George R.R. Martin's Blog, page 178
October 23, 2011
Gang Green Wakes Up
Now THOSE were the Jets I've been looking for all season.
Good solid win over a strong San Diego team today. The Chargers won the first half and enjoyed a halftime lead, but in the second half the Jets D stepped up, shut down the San Diego offense, and intercepted Philip Rivers twice in the 4th quarter to seal the win. (And what the hell was Rivers thinking with the fourth down throw with eleven second left? Game's over if he throws it out of bounds. So he throws it out of bounds. Hokay. Rivers has a great arm, but sometimes you have to wonder about his head).
Another great game by Darrell Revis, and the Jets O finally got in gear as well. Plax! Plax!! Plax!!!
The Jets finally got their running game going, but I've got to worry about their RBs going forward. Shonn Greene had his best game of the season, but then got hurt, though he did return to the action. Tomlinson did not. After starting against his former team, he finished on the bench. If we're down to Joe McKnight the rest of the way, well... McKnight has flashed some moves this year on kickoffs and punts, but I'm not sold on him as an every down back.
WAY too many penalties in this game. By both teams. And some of those flags were very dubious. (On both teams). I much prefer officiating crews like the one in last week's Jets game, refs who will let the players play. This week's crew seemed intent on stopping the action on the slightest pretext. Yeah, I know, some crews are hardline, some are loose, but this was ridiculous.
As for this week's other NFL action... I canNOT believe the Dolphins flew a 15-0 fourth quarter lead to Tebow and Broncos. Maybe they really are sucking for Luck. How the hell could they let that one get away? Awful, just awful.
Good solid win over a strong San Diego team today. The Chargers won the first half and enjoyed a halftime lead, but in the second half the Jets D stepped up, shut down the San Diego offense, and intercepted Philip Rivers twice in the 4th quarter to seal the win. (And what the hell was Rivers thinking with the fourth down throw with eleven second left? Game's over if he throws it out of bounds. So he throws it out of bounds. Hokay. Rivers has a great arm, but sometimes you have to wonder about his head).
Another great game by Darrell Revis, and the Jets O finally got in gear as well. Plax! Plax!! Plax!!!
The Jets finally got their running game going, but I've got to worry about their RBs going forward. Shonn Greene had his best game of the season, but then got hurt, though he did return to the action. Tomlinson did not. After starting against his former team, he finished on the bench. If we're down to Joe McKnight the rest of the way, well... McKnight has flashed some moves this year on kickoffs and punts, but I'm not sold on him as an every down back.
WAY too many penalties in this game. By both teams. And some of those flags were very dubious. (On both teams). I much prefer officiating crews like the one in last week's Jets game, refs who will let the players play. This week's crew seemed intent on stopping the action on the slightest pretext. Yeah, I know, some crews are hardline, some are loose, but this was ridiculous.
As for this week's other NFL action... I canNOT believe the Dolphins flew a 15-0 fourth quarter lead to Tebow and Broncos. Maybe they really are sucking for Luck. How the hell could they let that one get away? Awful, just awful.
October 21, 2011
October 20, 2011
For Facebook Members
TV GUIDE is allowing the members of Facebook to vote on which series will be featured on the cover of the December 12 issue of the magazine. GAME OF THRONES is vying for the honor with nine other series.
http://www.facebook.com/TVGuideMagazine?sk=app_262168817154382
If I understand correctly, to vote you first have to "Like" TV GUIDE. Then you get to cast a ballot.
http://www.facebook.com/TVGuideMagazine?sk=app_262168817154382
If I understand correctly, to vote you first have to "Like" TV GUIDE. Then you get to cast a ballot.
October 18, 2011
Hopes and Fears
Both of my football teams won this weekend.
New York Jets 24
Miami Dolphins 6
New York Giants 27
Buffalo Bills 24
A victory is a victory, and two victories is nice... but these two did not leave me wanting to post "life is magical and full of joy." I still have hopes, but I have fears as well.
The final score of the Jets game on Monday Night Football looks convincing, but that's misleading. It was a pretty shaky win over an awful opponent, a winless team starting a backup quarterback. And even so, it was far from convincing. The Jets O began the game with four three-and-outs and did not get a first down until midway through the second quarter. The only Jet who truly impressed was Darrell Revis. Revis is the best cornerback in the NFL, almost everyone agrees, and yet the Dolphins came out throwing at him and kept it up all game. Miami squandered at least three TD chances in the first half, and their star receiver dropped balls, ran out of bounds on what might have been a long TD, and gave up a pick-six. I really don't know if the Jets won the game so much as the Dolphins lost it.
(FWIW, I think Miami may be a top contender in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. I just hope they don't win it. I suffered through a couple decades as a Jets fan, having to face Dan Marino twice a year. I don't want to go through that again, should the Fish get this kid who is supposed to be the best QB prospect since Elway. So please, win a few games, Miami. Just so long as one of them is not against the Giants two weeks from now, or the Jets in the rematch. You can beat anyone else you please. Starting with the Pats and Bills).
The real test for the Jets will be next week, when they face the Chargers. San Diego is not Miami. If Gang Green can take them down, maybe they are for real. If not... well, it could be a long season. The schedule from here on is a meatgrinder.
