George R. R. Martin's Real Name: George Raymond Richard Martin
George R. R. Martin → George Raymond Richard Martin
Quick answer: George R. R. Martin's full name is George Raymond Richard Martin, so the "R. R." stands for Raymond Richard. He was born on September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. Britannica also lists the shorter form George Raymond Martin. He wrote A Song of Ice and Fire, the fantasy series adapted as HBO's Game of Thrones (Library of Congress; Britannica).
Real name and early life
The Library of Congress name authority files him as "Martin, George R. R." It spells out the initials in its variants "G. R. R. M. (George Raymond Richard Martin), 1948-" and "M., G. R. R. (George Raymond Richard Martin)." It also cites his official site's biography: born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey, with B.S. (1970) and M.S. (1971) degrees in journalism from Northwestern University. Britannica lists "George Raymond Martin" and "George Raymond Richard Martin" among his other names.
Britannica says he loved science fiction and fantasy from childhood and sold his first short story in 1971. As a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, he did alternative service at a Chicago legal-aid group. He also directed chess tournaments and wrote short fiction. His novella "A Song for Lya" won a Hugo Award in 1974, and in 1976 he began teaching journalism at Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa.
Career highlights
His first novel, Dying of the Light, appeared in 1977, and in 1979 he moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to write full time. "Sandkings" won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. Other novels include Windhaven (with Lisa Tuttle), Fevre Dream (1982), and The Armageddon Rag (1983). He then wrote for the 1980s Twilight Zone revival and was a writer and producer on Beauty and the Beast (1987–90).
A Game of Thrones (1996) began the series set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. It continued with A Clash of Kings (1999), A Storm of Swords (2000), A Feast for Crows (2005), and A Dance with Dragons (2011). HBO's adaptation ran from 2011 to 2019. His episode "Blackwater" won a 2013 Hugo, and as co-executive producer he shared three Emmys for outstanding drama series. He co-created the prequel House of the Dragon (2022– ).
He also wrote Fire & Blood (2018), a Targaryen history, and the novellas collected in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2014). Other books include The Ice Dragon, the collection GRRM: A RRetrospective (2003), and many edited anthologies, such as Dangerous Women (2013).
Name notes for searchers
"R. R." stands for Raymond Richard, and he uses the initials professionally. Fans often call him GRRM, a form he used in the title of his 2003 retrospective.
FAQ
What does the R. R. in George R. R. Martin stand for?
Raymond Richard.
Where was he born?
Bayonne, New Jersey, on September 20, 1948.
Where did he go to college?
Northwestern University, where he earned journalism degrees in 1970 and 1971.
What was the first Song of Ice and Fire book?
A Game of Thrones (1996).
Did he work on House of the Dragon?
Yes. He co-created it and is an executive producer.