Updated
While playful Melburnians are putting forward Game of Thrones-inspired names for the city's newest train stations, the author of the fantasy phenomenon has his own idea — and it couldn't be further from Westeros.
A public competition is underway to name the five new stations being built as part of the $11 billion Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel project.
Game of Thrones-inspired names have reportedly been among the most popular suggestions, including Winterfell, Highgarden, King's Landing and The Eyrie.
Now, Game of Thrones author George RR Martin has put forward his thoughts, using a blog post to express his bemusement at the suggestions and offer a far more Aussie suggestion of his own:
"Myself, I think they ought to consider naming one of the stops after the late great Aussie country singer Slim Dusty: they could call it The Stop With No Beer," he said.
Martin blogged that Australia was one of his "favourite places in the world, particularly the city of Melbourne".
"[A]nd it would seem the Aussies like me too," he wrote.
"Melbourne, as it happens, is adding five new stops to its Metro, and in a fit of jolly Aussie optimism they have asked the public to suggest names for the new stations. And it would seem that names from my books are among the leading contenders."
Martin wrote that he was "bemused and rather flattered" by the idea of Westeros-inspired stations in Melbourne.
"The idea of a Melbourne Metro Station named Winterfell tickles my fancy … though, having been to Australia numerous times, I will assert that winter never really does come down there."
The stations are currently referred to as Arden, Parkville, CBD North, CBD South and Domain.
Martin said he was less keen on another idea bandied about by cheeky Victorians: Station McStationface.
"Highgarden, the Eyrie, Dorne, Westeros … well, some names are more apt than others, admittedly, but all of them beat Station McStationface, which I fear will be the ultimate victor, given the results of other recent Name That Thing balloting," he said.
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allen declined to enter the debate, but said she welcomed the discussion.
"I think it just demonstrates that there is great excitement and interest in the Metro Tunnel project and people want to get involved and have their say about what the new stations should be named after," she said.
"I have my own views, but we want to hear the views of as many members of the Victorian community [as possible].
"It's quite a rare opportunity to be able to have your say on a brand new station that's going to operate on the Metro Tunnel."
Topics: arts-and-entertainment, urban-development-and-planning, community-and-society, parkville-3052, kensington-3031, melbourne-3000, vic
First posted