On George R R Martin Signing Books

[dolorous_ett]

This isn't going to be a long entry. Because the GRRM signing in Glasgow was just that - a signing. A queue of people waiting for the Great Man to sign his name. All the other signings I've been to involved the writer actually giving a talk. Sometimes even glasses of wine or cheap orange juice heave been involved. But this one was just a queue.

A very long queue. It says a lot for the regard in which this man is held that it was so long, as the shop in question did shamefully little in the article of publicity (perhaps they feared an even longer queue on a busy Saturday afternoon?). But there we all were, snaking round the top of the shop - and some people had come much further than me - the record was a bloke from Finland, with a heavy carrier bag of books in each hand.

I must say, in some ways this served to remind me that I really need to get out more - especially when fans just behind me started comparing who'd got into the series first, waited the longest for this book etc etc. But it was a feast for my inner nerd as well, to be able to talk to real enthusiasts. And of course, to get to see the great man himself, for about a minute as he signed two books for me.

GRRM is a big, fat man (I suspect his training programme has been more of the Robert Baratheon school than that of Samwell Tarly), with a frizzy grey beard, very clean airline-style glasses (not a combination you see much) and cloth cap. Although he wasn't giving a talk, he seemed to be making a concentrated effort to speak kindly to each fan in turn, and put a few extra words in each book - as well as putting up with photos with commendable good humour.

What did surprise me about him was his accent - a pleasant, non-standard American voice - south somewhere? I shouldn't react in this way, but it really threw me to hear someone who writes stories about knights and castles talking in an American accent - in my head, the characters all have British accents, and it's rather headbending for me to think of - say - Cersei or Dolorous Edd, Theon Greyjoy or Samwell Tarly talking American! I can imagine the child Tyrion trying an American accent once, though, and getting fearsomely punished by his father for disgracing Casterly Rock (again).

I of course completely panicked when my audience with the great man came - though I confined myself to gabbling, rather than fainting or squeeing. So all my questions - is there a tune to "The Bear and the Maiden Fair"? How do you actually say Daenerys? Once they've delivered a message, how do the maesters' ravens know to come back? Is long-lost Uncle Gerion Lannister lost for good? (plus other spoilery questions) - they all went unanswered, anyway. But I am now the proud owner of a Signed First Edition - and it's sitting on my bookshelf, looking very fine indeed.

By way of a sop to non-Martin fans (most of my f-list, I think), here is a meme I pinched from captainjames :

Comment and I'll tell you the following:
1. My first impression of you.
2. Where I met you, if I can remember.
3. One (or more) thing I always associate with you.

Comments

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

First of all, SQUEE! I'm hoping to catch GRRM here in Ohio sometime in the next month or so. I know he's doing a signing somewhere around here, and I intend to find all my copies and bring them from home (and hopefully--if I'm lucky--my copy of GoT might be shipped back from Cambridge by then) so he can sign them for silly fangirly me. Nice to know he speaks to fans and such. Maybe in the middle of Ohio, there will be fewer people...although, not likely. ;)

Amusing note about American accents. I imagine them sounding British as well, though the mental snippet of Tyrion being fearsomely punished for disgracing Casterly Rock by his accent is endlessly hilarious.

And I'll take the bait on the meme. :)

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping to catch GRRM here in Ohio sometime in the next month or so. I know he's doing a signing somewhere around here, and I intend to find all my copies and bring them from home (and hopefully--if I'm lucky--my copy of GoT might be shipped back from Cambridge by then) so he can sign them for silly fangirly me.

I hope you get the chance.

If you're planning to get all the books he's ever written signed, you might like to know he only signs 3 books at a sitting - for fans with more than 3 he'll do more, but after each 3 you have to go to the back of queue.

And thanks for not being offended by my American accents comments...

The meme:

1. I've got a very vivid memory of you because you were one of the first people to visit my journal, and I was so grateful! And I've been enjoying your comments ever since.
2. I'd heard of you before that, because of BAMSR. But I think Livejournal was First Contact.
3. I associate you with erudite research into literature, BAMSR and this mysterious big novel you're in the process of writing.

[ignipes.livejournal.com]

How do you actually say Daenerys?

Oh, darn, it's too bad you didn't get an answer to that one. That drives me nuts. Which syllable has the accent?

I definitely 'hear' all the characters with British accents. A medieval setting with American accents just doesn't work, even if it is an imaginary world. GRRM is originally from New Jersey, I think...and the idea of Tyrion speaking with a Jersey accent is the funniest thing ever.

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

A Jersey accent, eh? Anyhow, it's a pleasant accent and friendly in tone, but hardly knightly!

As to these -ae names, I tend to pronounce them seperately - Ay-e mon for Aemon, Day-enerys for Dany etc etc. But I don't actually know,.

The meme:

1. That anyone who has a giraffe as an icon has to be good news!
2. I found your LJ through mutual friends and enjoyed reading it before I dared to comment. Can't remember First Contact, though.
3. Geology. George R. R. Martin. Giraffes. Interesting opinions.

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

Er... don't know Martin, but Hi!

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

1. Someone with interesting things to say, and an incredibly cool LJ layout.
2. Can't remember the exact circumstances, but I have a feeling I hung about your livejournal pestering you before you vistited mine.
3. Interesting creatures (especially wereflamingoes). Good icons. Fanart that's actually fun to look at. Far-off places.

