According to Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, in addition to a growing number of world conflicts and social divisions, an apparent rise in “toxicity” across fandom culture is a major contributing factor to the currently disheartening state of the world as it is today.
The author offered his thoughts on this phenomena in a January 29th blog post made to his official website aptly titled ‘Dark Days’.
Therein, he spoke to his feelings towards his belief that while “2023 was a nightmare of a year, for the world and the nation and for me and mine, both professionally and personally,” 2024 was looking “to be even worse”.
To this end, Martin explained that his fear stemmed from a number of current events, including the numerous wars being fought across the globe, the deaths of a number of his sci-fi and fantasy writing peers, and the fact that “the US grows more polarized every day.”
“Hate is rising, democracy is under threat, millions of Americans have swallowed the lie that the 2020 election was stolen,” he mused on this last phenomena. “Newspeak has taken over political discourse, cancel culture is destroying lives and careers, and we have a disgraced, indicted, venomous ex-president winning primaries despite openly declaring that he will be a dictator on day one and will govern on a platform of ‘retribution,’ when he is not busy grabbing women by the p—-y. His last attempt to overthrow the government failed on January 6, but some of his more ardent supporters are now saying that ‘next time’ they will bring more guns. There are actually folks out there wanting civil war. It is hard to escape the feeling that we are living in the Weimar Republic.”
But despite this ever-growing cloud of despair hanging over his head, Martin informed his readers that he still tried to “take solace where I can.”
“In chocolate thrones, if nowhere else,” he detailed. “In books. In films and television shows.”
However, upon his turn to the subject of entertainment, Martin’s briefly optimistic demeanor soured once more, with the author proceeding to lament how “Though even there, toxicity is growing.”
“It used to be fun talking about our favorite books and films, and having spirited debates with fans who saw things different,” said the Wild Cards series creator. “But somehow in this age of social media, it is no longer enough to say ‘“I did not like book X or film Y, and here’s why.’ Now social media is ruled by anti-fans who would rather talk about the stuff they hate than the stuff they love, and delight in dancing on the graves of anyone whose film has flopped.”
Finally noting that the topic of the US immigration crisis was also one which filled him with despair, Martin ultimately concluded of his thoughts, “It is all so sad.”
Martin is currently said to be working on the next book in his Game of Thrones series, The Winds of Winter.
However, as of writing, it’s anyone’s guess as to when, or if ever, it will receive an official release date.