J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings has inspired countless creatives since its publishing in the 1950s and ‘60s. Published a trilogy, the story was set in Middle Earth and followed the journey of a hobbit named Frodo as he embarked on a treacherous journey to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring as the Dark Lord Sauron regained power.

Author George R.R. Martin has often expressed his adoration for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and branded it as the greatest book he had ever read. The author of the Game of Thrones saga revealed that he was initially apprehensive about the novel before falling in love with it. He also credited a key death in LOTR as an inspiration for his own work.

George R.R. Martin revealed how a key death in Lord of the Rings inspired him

George R.R. Martin | Credits: YouTube/PBS

Anyone who is familiar with George R.R. Martin knows that he loves shocking his fans with a death. The A Song of Ice and Fire novel series and the Game of Thrones show prided itself on killing off fan-favorite characters unceremoniously and to a shocking effect. The Red Wedding is one of the most harrowing moments in the entire series that is still talked about.

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However, his habit of killing off characters that usually have plot armor in other stories has reportedly stemmed from a variety of sources. Martin had once said that he was inspired by Marvel’s Avengers comic where the character of Wonder Man is introduced, given a redemption arc, and then killed off in the same issue.

Gandalf in Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring | Credits: Warner Bros.

Martin also mentioned how J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings inspired him as an author in general and Gandalf’s death by the Balrog inspired him to kill off main characters to increase tension in his own works. He said (via PBS),

I can’t explain the impact that had on me at 13. It can’t kill Gandalf. Conan didn’t die in the Conan books, you know? Tolkien just broke that rule and I’ll love him forever for it. Just the minute you kill Gandalf, the suspense of everything that follows is 1000 times greater, ’cause now anybody could die. Of course, it’s had a profound effect on my own willingness to kill characters at the drop of a hat.

George R.R. Martin appreciated J.R.R. Tolkien’s approach to writing the Lord of the Rings novels, admiring how he wrote it like he wrote history.

George R.R. Martin once said that he wanted to discuss some elements of Lord of the Rings with J.R.R Tolkien

Aragorn in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King | Credits: Warner Bros.

The Lord of the Rings is no doubt one of the most influential pieces of literature in all of fiction. So many fantasy novels since have taken a leaf from J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece and have credited it accordingly. From magical creatures like the hobbits and elves to the incredible battles, all tropes lead back to the Lord of the Rings.

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While he is a huge fan of Tolkien’s works and has endlessly appreciated them, George R.R. Martin mentioned that he wanted to ask questions to the author about some aspects of the trilogy. He mentioned that he particularly had issues with the lack of explanation on how Aragorn ruled in the aftermath of the battles. He said (via Tolkien Society),

I keep wanting to argue with Professor Tolkien through the years about certain aspects of it… I look at the end and it says Aragorn is the king and he says, ‘And Aragorn ruled wisely and well for 100 years’ or something. It’s easy to write that sentence. But I want to know what was his tax policy, and what did he do when famine struck the land? And what did he do with all those Orcs? A lot of Orcs left over. 

Martin, however, did mention that he was one of the biggest fans of Tolkien and he read the Lord of the Rings every few years.

Game of Thrones is available to stream on Max.
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