![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/GeorgeRRMartinStPetersburgWindow.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWell, not the real<\/em> George R. R. Martin. Rather, a larger-than-life version in a bookshop window. <\/p>\n He was plastered there because he was scheduled to sign around the corner from our hotel at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, Agust 17th, as was verified by a sign near the escalators leading to the area where his books were stocked.<\/p>\n I headed upstairs and checked out the science fiction and fantasy section, where I discovered something unusual about George’s books.<\/p>\n All the novels in his A Song of Ice and Fire<\/em> series were bylined George R. R. Martin, while his other books were bylined without those middle initials. I assume this was deliberate branding on the part of George’s publishers. But still … odd.<\/p>\n I thought it would be hoot to bump into George in Russia, but assumed I wouldn’t get the chance, as my plans called for Irene and me to be touring with a guide on the appointed day at the appointed time. But then, on Thursday, as I was returning late from touring Catherine Palace, we passed the bookshop hosting the signing event, and I discovered that at nearly 6:00 p.m., close to two hours after the signing began, George was still there. So I thought … why not join the line?<\/p>\n At that point there were probably 100-150 visible customers outside the shop. You can see a line break ahead of me which was kept open so we didn’t completely block Nevsky Prospekt.<\/p>\n I made two friends while waiting there, Olga Popov<\/a> and Johan Alekseev<\/a>, who were just ahead of me. Luckily, they spoke English, and so were able to let me know which book was the first in the series, because if I was going to get one of George’s Russian books signed, I felt it should be the first one. And since I can’t read Russian, I needed their help.<\/p>\n Once I’d made it upstairs, I could see George signing in the distance, while agent Chris Lotts (seen below with arms folded) stood nearby. This was as close as I was allowed to photograph.<\/p>\n George didn’t notice it was me placing a book before him on the table until I began to speak, saying (to someone I’ve known for 40+ years), “Mr. Martin, I’m so happy you decided to visit my country. I never thought I’d get a chance to meet you.” He laughed, asked what I was doing there, and if I’d be going to the St. Petersburg science fiction convention that weekend. (I was not, but instead heading back to Helsinki.)<\/p>\n And then I was off to the cash register to pay for my book, which now bore a signature that had me feeling better about my own barely legible scrawls.<\/p>\n And that, I thought, was that. <\/p>\n Until yesterday, when I learned from my new friend John (visible leaning toward George) that I’d been captured by the bookstore’s photographers. First, in line … <\/p>\n … and then, eclipsing George first as I shook hands with Chris Lotts …<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n