A Song of Ice and Fire fandom
International community of fans of Martin's books and TV series.
The A Song of Ice and Fire fandom is a loose, global community united by George R. R. Martin’s book series, the HBO show *Game of Thrones*, and associated merchandise. Before the internet, Martin received only a handful of fan letters each year. After *A Game of Thrones* was published, his following grew, leading to fan websites, regular meetups, and a fan culture comparable to that of *Star Trek*. By 2005, Martin was buried in fan emails, with about 2,000 unanswered letters that might never get a reply.
One major gathering is Ice and Fire Con, held annually in Mount Sterling, Ohio. Since 2013, its programming has included a “Tourney of Champions” with LARP duels, melees, jousts, and archery. Other yearly events feature a weekend-long live-action Assassin game based on the Faceless Men, a board game tournament, and a “Flea Bottom Fete” dance party. A mock election for book characters began in 2013, switching to a donation-based voting system in 2017, with proceeds going to Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, a charity Martin supports. In 2016, FanSided ranked it among the top ten nerdiest vacation spots. In 2017, NowThis News praised it as a more intimate, party-like alternative to larger conventions, comparing it to the fan gatherings Martin himself enjoyed in the 1970s and 1980s.
Westeros.org, founded in 1999 by Swedish fans Elio M. García Jr. and Linda Antonsson, is a key fan site. By 2012, it had roughly 17,000 registered members. Martin has consulted García—dubbed a “superfan” by *The New Yorker*—to verify details of his own series and has directed HBO researchers to him. The first fan site and message board, “Dragonstone,” launched after the first novel’s 1996 release but crashed in 1997 and was never rebuilt. Its creator moved on, but early members, including García, regrouped to form Westeros.org. García’s work there is unpaid, though he has been a paid consultant for licensed merchandise. He and Antonsson co-authored *The World of Ice & Fire* (2014) with Martin, who approached them about the project in 2008.
The Brotherhood Without Banners is an unofficial fan club with members across multiple countries. Martin has attended its gatherings and maintained friendships with its founders and longtime members.
Since the TV series debuted in 2011, fan sites have multiplied.
- Field
- Fandom and fan culture
- Known for
- Passionate engagement with George R. R. Martin's works, including fan sites, conventions, and vocal impatience with book delays
- Notable events
- Ice and Fire Con (annual convention since 2013), formation of GRRuMblers (2009), creation of Westeros.org (1999)
Lore & Background
The fandom's early history includes the first fan website and messageboard, 'Dragonstone', which lasted about a year after the first novel's release in 1996 before crashing in 1997. Several early online fans, including Elio M. García Jr., then coalesced to create Westeros.org in 1999, which had about 17,000 registered members by 2012. García and Linda Antonsson later co-authored a companion book with Martin. The Brotherhood Without Banners is an unofficial fan club with members in several countries, and Martin has attended its gatherings and maintained friendships with its founders.
A movement of disaffected fans called GRRuMblers formed in 2009, creating sites such as Finish the Book, George and Is Winter Coming?, due to the six-year wait for A Dance with Dragons. Martin issued an angry statement called 'To My Detractors' on his blog in response. Author Neil Gaiman backed Martin, replying that 'George R. R. Martin is not your bitch.' As delays for The Winds of Winter continued, some fans gave up hope, with one 2022 estimate suggesting the book might be released in late 2027 and the final book in 2042.
Reader's Guide
The A Song of Ice and Fire fandom matters as a prominent example of a modern, global fan community that spans both literary and television media. It demonstrates the evolution from small, pre-internet fan bases to large, organized online and offline communities. The fandom's conventions, such as Ice and Fire Con, feature LARP-based tournaments, mock elections, and charity events benefiting Martin's favorite charity. The fandom also includes celebrity fans from politics, music, and film. The community's relationship with Martin has been complex, marked by both deep engagement and vocal frustration over delays in the book series, highlighting the tensions between authorial freedom and fan expectations. The fandom's influence extends to licensed merchandise consulting and co-authorship of companion books.
Did You Know?
- Ice and Fire Con has held a mock election since 2013, with a donation-based voting format beginning in 2017, with proceeds going to Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary.
- Celebrity fans include former U.S. president Barack Obama, former UK prime minister David Cameron, and author Stephen King.
More in Characters
Elsewhere in A Song of Ice and Fire
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