George R. R.

Legendary music producer George Martin passed away at the age of 90 this week. Martin was most famous for his work as “the fifth Beatle,” signing the band in their early years and introducing many innovative recording techniques to their iconic albums. His impact on pop music will last for generations and his death caused an outpouring of tributes. However, in one corner of the literary world, the news produced panic:

GOOD GRIEF NEARLY HAD A HEART ATTACK thought the George martin who had died was @GeorgeRRMartin_ NO YOU CANNOT DIE YOU MUST FINISH THE BOOKS

 — @louisaamae

I thought George RR Martin just died.... Just some other George Martin

 — @spiralhorn

Just saw that the musician George Martin had died. Thought it was George RR Martin at first and thought, OMG HE WILL NEVER FINISH THE BOOKS.

 — @letablake

And at least one news outlet made the same mistake:

LOL, @kolo8 just killed George RR Martin.pic.twitter.com/LuyXRGPpev

 — @JD24

Fans of George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, have been waiting for years for him to finish the sixth book, The Winds of Winter. Despite repeated promises and deadlines, Martin still hasn’t finished the book, which means that HBO’s adaptation Game of Thrones will officially surpass the books this season and possibly spoil most of the plot. But Martin is still alive and still working. On his LiveJournal, George R. R. Martin assuaged fans fears:

While it is strangely moving to realize that so many people around the world care so deeply about my life and death, I have to go with Mark Twain and insist that the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

It was Sir George Martin, of Beatles fame, who has passed away. Not me.

He paid tribute to Sir George Martin, “like many millions of others, I loved the Beatles, and Martin’s contribution to their music is worthy of recognition and honor.” He signed off by saying, “But thank you all for caring.”