George R.R. Martin stands out as the king of killing off beloved characters, however again in 2001, it was his ego that took successful, and it got here from an sudden supply. The creator of A Tune of Ice and Fireplace had simply dropped A Storm of Swords, a brutal, good fantasy epic filled with surprising twists. Critics have been buzzing, followers have been obsessed, and all indicators pointed to Hugo Award glory.
However then, increase, alongside got here a boy wizard with glasses and a lightning scar. Yep, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fireplace swooped in, snatched the award, and left Martin empty-handed. The loss wasn’t only a blip on the radar; it left a mark. His followers have been aggravated, certain, however Martin? He took it personally. Actually personally. Whereas Rowling celebrated, Martin quietly stewed and finally, not-so-quietly vented. Let’s simply say, the person who constructed the Pink Marriage ceremony wasn’t about to let a Hugo loss go unaddressed.
George RR Martin’s Bitter Assertion To JK Rowling
Shedding sucks, even for the man who casually wipes out whole households in his books. George R.R. Martin, recognized for placing characters (and readers) via emotional torture, had his personal style of heartbreak on the 2001 Hugo Awards. His A Storm of Swords was up for Greatest Novel, and followers have been satisfied he had it within the bag. However then J.Ok. Rowling pulled out her wand, or relatively, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fireplace did, and poof, the Hugo was hers.
Martin didn’t take it properly. As an alternative of clapping politely like a very good sport, he later dropped one of many saltiest quotes in fantasy award historical past. Chatting with Enterprise Insider, he stated:
“Eat your coronary heart out, Rowling. Possibly you may have billions of {dollars} and my Hugo, however you don’t have readers like these.”
Yikes. That’s not simply shade, that’s a full eclipse. Martin clearly felt the sting of being snubbed by the boy wizard and his mega-bestselling creator. And whereas Rowling didn’t reply (in all probability too busy counting her galleons), Martin’s bitterness lingered.
Years later, in an interview with Adria’s Information, he recommended Rowling in all probability didn’t even care concerning the award, which, actually, made him much more aggravated. Think about dropping a trophy after which pondering the winner tossed it in a drawer subsequent to a sock.
However time softens even the sharpest swords. Martin finally gave Rowling her due, admitting her influence on fantasy literature was huge, and that her books raised a complete era of readers.
Nonetheless, the Hugo curse caught with him. He misplaced once more in 2006 (A Feast for Crows) and as soon as extra in 2012 (A Dance with Dragons). Discuss a triple heartbreak, no maesters wanted to diagnose that wound.
Martin By no means Received Over That 2001 Loss
George R.R. Martin didn’t simply lose the 2001 Hugo, he buried the reminiscence. Actually. Go examine his official web site. You’ll discover his 2006 and 2012 Hugo nominations proudly listed, however the 2001 nod for A Storm of Swords? Nowhere in sight. It’s prefer it by no means occurred. Which is wild, as a result of many followers contemplate that guide the crown jewel of all the A Tune of Ice and Fireplace saga. Possibly that’s why the loss to Rowling harm a lot.
Martin had already snagged Hugos in 1979 and 1997, so expectations have been excessive. And once they have been crushed by a teenage wizard with a lightning bolt scar, one thing clearly snapped. Years later, in a LiveJournal put up, he even wrote, “That’s so cool that I’m keen to forgive [Obama] for being a Harry Potter fan.”
Petty? Possibly. Hilarious? Positively.
He even slipped in a not-so-subtle jab in A Feast for Crows, the place a knight named Robin Potter finally ends up with a nasty scar on his head after a struggle. Coincidence? We expect not.
Nonetheless, credit score the place it’s due, Martin later praised Rowling’s influence on fantasy and acknowledged she “grew up a whole era.” Simply not very quietly.
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