Game Of Thrones Author Replies To British Boy

Game of Thrones author George R R Martin has delivered a happy ending for a change, by taking time out from writing his new book to pen a touching reply to a British fan.

Thirteen-year-old Jack wrote to Martin after the best-selling author offered two readers the chance to be killed off in the latest installment of his fantasy epic if they donated $20,000 (£11,780) to a wolf sanctuary.

The teenager gave his saved-up pocket money to the campaign, according to Mashable, in a bid for literary mortality in Martin's forthcoming novel, The Winds of Winter.

In his letter, Jack concedes he is not allowed to watch "certain bits" of HBO's hugely-popular television adaptation of the books, but says wolves are his "most favourite" animal.

"I would love to be considered as a character in your next book and thank you for reading my letter," writes Jack. "A gruesome grizzly death is all I ask for."

Martin wrote back to thank him for his "heartfelt, touching note".

"I've heard that you donated all your £153 pocket money savings ... I cannot tell you how much that moved me."

Martin says he and Prizeo, a celebrity crowd-funding website, will donate $10,000 on Jack's behalf to the UK Wolf Conservation Trust.

"Alas, I cannot promise you a grisly death," Martin says, noting those spots have already been filled by donors and adding that "there's a limit to how many people even I can kill".

The two $20,000 slots reportedly sold out within hours.

A Facebook employee, David Goldblatt, bought one and the other wished to remain anonymous.

Martin made the unusual reader offer to raise money for the Wild Wolf Spirit Sanctuary in his adopted hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Animals in the reserve have reportedly appeared as "dire wolves", the fearsome creatures that prowl the fictional continent of Westeros in the books.