Game of Thrones and Star Wars are two fictional universes that have produced many books, movies, and series, but seem quite different at first glance. According to George R.R. Martin, however, there is a crucial similarity.
Game of Thrones and Star Wars are two of the biggest brands worldwide. Each has a huge fan base. Some indulge in the intrigues of the dark fantasy world of George R.R. Martin, while others call George Lucas’s space opera their favorite universe.
Star Wars caters to fans of science fiction, while Game of Thrones is aimed at fantasy fans. However, fans of Martin have to be very patient while waiting for new volumes .
Despite all the differences between these two genres, George R.R. Martin sees a significant commonality.
The Inner Lives of Characters Are Central
What does George R.R. Martin say? The writer was a guest on the official podcast on Game of Thrones and spoke about his work. He mentioned a thank-you speech from the author he admires, William Faulkner.
He said, “The only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself.”
Martin took this to heart and incorporated it into his own work. He states that the apparent oppositions between science fiction and fantasy don’t really exist. It doesn’t matter whether the characters in these stories use lightsabers or broadswords. Whether they have to fight aliens or dragons is also irrelevant. They are simply “two flavors of the same thing.”
For at its core, Game of Thrones, like a science fiction story such as Star Wars, revolves around the characters and their emotional journey. The protagonists are in conflict with themselves and must resolve it to ultimately be victorious.
According to Martin, it is very important for readers or the audience to engage emotionally with the characters. What is happening around them is secondary. In the case of Game of Thrones and also Star Wars, this requirement seems to have been met. After all, fans of both brands have been cheering for the characters for decades – even though the finale of the GoT series did not satisfy the creator himself.
Under the surface, stories of different genres can be very similar. That is at least the opinion of George R.R. Martin. What do you think? Do you see any other similarities between Game of Thrones and Star Wars? Feel free to let us know in the comments. In another major franchise, Martin has some criticisms: George R.R. Martin had a big problem with one aspect of The Lord of the Rings.
