his, in both its structure and plot. Oh, and for those familiar with the film Argo...about getting out of Tehran the US citizens stuck in the Canadian's consul's house ...in reality what they told the Iranians was that they were making a film of Lord of Light. It's a shame that Zelazny was never able to know that.
Great interview. The Amber books are really great. As far as fan casting, I’ve always pictured Eric played by Alexander Skarskard. I just felt his energy fit that role of usurper If you ever get to talk to George again, you should ask about his Wild Cards anthology series. I’m kinda surprised in this super hero rich media world no one is trying to adapt the dark superhero stories partially conceived(and edited by) G.R.R. Martin.
Nah. Nick Offerman. You don't want Eric to be cool and handsome, he needs to be stilted and officious. Alexander Skarsgard would be better as Brand or Bleys, or even save him to play Luke in the second series.
@@Randomer2112 I did a whole headcanon casting of the series back in the mid-90s, but every single one of them is now 30 years too old for the part I envisioned.
I actually first took notice of the "Nine Princes in Amber" in one of Amber Scholl's videos where she was shopping for aesthetic books to fill her Sky Castle Library with. It's a series that is already on my wishlist.
George R.R. Martin interview! Wow Dom. You're doing great!!! He is such a cool guy always ready to chat about books, I hope he stays around happy and healthy for along time coming. ❤
When you think about how far Dom has come, interviewing George R.R. Martin must feel like hitting the jackpot career-wise.
yeh George should count his lucky stars it's quite the step up
This has to be one of the craziest crossovers in existence.
Until the video started I would have sworn it was a skit
Seriously. I thought the same thing.
Seems pretty in brand for me.
It's always fascinating how a lot of these classic authors just knew each other, worked together, inspired each other. A real community.
Just hung out together too. The Wild Card series edited by Martin is based on a super hero RPG he ran with a bunch of his author buddies in the 80s. Basically the authors wrote short stories about their own characters and that evolved in the series.
They are all members of the screen writers union, and often have worked together on shows and things in the past so it’s not that crazy.
I recently read Terry Pratchett's biography by his PA and he'd actually sent fan-mail to Tolkein and had a response.
A lot of people think cons are a recent thing, but they've been around for decades. These people all wrote for the same magazines, had the same editors, went to the same conventions. It's pretty cool.
@@nilus2k Yeah. I think the date of the virus was the birthday of one of the writers.
I got to sit at dinner with George Martin when he and I were both guests at the Lucca Comics & Games convention in Italy in 2007, where he casually dropped that HBO was picking up A Song Of Ice & Fire as a TV show with a "one season per book" premise. He was the lovable old nerd that you see here in the interview, and was gracious with his time. It's why I just can't be mad about never getting to read the final books!
Other personal note is that I have been a huge Roger Zelazny since I was a kid and my Dad started shoving his paperbacks at me. He was listed as a guest at a summer convention in 1995, but sadly he became very ill and died before I got that chance to meet him and thank him for his work.
@@JamieChambers
Very sorry to hear that.
@@JamieChambers do you think he will never finish the books ? What are the chances ?
No. I think he will finish the NEXT boom but not the one after that. He just doesnt have the time left in his life. @@kollen5952
George seems like such a down to earth, lovely guy. Thanks for sharing your interview with him, Dom!
From every story I’ve heard he’s suppose to be a real nice guy who is willing to “shoot the shit” with fans for hours if you catch him when he’s not busy. Exception to the rule is if you harass him about when the next book is coming out.
@@nilus2kI feel so anxious for the guy because I can imagine just how much pressure that even is.
If I ever meet him I would probably just want to give him a hug and leave it as that.
@@corneliahanimann2173 gtfo he's doing everything on the planet EXCEPT caring about his legacy, magnum opus and fans
@@corneliahanimann2173I wish more people had your mindset!
@@brianhobaugh you know...
I was wondering for 2 weeks if I'm nit just a very creepy person with this comment lol!
