George R.R. Martin Explains Why He Was Rejected as a Writer For STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION

At one point in his career, A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin interviewed for a writing job on Star Trek: The Next Generation. He was ultimately rejected, and the reason he gives is a little surprising. Martin shared the story of his rejection during an event at UCSD’s Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination. He said:

“I had an interview with Star Trek: The Next Generation for a possible job as a staff writer,” Martin said. “I remember coming into the office of this producer – who thankfully did not last long on the show and you can see why when I tell the story. He said ‘I don’t know who you are can you tell me your credentials.’ And I said ‘I am just coming off Twilight Zone where I worked for a while, but before that, I wrote novels and short stories. I am primarily a science fiction writer.’ And he said ‘Oh really, well Star Trek is not a science-fiction show, it is a people show.’ I was fooled by the photon torpedoes and starships. I was misled. Needless to say, I did not get that job.”

Being denied because he was a sci-fi writer is a strange reason not to be hired. But, Maurice Hurley, who was the showrunner on the first two seasons of the series had no experience working in science fiction prior to working on Star Trek. I imagine he was the one that interviewed Martin and he just wasn't looking for people who wrote sci-fi. Either that, or he knew that Martin would never be able to finish his scripts on time. You know, because he still has yet to finish The Winds of Winter. 

I'm actually curious to know what kind of Next Generation episodes that George R.R. Martin might have given us. Unfortunately, We'll never know.

Via: Trek Movie