“My own ICE & FIRE series might never have found its audience without the cover quote that [Robert Jordan] was so kind as to provide, back when A GAME OF THRONES was first published. I will always be grateful to him for that.” - George R.R. Martin in a 2012 blog post
Have you ever stopped to think about the book that reached out and pulled you into your favorite genre? The single book that captured your heart and made you love the things you love? A gateway drug, if you will, to the many intoxicating works your soul needs to escape the everyday, mundane world. Go ahead. I’ll give you a moment to ponder.
Like many my age, I can name HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE by J.K. Rowling as my gateway into the realm of Fantasy reading. My dad found a battered, dirty copy of it in an empty apartment he leased and brought it home, no idea he’d just thrown open a portal for me in our basement. But when I think back further, there was A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L’Engle and a series called THE UNICORN CHRONICLES by Bruce Coville – both predated the boy wizard by some years and opened my mind to the fantastic at an early age (and, mind you, writers learn to write by first becoming readers).
Of course, after passing through my gateway and finishing HARRY POTTER, I needed direction. Where did one possibly go from there? My cousin Elaine gave me direction in the form of a question: “Have you ever heard of THE WHEEL OF TIME by Robert Jordan?”
Of course, after passing through my gateway and finishing HARRY POTTER, I needed direction. Where did one possibly go from there? My cousin Elaine gave me direction in the form of a question: “Have you ever heard of THE WHEEL OF TIME by Robert Jordan?”
"I have been reading and deeply loving fantasy for over twenty years. And for most of those years – and for many years before my birth – fantasy has been a genre many people have rolled their eyes at."
I hadn’t. But if HARRY was a gateway, this was a life-altering path to tread via the pages of a book. I had never attempted to read high fantasy. The books, with their often-retro style covers and intimidating lengths, had so far eluded me. But I trusted Cousin Elaine. She had been giving me books since I was born, after all. She wouldn’t steer me wrong.
Robert Jordan's THE WHEEL OF TIME is a story that takes place both in the past and future, as time is a circle – a Wheel (get it?). The Dark One, the embodiment of pure evil, is breaking free from his prison. The main story is about a young man who learns that he is the reincarnation of the world's savior, destined to once again save the world from the Dark One. The catch? He may also destroy it in the process. This story follows the world's struggle with war and change, destruction and hope. Women have access to the world’s magic, the One Power, and wield it efficiently. They remain in most positions of power. The magic available to men is tainted, and when men try to tap into it, they go mad. Of course, there are about a thousand other societies and factions I cannot mention, so just, you know…read it.
The Wheel of Time turns, Ages come and pass, and, well…THE WHEEL OF TIME changed my life. Cliché, right? Perhaps. But literally it led me to my dearest friends, a new business, my husband, and ultimately…my daughter. There’re books that change lives, and books that change lives.
I suppose I have been reading and deeply loving fantasy for over twenty years. And for most of those years – and for many years before my birth – fantasy has been a genre many people have rolled their eyes at. Stereotyped and sneered at, even. A good friend of mine recently told me that he was made fun of as a kid for liking fantasy and superheroes, and I’m sure he isn’t the only one. Elves, wizards, magic…what a load of old dragon dung, am I right? If you like it, fine; but have the decency to do so quietly and let the grown ups enjoy their mystery and romance novels.
Except. Except.
There is this television show called "Game of Thrones." Perhaps you’ve heard of it? It is based on a series of high fantasy books called A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE. Books! Who knew!
I suppose I have been reading and deeply loving fantasy for over twenty years. And for most of those years – and for many years before my birth – fantasy has been a genre many people have rolled their eyes at. Stereotyped and sneered at, even. A good friend of mine recently told me that he was made fun of as a kid for liking fantasy and superheroes, and I’m sure he isn’t the only one. Elves, wizards, magic…what a load of old dragon dung, am I right? If you like it, fine; but have the decency to do so quietly and let the grown ups enjoy their mystery and romance novels.
Except. Except.
There is this television show called "Game of Thrones." Perhaps you’ve heard of it? It is based on a series of high fantasy books called A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE. Books! Who knew!