But yea I just feel like this guy needs a hug more than people that ask him so many questions about this world he tells stories about in appreciation for his work.
Aw, he looks so happy talking about books he loves, by people he loves. It's like the time Stephen Colbert was talking to Stephen King about Lord of the Rings. And such a good pitch for seeking out and reading that whole series.
Ok, this is so frickin cool. Do you all think that Dom being able to interview GRRM is due to all the good karma he must've acrewed due to reviewing and suffering through the 50 shades movies , books and due to the fact. He honestly gave twilight a chance to reappraise it honestly and not just discount it?
I would say definitely 😁 if he didn't and doesn't still get good karma from that then I just don't know what will 💕💕👍
Maybe he can send some of that good karma on to GRRM so he'll finally finish the books?
I have several pain syndromes. On my first visit to one pain specialist he kept asking “Well, what’s it like? Describe it to me.” He apparently didn’t like my answers because he kept asking. And asking. I finally rather snapped and brought out a long quote from one of G.R.R. Martin’s story, The Glass Flower. “What can you say about pain? Words can trace only the shadow of the thing itself. The reality of hard, sharp physical pain is like nothing else, and it is beyond language. The world is too much with us, day and night, but when we hurt, when we really hurt, the world melts and fades and becomes a ghost, a dim memory, a silly unimportant thing…” It continues. He was quiet for a bit, then asked what I had been quoting because he thought it was probably the best, rather poetic description of pain he’d ever heard. Thank you, Mr. Martin, for shutting that particular doctor up and making him actually listen to me.
sheesh i gotta read dawgs other books thats amazing prose
Add the Glass Flower to my list of books to buy
Thanks for giving us George on his favorite Sci-Fi. He has such a great knowledge of the amazing 70s & 80s books, some of which have fallen out of fashion recently.
the chronicles of amber by Zelazny are still in my (SF/Fantasy) bookshelf since my first read in the 8Ts
Yes, I really wish we had more interviews of him just discussing fantasy and sci-fy that he likes instead of the same old questions about ASOIAF that he has answered a thousand+ times.
I feel like GRRM had such a good time on this, like I don't know about anybody else but somebody getting so excited about one of my favorites books would just make me happy
Knowing one day George wont be with us anymore this interview is a blessing. A nice relaxed and open conversation.
Yes! Zelazny's a huge touchstone for a bunch of us old-schoolers. I'm also a Delany fan, and always wanted to have him sign a Zelazny book.
Congrats for surviving the encounter😂😂😂😂😂😂
Unlike the characters in GRRMs books, ayooo
Omg I was obsessed with Roger Zelazny when I was younger, it almost felt like a jump scare to hear him talk about it. Absolutely wild! I can definitely see the inspiration though.
Opps commented too soon, I didnt know about the show being developed! The title always bothered me as well. I vote for something along the lines of "The Children of Amber".
Yeah, me too, I was cheering when the cover appeared. I have that very edition, a bit worn from being reread many times.
@@ryangourami7179 I think just 'Amber' would be the best (and people are going to call it that, anyway).
HOLY SHIT! This is amazing Dom! Been watching you for years and have been a part-time Patreon (when I can afford it); it's incredible to see you interacting with an author you've reviewed.
I'd love to see you talk to Ransom Riggs or Rick Riordan; lets keep the R.R. thing going apparently lol
Rick Riordan fell off a cliff after PJ series. Every follow up was terrible.
I humbly disagree, I enjoyed the Heroes Of Olympus series w/ the Roman plot line even more than the PJ series. I also really enjoyed the Trials of Apollo series, it was fun seeing 'humanism' from the Gods side, even if the girl he had to answer to was more than a bit annoying.
@@ZombicidalMadMom81 no the plot lines became too convoluted, the later series never recreate the magic of pj since they are written in third person.
With all due respect everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
same reaction ❤🎉 ahaha
I discovered your channel because of your ASoIaF/GoT comparison videos, so this is especially surreal to me. Congrats dude, you deserve to meet such literary legends.
