Tyrion Lannister (also referred to as "the Imp" or "the Halfman") is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation Game of Thrones. Based on an idea that came to Martin while writing the 1981 novel Windhaven, Tyrion has been called one of the author's finest creations and most popular characters by The New York Times. Martin has named the character as his favorite in the series.