Elio M. García Jr. and Linda Antonsson
Elio García and Linda Antonsson are authors known for their contributions and expertise in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, co-writing in 2014 with Martin The World of Ice & Fire, a companion book for the series. They are also the founders of the fansite Westeros.org, one of the earliest fan websites for A Song of Ice and Fire.[1]
Career
Elio García was attending the University of Miami, while his partner Linda Antonsson was living in Sweden. At that time, in 1996, Antonsson introduced García to the A Song of Ice and Fire book series when it came out on paperback. After the second book, A Clash of Kings, was released, they decided to create a forum for discussion of the series, creating an early iteration of Westeros.org, and later expanded it as the series became more popular.[2] As of 2016, Westeros.org had more than 100,000 registered members.[3]
García and Antonsson have communicated closely with George R. R. Martin, serving sometimes as fact checkers and researchers of the A Song of Ice and Fire universe. They first approached Martin when they had the desire to create a game based on the series, seeking his permission, and created Westeros.org as an information source about how to play the game, titled "Blood of Dragons",[4] but it transformed to become more encompassing of the entire series as a whole, with discussion forums, news, and a Wiki.[2]
Around 2000, when A Storm of Swords was published, García and Antonsson began compiling a concordance of facts and details about Westeros, which they sent to Martin, leading him to state that they knew more about Westeros than he did.[5] During the writing of the series' fourth book, A Feast for Crows, the couple became a regular fact checker for details regarding the series' many characters and locations.[5]
After meeting with Martin in person in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the pair was approached by Martin to co-author a book titled The World of Ice & Fire, a companion book which focuses primarily on the history of the Targaryen family, one of the main families presented in the books.[2] The book is written from the point of view that it is a scholarly work of a maester at the Citadel, the main center of knowledge in the world of Westeros.[6] They work together from their home in Nödinge-Nol, near Gothenburg, Sweden.[7]
Antonsson has stated that they never contribute to the main series of books on a story level, rather about setting details and continuity details.[3] In addition to writing, Antonsson has also done English to Swedish translating, including for Game of Thrones.[5][3] As the television series surpassed the book series, they have become critics of many of the show's plot conveniences, in their view, and "clichés."[3]
Personal life
García and Antonsson met in 1995 while playing a game based on The Lord of the Rings over the internet.[4][8] They were married in 2014, the same day that The World of Ice & Fire was released, 16 years after the couple had become engaged.[7] García moved to Sweden in 1999, where the couple now lives.[2][7]
References
- ↑ Cooke, Lacy (April 15, 2015). "Fans Turned Creators Elio García And Linda Antonsson Know The World Of Game Of Thrones Better Than George R.R. Martin". The Surge. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 D'Addario, Daniel (April 28, 2014). "Meet the Game of Thrones superfan who knows Westeros better than George R.R. Martin". Salon. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 Stewart, Sara (April 23, 2016). "These fanatics know 'Game of Thrones' better than its creator". The New York Post. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- 1 2 Marzolf, Steve (February 28, 2011). "Interview With Elio Garcia of Westeros.org". HBO. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- 1 2 3 Watkins, Gwynne (October 19, 2012). "Influential Fan Portrait: Elio García and Linda Antonsson, Webmasters of Game of Thrones' Westeros.org". Vulture. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- ↑ "On the Red Couch with Elio García of Westeros.org". Flipboard. October 4, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- 1 2 3 Bialik, Carl (December 18, 2014). "These Authors Know The 'Game Of Thrones' Backstory Better Than George R.R. Martin Does". Five Thirty Eight. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- ↑ Smith, Julia Llewellyn (December 1, 2014). "From Game of Thrones to Doctor Who, meet culture's most devoted fans". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
External links
- Westeros.org - Official website