Incredible Dom! Congrats on this! Youre the best!🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤
He is a very pleasant conversationalist, so chill and intelligent!
Woo! I love seeing people talk to this man, he's a treasure to talk to
I read the first book back in 1993 at the behest of a friend who was wanting to run an Amber DRPG campaign. Ended up staying up until I finished it and went to the library to find the next one the day after.
The Amber Chronicles is my husband's favorite book series. We just watched this together. What a lovely interview! (We even named one of our kids Corwin.)
Same here... and our 2nd is named Brand.
@@ks-hp1sq and i named my manly banana Frodo.
Well, Frodo is associated with a ring, so maybe you need to go down a bit more to find a fitting analogy
It's my Dad's favorite book as well, my Big Brother is named Corwin.
Glad to see that, I just hope you son will have better relationships with his siblings 😂
I love the chronicles of amber ❤️ read it in middle school and still read it every few years
I know it was about 30 years ago, but hearing the fondness that he talks about his friend with, I'm truly sorry he lost someone that seemed to bring out the best in both of them. I've not yet read a book by Martin, but I feel Ive learned a lot about him just from how he speaks of his friend.
Also, having a writer's meetup every first Friday sounds awesome! I once had been invited by my high school English teacher (along with a few other students she'd selected) to go on a writing excursion around the city. We walked to a few locations and wrote something about the place (it could be fictional or non-fiction, whatever we wanted). Most of everyone else there were adults, so it was really cool as a "kid" getting to be around those who were older and hear their in-the-moment writing. I think after each location, we reconvened and read what we'd written. I don't really write anymore, but I too would've liked to have been a fly on the wall when Martin and the other writers were discussing ideas. Great way to fuel the creative juices, lol.
I would have passed out. He’s on my top 5 favorite authors.
Same and I don’t even read his books
same
can i ask for the other 4
One of my very favorite authors (Roger Zelazny,) and series/books growing up late 70s and early 80s. Actually had an assignment for an English Class, to write a letter to an Author you enjoyed and say hello and let them know what you liked (and perhaps didn't) about their work. I picked Roger as I was reading the Amber series and was thoroughly loving/enjoying it ! Roger actually sent me a hand written post card from a Hyatt Regency hotel, I believe in San Francisco. He said he'd received my letter and thanked me and encouraged me continue dabbling with my own creative writing. Blew my mind as an early teen to receive a personal correspondence from him. Still most grateful for him taking the time and say hello to a young fan like myself! Wish I'd had the change to see him at a convention at some point. Wish his family the very best! And encourage any lovers of fantasy/scifi to check out the Amber series and any of the other books the George mentioned here in this fantastic interview! Thank you both for having and posting this! Much appreciated!!! 😎👍
You read any thing worth recommending in recent times? Making my way through all of GRRM Wild Cards series (32 books amazing books) this month.
I love he's a Zalazny fan!! I loved the Amber series. It's been a long time. I think I should reread them!
Oh my gosh. Lord of Light was my favorite book when I was a teenager. I wrote fan mail to Roger Zelazny (never got an answer, darn it). Then there was this period where fantasy overtook science fiction in the publishing world - I wasn't happy, I loved Tolkein, but everyone else seemed a pale comparison - anyhow when RZ started the Amber series, I thought he was selling out, and I gave up on him. Perhaps in my old age, I should give Amber another chance. But I definitely need to get Lord of Light out and read it again. Thanks so much for this!
This was great! I remember bringing my Chronicles of Amber to Gencon in 1995 for Zelazny to sign then learning he had passed :( A great series!
Holy crap Dom! I'm so happy you got this opportunity!! What a brilliant interview!
It took me a second to convince myself this was real. Just fantastic
That's incredible Dom! Great job!
I'm so glad we can see this. Such an interesting interview. Fascinating. It's ovely to see you talk about book you like.
