Let's make this birthday one to remember.

77 years old (Born on September 20, 1948)

Happy Birthday, George RR Martin! May your celebrations last longer than the wait for 'The Winds of Winter' and be filled with more joy (and fewer shocking plot twists) than a Westerosi wedding. Thank you for bringing us dragons, direwolves, epic battles, and characters we adore—only to cruelly take them away just as we got attached.

Congratulations also on your impressive Emmy nominations; clearly even Hollywood bowed down before the sheer brilliance (and occasional ruthlessness!) of your storytelling genius. Here's hoping this year finally brings you closure—or at least one finished manuscript. After all, winter is coming… eventually!