And the amazing thing about this show is that people from all walks of life – people who have never picked up a book for pleasure in all their days – have flocked to it like Crows...er, crows to a battlefield. I have watched the Internet with absolute amazement as everyone (and their brother…literally, families!) loses their mind over this TV show. College students, elementary school teachers, pastors, everyday working Joes…all obsessed with “the greatest show ever.” George R.R. Martin was already famous pre-HBO, only as the writer of a series of fantasy novels. Now, he and his characters are household names. They don’t love GoT because it’s fantasy, or because it’s not fantasy. They love it because of the story. Because under the epic battles, sword fights, magic, and dragons, there is romance and mystery and intrigue and heartache. Complex characters. They have begun to realize what the rest of us knew all along: There is deep, meaningful storytelling in fantasy literature. (But also, swords and dragons and magic. And really, who doesn’t love swords and dragons and magic?)
Now, as GoT nears its end, I make a confession and hope it doesn’t damage my nerd cred. I have read exactly 2.5 A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE books and watched exactly three seasons of "Game of Thrones." The books were so well-crafted as to be almost too intense for me at times. The show? My husband, a fan of the books, was adamant we wait to watch it until Martin finished his story. So, er, well…
Now, as GoT nears its end, I make a confession and hope it doesn’t damage my nerd cred. I have read exactly 2.5 A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE books and watched exactly three seasons of "Game of Thrones." The books were so well-crafted as to be almost too intense for me at times. The show? My husband, a fan of the books, was adamant we wait to watch it until Martin finished his story. So, er, well…
But here's why I am so thankful for Martin and his books and show:
What a wonderful, fabulous, enormous gateway GoT has been to fantasy for the entire world. It has shown people they can like fantasy, it’s okay. And it has blown the gateway wide open for other series like it in the entertainment industry. Will all of them succeed on GoT's level? No. But studios are willing to try. And it’s like Christmas for us fantasy nerds, watching all the possibilities unfold. Remember my friend who was picked on for liking fantasy and superheroes? Yeah, he’s having the last laugh now.
THE WHEEL OF TIME, which was picked up by Sony Pictures and will debut on Amazon Prime, is in the works. Perhaps I’m biased, but if you like GoT, then prepare thine self for some epic awesomeness. Romance and mystery and intrigue and heartache? Check. And swords and magic and the Dragon – capital “D.” Robert Jordan was a master at creating a rich world and complex characters and, fun fact, he was published before George R.R. Martin and his quote on the cover gave Martin’s first book A GAME OF THRONES a sales boost.
Martin wrote of Jordan, “My own ICE & FIRE series might never have found its audience without the cover quote that [Robert Jordan] was so kind as to provide, back when A GAME OF THRONES was first published. I will always be grateful to him for that.”
Among my many expectations for THE WHEEL OF TIME television series (like, please get Moiraine right, okay?), chiefly I hope that the man behind them is not forgotten. Unlike Martin, the late Robert Jordan is not here to defend his work. He cannot sit for interviews to talk about his process, his characters, what he was thinking when he made the series. Will the world learn his name? I feel confident in Brandon Sanderson, who finished TWoT, to speak on his behalf, and can only hope Martin – with the fandom amassed over the past eight years of GoT – will do so, as well.
“Jim (Robert Jordan) was a good and gracious man, a pleasure to share a platform or a pint with, and his contributions to modern fantasy were many,” Martin wrote on his blog. “His huge, ambitious WHEEL OF TIME series helped to redefine the genre, and opened many doors for the writers who followed.”
With enough fans involved in the production of the series, who knows? Perhaps RJ's memory will live on on-screen in the book-loving Loial. Or maybe small homages will be paid in other ways. In the upcoming "Good Omens" television show on Amazon, I read that they hung Terry Pratchett's hat on a coat rack in Aziraphale's bookshop in honor of the late co-author of the original book - a nice touch.
So, if after the GoT finale on May 19 you find yourself looking for the next path to tread now you’ve come through the GoT gateway – the, er, GoTway (sorry), I’ve got you covered. Check out the THE WHEEL OF TIME (first book: THE EYE OF THE WORLD) before it hits the small screen. You’ll thank me.
