Campus Life

University Libraries To Celebrate Five Millionth Volume With ‘Game Of Thrones’ Author George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin will visit Texas A&M University to celebrate the acquisition of the University Libraries’ 5 millionth volume by presenting a first edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
By Lesley Henton, Texas A&M Marketing & Communications January 29, 2015

George R.R. Martin takes questions from media before presenting “The Hobbit” at Rudder Auditorium in 2015.
George R.R. Martin takes questions from media before presenting “The Hobbit” at Rudder Auditorium.(

Texas A&M Marketing & Communications)

George R.R. Martin, author of the best-selling book series that spawned the hit HBO show “Game of Thrones,” will visit Texas A&M University to celebrate the acquisition of the University Libraries’ 5 millionth volume by presenting a first edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, funded by Martin as a gift to the university.

The ceremony will be at 11 a.m. on Feb. 27 in Rudder Auditorium.

Martin will present the first-edition Tolkien volume, which features illustrations by Tolkien himself, as a gift to the Texas A&M University Libraries’ Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Collection housed in the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives. Martin will also read a few pages from The Hobbit before formally presenting it.

The award-winning fantasy author has also placed his personal collection of manuscripts, books and associated memorabilia at Texas A&M in Cushing Library’s special collections. Cushing celebrated the collection with an exhibit, Deeper Than Swords, and appearance by the author in March 2013 that drew a crowd from across the country.

The campus community and the public are invited to Martin’s appearance, free of charge. At this time, Martin is not scheduled for a meet-and-greet or autograph signing session in conjunction with the 5 millionth volume celebrations.

Media contact: Lesley Henton, Texas A&M Division of Marketing & Communications.

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