George R.R. Martin Used An Unexpected Inspiration For The ‘Game Of Thrones’ Wall

Game of Thrones fans know that one of the show’s highlights — besides the actual episodes — are the sideline comments lovingly tossed into the ring by George R.R. Martin. Well, they’re not always positive comments, especially when he’s telling viewers, “F*ck you,” when confronted with the possibility that he may not finish the books before his natural demise. Martin’s still a relatively good sport, however, especially when offering himself up as a victim in Sharknado 3.

Martin led a rousing speech at Northwestern University about a variety of GoT-related subjects. Of particular note is his revelation about the origins of the series’ enormous wall of ice. As legend has it, the Wall was constructed to protect the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, but the Wall’s inspirations are rooted in reality. The Chicago Tribune sets the scene with much drama. Martin confirmed that GoT‘s harsh winters are not unlike his Chicagoan experiences, where one must remain hardy to survive:

“The coldest winter was in Chicago, let me tell you about cold. There was so much snow that winter, you couldn’t see, all snow, all ice, and it was so very cold. It was like the trenches during World War I, but they were trenches of ice. I remember walking through the trenches and the tunnels of ice, the wind blowing so you couldn’t even see. It’s an experience that never left me.”

Martin’s description of the Great Chicago Blizzard of 1967 was particularly descriptive and deservedly so. Over the course of two days, the city saw 23 inches of snow, which caused streets full of stranded vehicles, collapsed roofs, and dozens of deaths. The reporter noted the “whooshing” motion Martin made while describing the storm, which is a festive little detail. Martin also reveals that people often ask him for “a piece of my beard,” but “that’s a little freaky.” Yet when someone inquired about the rumored return of Jon Snow, Martin wouldn’t bite: “No comment on that … read the books.”

(Via Chicago Tribune)

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