Why You Can Trust CNET George R. R. Martin oversees coloring book for adults
Get your Lannister Lemon, Tyrion Teal and Winter White ready. A new "Game of Thrones" book is coming, though not the one that most fans are hoping for.
Good news. A new book in the "Song of Ice and Fire"/"Game of Thrones" world is on its way.
No, sorry, it's not that book (the sixth book in the series that people have been waiting for longer than winter's been coming). Rather, it's a coloring book that will include 45 never-before-viewed illustrations that are being overseen by the creator of both the TV and book series, George R. R. Martin.
The publisher of the book, Bantam, announced this week that the coloring book is scheduled to be out this fall, according to the Los Angeles Times. The black-and-white illustrations in the book are being drawn by "world renowned fantasy illustrators Yvonne Gilbert, John Howe, Tomislav Tomic, Adam Stower and Levi Pinfold," according to Time magazine.
While Gilbert is renowned as a fairytale book illustrator, she also has a bit of fame from having designed the artwork for "Relax," a 1983 single from the band Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Howe is best known for his work as conceptual designer for the "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy.
Looking at the work of all the artists (something I highly recommend by following the links above), it looks like lovers of all fantasy-oriented artwork will be in for a real treat when the coloring book drops.
While putting together a "Game of Thrones" coloring book might seem to eager fans like a stall tactic in the release of the next "Song of Ice and Fire" novel, Martin is actually being pretty savvy here by jumping on a new trend -- adult coloring books. In fact, there's even an adult coloring book three spots ahead of Martin's novels currently in Amazon's top 20 best-seller list.
Coloring is supposedly therapeutic for adults in that it helps reduce stress and lets the mind focus on the task at hand rather than on a series of "to-do's" and "didn't do's." According to a report in the Huffington Post, psychiatrist Carl Jung first used coloring as therapy in the early 1900s.
That may be, but I somehow doubt that a "Game of Thrones" coloring book will be all that relaxing. In fact, one of my colleagues even suggested that the entire goal of the book will be to draw big red Xs through your most beloved characters. Although that's not likely, it is pretty certain that you'll need plenty of red (Wedding Red?) to get through the book.
Certainly we think a special themed crayon or marker set needs to go along with this. (Are you listening, Crayola?) The CNET team has already come up with the colors above. To that I can add Baratheon Brown, (Taking The) Black and Dragon-Egg Green. Add your own favorites in the comments below -- and be sure to check out this gallery of adult coloring books you just might want to get your hands on.