And of course its amazing to learn about all these iconic people, hear about them hunging out. George sharing these moments is so precious.
So, yes, this was very interesting, touching and fun video.
Thank you!
Bravo, Dom! You are definitely taking your channel to new places and new heights! Very well done!
I'm legitimately more hyped to think that Dom visited NM as cool as the interview with GRRM is. Even if you only got to see Santa Fe, I hope it treated you well and you consider a return visit!
Also, another great one by Zelazny is A Night in the Lonesome October. My wife grew up with it and now we read it together every year. Would be very short to get through all at once but the chapters are broken up by days of the month so it makes a really fun read a day at a time leading up to Halloween.
I love listening to authors talk about there fav books and stories. It's great listening to george talk about a story he loves so much
Ive been lucky enough to have been in community with lots of older artists and they all talk like this. Just happy to reminisce about a life time of getting to know other people who just did what they loved. Im so happy for GRRMs continued success. Maybe now ill finally read princes of amber lol.
I've loved Zelazny and his Amber books since my mom randomly bought me one of his books and, ironically, one of Samuel R Delaney's books as well, when I was 9 years old. I read them in the Russian translation first, then after moving to the US I devoured every book I could find, especially by Zelazny. My respect for Martin (and for Stephen Colbert!) just shot up into the stratosphere.
DUDE! HOLY FUCK! Congrats on landing such an amazing interview!
Such a cool conversation! Really enjoyed hearing George's insights on 70s and 80s sci-fi/fantasy history. I had to stop partway through for spoilers since I think I want to read the books now. Thanks Dom & George!
@JamieChambers you said it wonderfully and perfectly "lovable old nerd". Also, when you hear Stephen Colbert attached to this future series in which George is giving his blessings. I am sooooo getting excited about "stick to the story" high fantasy quality work coming soon. I've watched Dom for awhile, what a joy to see this interview.
This is so cool...good job!
Have you ever considered doing Lost in adaption for the Expanse series?
I'm reading the books right now and they did an amazing adaption
I hope they do adapt the last 3 books one day!
YES! It’s so good!!
What the actual what?!
I nearly broke the sound barrier reaching to watch this vid
You know i think RR Martin loved this, its very rare to be interviewed by a person who loves the books and actually knows A LOT about them. Makes it more fun .
Was not expecting him to be so chill and laid back. Seems like a nice guy.
this is such an iconic collab tbh. im smiling like an idiot watching this
I love '9 Princes'! I read it ...when it was new - and never realized he wrote more in the series. Since he wrote so many stand-alone novels this did not surprise me. Then I found out and was delighted. The 5 Corwin books are still some of my favorites. I adored this episode of the book club!
Neil Gaiman has said that Zelazny was one of his greatest influences. I read a lot of his books when I was younger including the Amber series, well worth reading. Hillerman's books are great too, sort of a mix between a police procedural and delving into the life and folklore of the native american people of the American South West, chiefly the Navajo nation.
Always love to hear Grrrr Martin talk about books, so cool you two got to chat!
GRR Martin is easily my 2nd favourite author after Tolkien. Dom you are one lucky bastard.
Martin's phone ringtone is so cuteee omg I didnt expected it
Great interview. GRRM seems to be in good spirits. That book sure would be nice.....Cheers!
How cool that you were able to do this interview!
Omg not the "...it hasn't even been 12 years" joke 😂 I love George, he frustrates me, but I love him ❤
In so excited to finally see this interview! My nephew had some close interactions with Mr George about the time he transferred to the Art & Design College or a similar school in Santa Fe studying theatre, and may have had some early involvement in Game of Thrones &/or the Jean Cocteau Theater. He has since graduated from St John's College and spent some tome in France, Italy, & at least one other European country.
I'm a writer living in Albuquerque, and wish I had gotten involved in those First Friday groups at the Albuquerque Press Club. I was never able to twist my schedule appropriately. Had I known that Mr George had been involved, I surely would have twisted much harder!
