Džordž R. R. Martin je ostvario značajnu karijeru kao pisac naučne fantastike, horora, epske fantastike, kao scenarista i televizijski producent i kao urednik, priređivač i autor koncepta dugovečne serije priča i romana Divlje karte, na kojoj rade mnogi autori. Ono što je Džordž postigao u svakom od tih polja zadovoljilo bi mnoge profesionalce kao životno delo – i to životno delo vredno hvale. Ova retrospektiva je iscrpan vodič kroz jednu bogatu i raznovrsnu karijeru, i neizostavno štivo za sve ljubitelje naučne i epske fantastike i horora.
U prvom tomu svoje retrospektive Martin nam predstavlja svoje prve mladalačke književne pokušaje, svoje prve profesionalno objavljene pripovetke, među kojima se posebno ističe Pesma za Liju za koju je Martin dobio svoju prvu nagradu Hugo. U svim tim pričama već se jasno vidi izuzetan dar za stvaranje nesvakidašnjih svetova, upečatljivih likova, snažnih zapleta kao i neke od tema koje će mnogo godina kasnije u potpunosti obraditi u svom slavnom serijalu. Sve je to protkano Martinovim duhovitim autobiografskim crticama o njegovom odrastanju, porodici, književnim uticajima i pokušajima da objavi svoje prve radove.
„Mada je već više od trideset godina jedan od najuticajnijih autora u nekoliko različitih žanrova, mada je osvajao nagrade Hugo, Nebula i World Fantasy, Džordž R. R. Martin je napokon uspeo, i to van svake sumnje. Siguran i jasan znak toga jeste činjenica da su nečiju knjigu nedavno reklamirali rečima: ’Napisana u tradiciji Džordža R. R. Martina!’.“ Gardner Dozoa
George Raymond Richard "R.R." Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
Martinove price su stvarno izvrsne, vec sam i zaboravio koliko je ovo dobra zbirka, jer davno sam ju citao, ali tu su stvari zbog kojih jos uvijek cijenim Martina jako puno (a ne zbog njegovog cuvenog serijala) Price kao: Druga vrsta usamljenosti Sa jutrom padaju Magle Pesma za Lyu Kameni Grad Ova kula od pepela Ljuto Cvijece Put Kriza i Zmaja su mraaaaaaaaaak
Martin je odličan pisac. SF priče su depresivne. Možda ne sve, ali definitivno ne samo ove njegove. SF ume da bude takav. Prilično su me smorile, bez obzira na kvalitet. Ipak Martin je zaista jedan od najboljih žanrovskih pisaca danas. Toliko.
Iako je ovo hronološki prvi tom Martinove retrospektive, ja sam ga čitao poslednjeg, i definitivno se vidi da je prvi. Nisu ove priče lošije, ali jesu jednostavnije i dosta manje zapletene.
Oduševljava me kako Martin radi world-building. Nikad ne davi objašnjenjima, ali čitalac nikad nije zbunjen. Objašnjava tačno koliko treba, dajući nam dovoljno da shvatimo, ali ostavljajući dovoljno mehanike nepoznatom, taman toliko da bude i zamislivo i misteriozno, poput i našeg sveta uostalom. Poneke reference se provlače kroz više priča, ali i tu se vide nijanse u shvatanju (dok se jedni spremaju za sukob sa Hrangancima, drugi se sećaju napada Velike Hrange itd).
Posebno sam uživao u pričama koje istražuju religijske teme kod raznih rasa koje spominje, recimo Pesma za Liju ili izuzetna I sedam puta ne ubij čoveka.
Fakt, że były to krótkie opowiadania jest zarówno dobry jak i zły. Fajnie było móc szybko skończyć jakąś historię. Z drugiej strony jednak ciężej jest się wczuć. Same historie otwarły mnie mocno na fantasy i jak to może wyglądać. Niektóre pozostawiły refleksje. Niektóre wręcz lęk. Niektóre mnie aż tak nie porwały. Język - wybitny. Mistrzowska forma pisania.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.