George R.R. Martin, the renowned author behind the A Song of Ice and Fire novels that inspired Game of Thrones, has voiced strong criticism of modern television and film adaptations that stray too far from their source material.
In a recent blog post, Martin lamented what he sees as a pervasive trend of screenwriters and producers eager to put their own spin on beloved stories, often to the detriment of the original work.
“No matter how major a writer it is, no matter how great the book, there always seems to be someone on hand who thinks he can do better, eager to take the story and ‘improve’ on it,” Martin wrote. “They never make it better, though. Nine hundred ninety-nine times out of a thousand, they make it worse.”
The author’s scathing remarks come amid a recent resurgence in high-profile book-to-screen adaptations, from Neil Gaiman’s Sandman on Netflix to the upcoming Dune: The Sisterhood series based on Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi novels.
While Martin refrained from commenting on specific adaptations, he expressed frustration with the notion that the film or television version should diverge significantly from the written work, stating, “‘The book is the book, the film is the film,’ they will tell you, as if they were saying something profound. Then they make the story their own.”
However, Martin did highlight one recent adaptation that he believes succeeded in faithfully translating the source material: FX’s Shogun series, based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell.
“I think the author would have been pleased,” Martin said of the new Shogun adaptation. “Both old and new screenwriters did honor to the source material, and gave us terrific adaptations, resisting the impulse to ‘make it their own.'”
The Game of Thrones creator’s critique underscores the delicate balance storytellers must strike when adapting beloved works for the screen. While creative liberties are often necessary, Martin’s perspective suggests a deep respect for the original text should remain paramount.
As the era of prestige television continues to drive demand for acclaimed book-to-screen translations, Martin’s cautionary words serve as a reminder that straying too far from the established canon risks alienating devoted readers and undermining the essence of the stories themselves.
