This Day in History: <br />George R.R. Martin’s <br />'Game of Thrones' Debuts August 6, 1996 A Game of Thrones was <br />the first novel published <br />in Martin's epic fantasy series, <br />"A Song of Ice and Fire." Though not an initial <br />blockbuster, the book <br />gained a loyal following. It would go on to be <br />one of the most successful <br />and talked about TV series <br />ever to be produced by HBO. A journalism professor and <br />chess tournament director, <br />Martin landed in Hollywood <br />as a writer and producer in the mid 1980s. Before beginning his epic <br />fantasy novels, Martin <br />wrote for TV series such <br />as The Twilight Zone. HBO's Game of Thrones <br />ran for 8 seasons from <br />2011 to 2019.
