$20,000 gets you killed in next Game of Thrones book

Ever wanted to play a part in a piece of literary history? To see your name featured in a cultural phenomenon, to be discussed by future book clubs and fan meetings? Now's your chance.

For the princely sum of £11,895 ($20,000) George R R Martin is giving two fans the chance to have a character named after them in a future Song of Ice and Fire novel - promising that they will share the fate of many beloved heroes by meeting "a grisly death".

The morbid prize is being offered by Martin to help raise funds for the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary and The Food Depot of his home town Santa Fe, New Mexico. A variety of perks and rewards are available for donations: $50 will get you a campaign t-shirt, $350 a signed map of Westeroes, $4,500 a signed script of the first episode of Game of Thrones. The top offer (named Martyr) offers the chance to have a character named after you - with one male and one female part available. Martin is even allowing you to pick the character's station: ordling, knight, peasant, whore, lady, maester, septon, anything. Anyone who donates to the cause will also stand the chance of winning a day with Martin in Santa Fe.

To place your donation, head over to the charity campaign site. Here's hoping that a Daniel Targaryen grabs the top prize and confuses everything.

[Via: Wall Street Journal]