Beyond Westeros: Exploring the other works of George R.R. Martin
By Daniel Roman
5. Tuf Voyaging (1986)
Haviland Tuf is the vegetarian space faring fix-it man of the “Thousand Worlds” universe, the universe in which many of Martin’s sci-fi stories take place. He’s a cat person who lives alone on a warship that is also capable of environmental engineering, and often finds himself hired to solve issues that only his unique ship (and no-nonsense attitude) can handle. Sound eccentric enough?
Tuf Voyaging is a collection of short stories, all featuring one of GRRM’s most memorable protagonists. Haviland Tuf was a very intentional attempt by GRRM to make an unforgettable hero, and he definitely succeeded. Tuf is unlike any other sci-fi protagonist out there.
The stories were originally published from 1976-1985 (mainly in Analog magazine) before being gathered into this neat omnibus detailing Tuf’s adventures. It’s similar in format to the first Witcher book, The Last Wish, with separate stories being connected by bridging material to make it work as a novel.
The worlds, cultures, and creatures introduced in these stories give the book an episodic feel that is reminiscent of shows like Firefly. It’s quirky and fun with plenty of laughs to go around. And its exotic locales and people call to mind Essos from ASOIAF. It’s lighter than some of Martin’s other works, with strong environmentalist themes throughout.