Everything i learn about you helps me like and admire you more! Thank you for everything you've given to this state, this profession, and this world. Thanks also for being an entirely human entity.
This is so cool!!!
Very interesting to see Martin within the context of a reader rather than an author!
Thank you. Roger Zelazhy's "Lord of Light" and "A Night in the Lonesome October" are almost perfect.
Lord of Light is spell binding. For the longest time it was also the only sci fi book I'd ever read with a trans character.
@@theautisticguitarist7560 I hadn't thought of that, now you have pointed it out I can't think of an earlier example. Thank you.
I just got my audible credit for the month and grabbed “Lord of Light”. Look forward to listening to it
This George fella seems really nice. Really humble too. I hope he finds fame one day
I can' believe Dominic Noble actually me George R. R. Marin, the really is a treasure to talk to.
Those writer lunches sound good. And aw, he shouted out his friend Roger in his books. Oberon and the Lord of Light. Also sounds like the Linking Books in Myst.
Not that much like the linking books - Amber's creation/discovery process requires you to physically travel through shadow realms to find/form the world/object you seek. You have no option for editing things without going there.
There is the similarity that you can define a world and then go there, but the details are different enough that using one to understand the other will trip you up...
This was wonderful! Thank you for sharing this with us! 🤍🤍✨️
Not three minutes in and it's already very interesting, G seems like a likeable fellow.
I wish people prompted George to talk more about Lord of light. It's such an underrated influence on Asoiaf
It also is nearly a 1-1 for Asura's Wrath on the PS3/360.
This is really great, I'm so glad for Dom that he got to meet and interview GRRM! And to get to talk to him about old scifi/fantasy, that's really fun 🤠
we are never getting winds of winter😭
This is so amazing!! Well done Dom!
OK, this is one of those moments where one thinks "Wow, I have made some awesome life choices."
MY JAW IS ON THE FLOOR 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
This was incredible Dom! I love you and your tenacity so much;🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Hearth please❤❤❤❤❤❤
This is so cool!!! Definitely going to read that book now btw. If it's a recommendation from GRR himself!
It was an awesome experience.
The pleasure of finding that Mr Martin loves Amber too. ps read George's vampire novel, Fevre Dream.
Zelazney was definitely one of the GOATs of fantasy, of the more weird, philosophical sort.
One of the things that they did not mention, but ties directly into Zelazney's fascination with mythologies, just as Amber is the blueprint for all other reality, so are its scions archetypes for literary characters. And both Corwin and Merlin are protagonist archetypes.
But, what is really, really cool, is that once you realize that and start rereading, you actually witness their transition along the protag axis.
And, yes, I intentionally put in protagonist, rather than heroic archetypes.
This is so cool Dom!! Great interview ❤
❤ I'm so excited to watch this interview!
My first encounter with Amber was through the Amber Diceless RPG - at university, the RPG society ran a one-shot throne war, and I ended up looking up the books later - I've got 8 of them (a single volume edition of the Corwin cycle and three of the Merlin ones).
Amber Diceless is worth checking out if you're into pen-and-paper RPGs, and can track down a copy somewhere - no doubt it's been iterated on since, but it was an early diceless system.
I’ve owned it since it came out, but have never found anyone else interested in playing it! Ha.
Not only do I recognise that book just by the cover illustration (Nine Princes in Amber), but I already knew it was his favorite book.
P.S. "currently being developed by Kirkman for tv" is a nice euphemism for "has been stuck in development hell for more than a decade". I ain't holding my breath on that one.
Having Colbert on board now might help.
Was I the only one who chuckled when he said he favoured faithful adaptations? Like, stick to the books?
Amazing interview!
This is a fantastic interview, and I highly recommend Lord of Light along with the Chronicles of Amber. Also, honorable mention to Eye of Cat. All great books. :-D
Awwww, when he talked about Roger's kids. Awww.
