George R.R. Martin and Robert Jordan

[HighWiredSith]

George R.R. Martin had a rather touching blog entry in tribute to RJ shortly after his death.  I had wondered for a while if these two top notch fantasy authors knew each other what they thought of each other.  I think hands down they are head and shoulders above any fantasy writers working today.  And yet I find the contrast in their backgrounds extremely intriguing.  Robert Jordan was a two tour Vietnam veteran, highly decorated and man who doubtless both understood the horrors and appreciated the sacrifices of war.  George R.R. Martin, on the other hand, was a conscientious objector during the 60's, an anti-war protester from the Vietnam era.  He essentially used his religious convictions to avoid the draft (not judging, just stating as fact).  And yet the two men seemed to be friends and certainly admired each other's work.  If read their series' with this in mind it really paints an interesting portrait of two vastly different approaches to war that are somehow very similar. 

[Kadere]

Well they were friends, you can see that in George's blog. RJ read George's series and thought it was excellent. As far as I know George hasn't read WoT but has always kind of planned too.  They weren't close friends, per se, but they both respected each other's works and success.

[Luckers]

Mmm. Jordan placed an introductory comment on Martin's first Ice and Fire book, and Martin apparently always respected him for it. In the third book he even goes so far as to introduce a noble house in Dorne that is called Jordayne of the Tor (Tor being the american publisher of the Wheel of Time).

 

[Guest]

I disagree with the statement that George RR Martin is head and shoulder above every other fantasy writer except Robert Jordan, George's books are at best mediocre.

[Davian93]

George's books are at best mediocre

 

The only thing mediocre about GRRM's work is that it takes him like 3+ years between books.  Other than that, his books are really good.  You're entitled to your opinion of course...be it a misguided one though.

[HighWiredSith]

I have to disagree as well.  George R.R. Martin is a fantastic fantasy writer.  In a day when most fantasy writers are either blatant rip-offs of better writers or sound like they are writing Dungeon's and Dragons manuals he transcends the lot.  I also agree that his lack urgency in the GOT Series is completely annoying.

[Cadsuane]

I'd rather wait for books of the same caliber as the first few than get them quickly and be disappointed. He can take as long as he wants, if he's giving me a good read. There is enough else out there to explore, I don't feel too deprived once a week or so has passed after the latest reread of the series.

[anamul]

I disagree with the statement that George RR Martin is head and shoulder above every other fantasy writer except Robert Jordan, George's books are at best mediocre.

 

I completely agree with you. If you pock around ancient and mediaval earth history....u will see similarties....like "Chengis Khan" incident, Roman...etc.

 

All he does is collect them, swap the character...patch them up...with some jucy line..like..

 

"I will let all his soldier.....u. I will even let all their horses....you"....*lol*...he was saying to his sister who happens to be 12 years old...

Nice stuff...who needs porn.  ;D

[HighWiredSith]

I disagree with the statement that George RR Martin is head and shoulder above every other fantasy writer except Robert Jordan, George's books are at best mediocre.

 

I completely agree with you. If you pock around ancient and mediaval earth history....u will see similarties....like "Chengis Khan" incident, Roman...etc.

 

All he does is collect them, swap the character...patch them up...with some jucy line..like..

 

That's pretty much what Tolkien did.

And C.S. Lewis

And George Lucas

And Ray Bradbury

And, well, you get the idea.

 

[akaliel]

Ya, I'm going to have to disagree.  While I loved WoT, with the exception of a few of the books that didn't seem to do much at all for the story.  I enjoy GRRM writing's much more than Jordan's.  His style just speaks to me, I love his characters, I find RJ's characters pretty bland in comparison.

 

That's just my opinion of course, but the females especially in WoT annoy me to no end.  I just don't find them well written.

 

My 2 cents...