A fan letter written by 'Game of Thrones' author George R R Martin

In 1963, then 15-year-old George RR Martin wrote a letter to Marvel complimenting Fantastic Four #17, saying the issue was “absolutely stupendous” and that he found it impossible to even describe it.

The letter was addressed to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Marvel’s co-creators. Marvel responded to Martin’s letter with – “We might as well quit whi le we’re ahead. Thanks for your kind words, George.”

Martin would later go on to say letters like this helped him get into writing, saying: “In those days when they printed your letter they put your whole address in it.

People started seeing my address and I got letters from other comic fans and I started getting fanzines. Then I thought, ‘Hey, I could write something for these fanzines.’ I did, then my stuff started getting published.” Marvel recently posted Martin’s original 1963 letter on their site.