George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones is often considered one of the greatest works of fiction in the modern era. There are several factors behind his great fan following, despite the massive delay in The Winds of Winter, one of them being his ability to make readers fall in love with his characters. Martin is also infamous for using that in the worst way imaginable: by unceremoniously killing them off.

George R.R. Martin | Credits: Sanna Pudas | Cca 4.0/Wikimedia Commons

However, Martin does that for more than just shock value. He needs his storyline to be impactful, collide with a reader’s mind, and leave a crater that lingers around long after they’ve finished reading his book. An approach that might’ve benefitted Star Wars in the long run.

George R.R. Martin explained why he kills off characters

For those who have seen George R.R. Martin...