Or, if you’re looking for something rather smaller and lighthearted, check out my novel, DAMSELLE IN DISTRESS. It’s the story of a damsel fed up with being rescued and ready to save herself...and everyone else. If you like little Easter eggs of classic folklore, faery-tales, and mythology woven through your fantasy, this one's for you. (Available in paperback, Kindle, and free on Kindle Unlimited!)
What a wonderful, fabulous, enormous gateway GoT has been to fantasy for the entire world. It has shown people they can like fantasy, it’s okay. And it has blown the gateway wide open for other series like it in the entertainment industry. Will all of them succeed on GoT's level? No. But studios are willing to try. And it’s like Christmas for us fantasy nerds, watching all the possibilities unfold. Remember my friend who was picked on for liking fantasy and superheroes? Yeah, he’s having the last laugh now.
THE WHEEL OF TIME, which was picked up by Sony Pictures and will debut on Amazon Prime, is in the works. Perhaps I’m biased, but if you like GoT, then prepare thine self for some epic awesomeness. Romance and mystery and intrigue and heartache? Check. And swords and magic and the Dragon – capital “D.” Robert Jordan was a master at creating a rich world and complex characters and, fun fact, he was published before George R.R. Martin and his quote on the cover gave Martin’s first book A GAME OF THRONES a sales boost.
Martin wrote of Jordan, “My own ICE & FIRE series might never have found its audience without the cover quote that [Robert Jordan] was so kind as to provide, back when A GAME OF THRONES was first published. I will always be grateful to him for that.”
Among my many expectations for THE WHEEL OF TIME television series (like, please get Moiraine right, okay?), chiefly I hope that the man behind them is not forgotten. Unlike Martin, the late Robert Jordan is not here to defend his work. He cannot sit for interviews to talk about his process, his characters, what he was thinking when he made the series. Will the world learn his name? I feel confident in Brandon Sanderson, who finished TWoT, to speak on his behalf, and can only hope Martin – with the fandom amassed over the past eight years of GoT – will do so, as well.
“Jim (Robert Jordan) was a good and gracious man, a pleasure to share a platform or a pint with, and his contributions to modern fantasy were many,” Martin wrote on his blog. “His huge, ambitious WHEEL OF TIME series helped to redefine the genre, and opened many doors for the writers who followed.”
With enough fans involved in the production of the series, who knows? Perhaps RJ's memory will live on on-screen in the book-loving Loial. Or maybe small homages will be paid in other ways. In the upcoming "Good Omens" television show on Amazon, I read that they hung Terry Pratchett's hat on a coat rack in Aziraphale's bookshop in honor of the late co-author of the original book - a nice touch.
So, if after the GoT finale on May 19 you find yourself looking for the next path to tread now you’ve come through the GoT gateway – the, er, GoTway (sorry), I’ve got you covered. Check out the THE WHEEL OF TIME (first book: THE EYE OF THE WORLD) before it hits the small screen. You’ll thank me.
Or, if you’re looking for something rather smaller and lighthearted, check out my novel, DAMSELLE IN DISTRESS. It’s the story of a damsel fed up with being rescued and ready to save herself...and everyone else. If you like little Easter eggs of classic folklore, faery-tales, and mythology woven through your fantasy, this one's for you. (Available in paperback, Kindle, and free on Kindle Unlimited!)
What are your thoughts on GoT as a gateway into fantasy? What was your gateway? Did you ever find a time or place when fantasy entertainment was much less accepted?
Hey! I mentioned a lot of books and series in my post! Here they are on Amazon if you'd like to check them out!
- A Song of Ice and Fire, Complete Series
- A Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire Book 1
- A Wrinkle In Time
- Damselle in Distress
- Game of Thrones, the TV Series, Seasons 1-7
- Good Omens
- Harry Potter in the Sorcerer's Stone
- The Unicorn Chronicles
- The Wheel of Time, Complete Series
- The Eye of the World, The Wheel of Time Book 1