[dolabellae.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I'd enjoy Martin's books, and it's actually quite fun getting these little snippets from other worlds in your posts about the new one. Much get round to reading them...

But thank you for the sop, anyway. I'll take it gladly!

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

Do read the Martin books - they really are fantasy for grown-ups -they are clever, witty, sophisticated and nothing is sacred. And there's so much stuff in them - made-up by him or inspired by things from elsewhere. Make sure you have a lot of time on your hands, though - these are long books.

1. Someone who thinks and isn't afraid to say what's what.
2. A review of one of my stories here, I think. Which made some cogent points with clarity and intelligence.
3. Garrets, dreaming spires, members of the weasel family, Roman emperors.

[snorkackcatcher]

Only ever heard of Martin from your posts, I think - what's the one paragraph summary of what his books are about? :)

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

1. I'd heard about "The Liquor of Jaqmel", which sounded like good news, quite a long time before I had any personal contact with you. I can also remember thinking "good user name"!
2. Heard of you on Fiction Alley. But I think the first conversation would have been on LJ.
3. Good user name. Writer of a mystery fic (very good news). Imagination and good judgement. Owls carrying letters.

On "A Song of Ice and Fire"

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

what's the one paragraph summary of what his books are about? :)

This is a pretty tall order - there are 4 books out so far, each over 500 pages in length, some much more. So I'll inevitably be missing out a LOT.

Still, here's the important stuff.

At the start of this story, the Seven Kingdoms have been ruled by a new dynasty for 20 years or so, the current king having deposed a his plainly mad and inbred predecessor. Unfortunately, the new king is much better at fighting than governing, and has grasping in-laws with plans of their own. When his Hand (like Prime Minister) dies, he takes on an old friend who is too honest for his own good, and tries to deal with the realm accordingly. By the end of the first book the king is dead, his in-laws and brothers are at war over who will inherit his throne and the North of the country has declared itself a sovereign kingdom. In the next two books things fall apart still further as good-hearted people miss opportunities to set things right and schemers sabotage things. In the fourth, things are back on a shaky footing, but a lot of the people really fit to rule have already been eliminated, and there are now a lot of uncontrolled new elements in the picture. On top of this, the daughter of the deposed king is breeding dragons with which she intends to retake the Seven Kingdoms, and forces of cold and darkness are gathering in the far North.

What marks this story out is that it's fantasy with consequences. If there's a battle, the land is scared, the locals are frightened and characters - even important ones - really do die. There's no safety net - anything might happen. At the same time, even the most unpromising characters are sometimes capapble redeeming themselves with actions of shining goodness - and the "heroes" sometimes behave abominably.

Anything could happen. And usually it does.

Any good?

Re: On "A Song of Ice and Fire"

[snorkackcatcher]

Interesting ... might have to check them out then. (Oddly enough, I'm not a huge fantasy fan as such.)

Re: On "A Song of Ice and Fire"

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

(Oddly enough, I'm not a huge fantasy fan as such.)

I didn't use to be either. But fantasy's come on by leaps and bounds since my tastes were formed as a teenager, and there's stuff out there now that adults can actually read and enjoy. It's only about 2 years since I rediscovered fantasy, and even now I'm *very* picky.

[hannahmarder.livejournal.com]

I'm going to add these Martin books to my 'things to read' list (to which items are added far more often than they get struck off, alas!). It sounds a bit like a Terry Pratchett signing, of which I've been to a couple. There's no talk, but he sits at a table and everyone gets into a very, very long queue. He speaks to each fan when they finally reach the table, signs the books, and poses for a photo with the besotted fan if they want one. The best signing I went to was Diana Wynne Jones in Bristol - I was the only person there at first so I got to talk to her for ages! Anyway, I'm glad you got to meet him - it's quite exciting getting to meet one of your favourite authors in person!

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

You've met Diana Wynne Jones? That has to be good news!

I like getting books signed by favourite authors - like a lot of things I do, my family think this is weird. But authors are kind, and often favour you with very interesting little insights into the lives of their characters..

The meme:
1. One of the first kind people to visit my journal, and I was so grateful! A regular and always welcome visitor ever since.
2. As above, I think. i came to your story through LJ, instead of the other way round, as is generally the case with me.
3. Career changes. Beauxbatons. Niffler. Kind words and good judgement. More recs on FA forums than I deserve - haven't thanked you for each one, but I do appreciate it.

[hannahmarder.livejournal.com]

::Blushes:: Thanks for the kind words - every rec of your fics is very well deserved indeed.
You've met Diana Wynne Jones? That has to be good news!
It was totally brilliant - she's my absolute favourite author. She lives near Bristol, which is my old home city, so that's how I came to stumble across a signing. They're very low key things, aimed at school children.
like a lot of things I do, my family think this is weird.
Mine too! Though they're always very nice about them, in a politely baffled sort of way.

[captainjames.livejournal.com]

I don't know Martin, but it's great that you met him (even if he didn't answer any of your questions).
And okay, I want to play :).

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

1. I'd seen your name around and about - I think you have some role in Fiction Alley?
2. I think you visited my journal because I can remember thinking squeeee! A visit from a Senior Fan!
3. The high seas. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Detention, Potter! Comments worth reading. Interesting creatures in tanks.

[captainjames.livejournal.com]

1. I'm an eMentor, yes. Would be a mod if I had enough time for it.
2. Senior fan? I thought you had been here for longer than me...
3. =D