Zelazny's Amber is great. The two novels I think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime are The Neverending Story by Michael Ende and The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle.
I own a hardcopy of "This Immortal" by Zelazny. It's pretty good.
What a fantastic opportunity and interview!! I've never been a GoT fan (book or show) but couldn't NOT watch such a baller guest, and I really enjoyed listening to his stories about the fantasy & sci fi authors of that age.
I totally agree with his view on "Lords of Light", it may well be my favorite book by Zelasny... and I've red the Ambre cycle.
"Let's do a story about the Hindu gods, Buddha, Hindu demons... oh and a christian guy.
- Sounds like a cool fantasy novel.
- No no no, it's science fiction. All the godly powers, and reincarnation, are powered by science !
- Wait, what ?"
It's crazy to see Dominic Noble meeting George RR Martin and that's really cool
Omg! I have this memory of a book I read in my childhood (I was the kid who read everything I could get my hands on at the library) about a man who travelled through worlds, and that he at some point was a prisoner and they burnt away his eyes, but that they slowly grew back over time. And I have been low key wondering which book that was, or if I somehow made it up? because I have remembered details from it all my life. And here it is! Told to me by George R. R. Martin! What are the freaking odds?
Now I have to find and read the whole series! Because I definitely didn’t do that before.
Doorways In the Sand is very fun.
But Lord of Light is certainly Zelazny's best. And pleasantly complex for one of his, in both its structure and plot. Oh, and for those familiar with the film Argo...about getting out of Tehran the US citizens stuck in the Canadian's consul's house ...in reality what they told the Iranians was that they were making a film of Lord of Light. It's a shame that Zelazny was never able to know that.
I was so floored seeing this in my subscriptions! My fave author my fave UA-camr. I love it.
Everyone shoud read Nine Princes in Amber. The first chapter completely locks you in. It's awesome.
For the first few DECADES of my life I, too, pronounced it “Zelany” and was STUNNED to find there was another x in his name. Crazy!
Great interview. The Amber books are really great. As far as fan casting, I’ve always pictured Eric played by Alexander Skarskard. I just felt his energy fit that role of usurper
If you ever get to talk to George again, you should ask about his Wild Cards anthology series. I’m kinda surprised in this super hero rich media world no one is trying to adapt the dark superhero stories partially conceived(and edited by) G.R.R. Martin.
Nah. Nick Offerman. You don't want Eric to be cool and handsome, he needs to be stilted and officious. Alexander Skarsgard would be better as Brand or Bleys, or even save him to play Luke in the second series.
I always saw Corwin as Clive Owen, but Clive is getting a bit long in the tooth now
@@Randomer2112 I did a whole headcanon casting of the series back in the mid-90s, but every single one of them is now 30 years too old for the part I envisioned.
@@Nick-pu3ofI always have the weirdest fancasts for fantasy and science fiction books. Eric is Rainn Wilson to me.
@@thenablade858 if anyone is see him as Julian
I actually first took notice of the "Nine Princes in Amber" in one of Amber Scholl's videos where she was shopping for aesthetic books to fill her Sky Castle Library with. It's a series that is already on my wishlist.
Aww he seems so sweet in person! I'm very jealous ❤
George R.R. Martin interview! Wow Dom. You're doing great!!! He is such a cool guy always ready to chat about books, I hope he stays around happy and healthy for along time coming. ❤
So proud, Dom! ❤️
I know many despise him but he seems chill and down to earth guy
Oh my god!!!! I'm just chillin watching some random vids and THIS pops up???
GRRM is literally one of the best authors! I must say i had a pretty good laugh when his phone went off hehe
Well done Dom!! Great interview ^^
WOW! Good job Dom!
GRRM is an American Hero. He's an encyclopedia of knowledge on writing, it's history, and how it's done.
17:21 it is good to see , that George rr martin sir knows about Indian Gods❤
❤❤ i hope he knows how much popular his work is in India specially the tv shows.