George RR Martin Sells Chance to Die in His Books for Charity

Two fans have already snapped up the chance to have their fictitious selves murdered by Martin for a cool $20,000.

If you’re good at something never do it for free, or so the saying goes. And boy, is George RR Martin good at murdering fictional characters.

Fans of novel series Song of Ice and Fire and its HBO TV adaptation Game of Thrones were made an offer by creator Martin this week to encourage them to donate to a fundraiser he’s supporting. One of the top prizes? Having a character based on yourself be written into an upcoming Ice and Fire book and, in true Westeros fashion, being brutally murdered.

Martin extended the offer to the first male fan and first female fan who made a donation at the $20,000 “Martyr” level. And surprisingly – or not, depending on how you feel about being at the mercy of Martin’s quill – both of the grisly prizes have now been sold. The description of the prize states that the winner “can choose your character’s station in the world (lordling, knight, peasant, whore, lady, maester, septon, anything) and you will certainly meet a grisly death!”

The fundraising is supporting two organizations in Martin’s home state of New Mexico, the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary and The Food Depot of Santa Fe.

And if you’re disappointed about not getting the chance to be a part of Game of Thrones history, all donors to the charity still get the chance to win a day with Martin himself. A donation of any amount enters the donor in a contest for them and a friend to be flown to Santa Fe, from anywhere in the world, where they will take a helicopter ride of the wolf sanctuary alongside Martin.

Other top prizes up for grabs – all claimed in the day since the fundraiser went live – included Martin’s trademark hat for $7,500, tickets to the season five premiere of Game of Thrones, and a script of the first episode of the TV series signed by cast and crew. The fundraiser, currently at $259,759 of its $200,000 goal, is on the Prizeo website for the next 59 days. Click the link below to donate.

Source: Prizeo via Daily Mail