George R. R. Martin reacts to Game of Thrones getting nominated for Hugo Awards

Game of Thrones Season 6 had a great run, being well received by fans and critics alike, and doing really well at the awards season, being nominated for most eligible awards, and winning many among them. The latest validation came in form of Hugo Awards, where Game of Thrones was nominated two times in the same category, and George R. R. Martin, has now reacted to this particular nomination. Read on!

The Hugo Awards honor the best in fantasy and science fiction storytelling. The nominations were announced recently, and Game of Thrones was nominated twice in the Best Dramatic Presentation – Short Form category. The full list of nominees is as below :

Best Dramatic Presentation – Short Form

Black Mirror: “San Junipero”, written by Charlie Brooker, directed by Owen Harris (House of Tomorrow)

Doctor Who: “The Return of Doctor Mysterio”, written by Steven Moffat, directed by Ed Bazalgette (BBC Cymru Wales)

The Expanse: “Leviathan Wakes”, written by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, directed by Terry McDonough (SyFy)

Game of Thrones: “Battle of the Bastards”, written by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, directed by Miguel Sapochnik (HBO)

Game of Thrones: “The Door”, written by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, directed by Jack Bender (HBO)

Splendor & Misery [album], by Clipping (Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, Jonathan Snipes)

George R. R. Martin took to his Not A Blog to express his feelings about the nominations. He said he was thrilled to see Game of Thrones get two nominations, and talked about how Game of Thrones was in the run for three nominations but managed to get only two, because of the Dr. Who rule :

“As it happens, there were three episodes of GAME OF THRONES that got enough votes to make the final ballot, but this year a new rule went into effect, limiting each series to no more than two nominees. That’s the DR. WHO rule. It’s been needed for years, and I’m glad to see it in place, but it’s one of life’s little ironies that the first show it bites is not DR. WHO, but GAME OF THRONES. But one must not be greedy. It IS an honor just to be nominated, and a double honor to be nominated twice, so thanks to all the fans out there who gave us one of their votes.”

He also commented on how this was the best Hugo ballot yet :

“All in all, this is the best ballot we’ve had in several years, mostly because the impact of the slates has ebbed somewhat. Maybe it was EPH and the rules changes, or maybe they just got tired, but whatever the reason, not a single category this year was slated top to bottom. “

GRRM said that he wasn’t sure that he will need to hold the Alfie Awards this year, which is his own awards event to recognize the runners-up who get snubbed at the Hugos. Last year, he handed them out at his Hugo losers party, which he has been holding for a long time. He said :

“My first inclination is to say, hey, maybe not, doesn’t look as though they’re necessary. But they were fun, so let me mull that a while. I still have a lot of hood ornaments in the basement.”

Martin was also disappointed with his other project, Wild Cards, not making the cut :

“And yes, I will confess, I am very disappointed that WILD CARDS did not get a nod in the new Best Series category, it being our thirtieth anniversary and all … Anyone who works in this field for long, as writer, artist, editor, or fan, will have their share of both celebrations and disappointments. I certainly have. But you know, you can even celebrate your disappointments; that’s what the Hugo Losers Party is all about.”

Talking about the awards, Game of Thrones has won thrice before, for its first three seasons, and never since then. So maybe this year will get Game of Thrones a win again. What do you think? Tell us in the comments, down below!

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