What do George R.R. Martin and Texas A&M University have in common?

Texas A&M Today reports:

‘Game of Thrones’ Author to Present Special Gift to Texas A&M

George R.R. Martin, author of the best-selling book series that spawned the hit HBO show “Game of Thrones,” will visit Texas A&M University to celebrate the acquisition of the University Libraries’ 5 millionth volume by presenting a first edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, funded by Martin as a gift to the university.

The ceremony will be at 11 a.m. on Feb. 27 in Rudder Auditorium.

Martin will present the first-edition Tolkien volume, which features illustrations by Tolkien himself, as a gift to the Texas A&M University Libraries’ Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Collection housed in the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives. Martin will also read a few pages from The Hobbit before formally presenting it.

The award-winning fantasy author has also placed his personal collection of manuscripts, books and associated memorabilia at Texas A&M in Cushing Library’s special collections. Cushing celebrated the collection with an exhibit, Deeper Than Swords, and appearance by the author in March 2013 that drew a crowd from across the country.