As for the Giants... they defeated a much stronger team in the up and coming Buffalo Bills. Corey Webster had a Revis-like afternoon, the pass rush looked fierce (and will get fiercer when Justin Tuck returns), Ahmed Bradshaw came alive and ran the ball well, and Eli was sharp. Even so, it was a near thing. With the score tied, the Bills were driving deep in Giants territory and were already in range for a go-ahead field goal when Ryan Fitzpatrick threw his second INT to Webster. Great play, Corey. The G-Men are now 4-2 and leading the NFC East, which is pretty good for a team that many people said would finish at the bottom of the division. So they're in it. But I'd be lying if I said I was confident in their prospects going forward. That lost to Seattle leaves lingering doubts, and they have some tough tough games coming up.
New York Jets 24
Miami Dolphins 6
New York Giants 27
Buffalo Bills 24
A victory is a victory, and two victories is nice... but these two did not leave me wanting to post "life is magical and full of joy." I still have hopes, but I have fears as well.
The final score of the Jets game on Monday Night Football looks convincing, but that's misleading. It was a pretty shaky win over an awful opponent, a winless team starting a backup quarterback. And even so, it was far from convincing. The Jets O began the game with four three-and-outs and did not get a first down until midway through the second quarter. The only Jet who truly impressed was Darrell Revis. Revis is the best cornerback in the NFL, almost everyone agrees, and yet the Dolphins came out throwing at him and kept it up all game. Miami squandered at least three TD chances in the first half, and their star receiver dropped balls, ran out of bounds on what might have been a long TD, and gave up a pick-six. I really don't know if the Jets won the game so much as the Dolphins lost it.
(FWIW, I think Miami may be a top contender in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. I just hope they don't win it. I suffered through a couple decades as a Jets fan, having to face Dan Marino twice a year. I don't want to go through that again, should the Fish get this kid who is supposed to be the best QB prospect since Elway. So please, win a few games, Miami. Just so long as one of them is not against the Giants two weeks from now, or the Jets in the rematch. You can beat anyone else you please. Starting with the Pats and Bills).
The real test for the Jets will be next week, when they face the Chargers. San Diego is not Miami. If Gang Green can take them down, maybe they are for real. If not... well, it could be a long season. The schedule from here on is a meatgrinder.
As for the Giants... they defeated a much stronger team in the up and coming Buffalo Bills. Corey Webster had a Revis-like afternoon, the pass rush looked fierce (and will get fiercer when Justin Tuck returns), Ahmed Bradshaw came alive and ran the ball well, and Eli was sharp. Even so, it was a near thing. With the score tied, the Bills were driving deep in Giants territory and were already in range for a go-ahead field goal when Ryan Fitzpatrick threw his second INT to Webster. Great play, Corey. The G-Men are now 4-2 and leading the NFC East, which is pretty good for a team that many people said would finish at the bottom of the division. So they're in it. But I'd be lying if I said I was confident in their prospects going forward. That lost to Seattle leaves lingering doubts, and they have some tough tough games coming up.
October 13, 2011
Two More Players
No time today to have Froggy pluck his magic twanger and come forth to torment you with more casting hints. He's game, but I have to head out in a half hour or so, to enjoy cocktails on a mesa.
You nailed Lord Karstark, though, so here as a reward are two more recent castings for HBO's second season of GAME OF THRONES.
As Ygritte, we have the lovely ROSE LESLIE, kissed by fire.
Rose is best known for her role in the first season of DOWNTON ABBEY, the British miniseries that scored big at this year's Emmies. She'll make a great addition to our GOT cast. Check out this recent interview with her.
And seeing as how we've added a wildling to the cast, it's only fair that we add a man of Night's Watch too.
Playing Qhorin Halfhand will be SIMON ARMSTRONG.
Simon is a veteran of stage and screen, and another great addition to our cast. Whether or not he is willing to have half his hand chopped off to better portray QHorin remains to be seen...
You nailed Lord Karstark, though, so here as a reward are two more recent castings for HBO's second season of GAME OF THRONES.
As Ygritte, we have the lovely ROSE LESLIE, kissed by fire.
Rose is best known for her role in the first season of DOWNTON ABBEY, the British miniseries that scored big at this year's Emmies. She'll make a great addition to our GOT cast. Check out this recent interview with her.
And seeing as how we've added a wildling to the cast, it's only fair that we add a man of Night's Watch too.
Playing Qhorin Halfhand will be SIMON ARMSTRONG.
Simon is a veteran of stage and screen, and another great addition to our cast. Whether or not he is willing to have half his hand chopped off to better portray QHorin remains to be seen...
October 12, 2011
once more into the breach..
Vengeance is his. Frankenstein and Nessie are friends of his, but don't say he's never been human... but was he Irish or Eskimo? Born in Scotland, that we know. He's been a fisherman, a minister, an inspector, and a malingerer. Down the slippery slope he slides, toward the kingdom of bones, but will he lose his head?
FEVRE DREAM Clearance
I am drowning in books here. Even with two houses (one with a library tower) and two storage lockers, I've run out of places to put all the various copies of all the various editions of all my various titles that have accumulated over the years... and new ones are arriving all the time, demanding shelf space. So between now and the end of the year, I am going to slash some prices and offer some specials on many of my older books, to make room for the new ones.
First up: my 1982 historical novel FEVRE DREAM. Vampires on the antebellum Mississippi. Huck Finn with fangs. A finalist for the World Fantasy Award (lost to Michael Shea's NIFFT THE LEAN).
I bought a large stock of the first edition hardcovers when Poseidon Press remaindered them back in 1984, and have been selling off signed copies ever since... but now, after all those decades, my stock is almost exhausted. Looking at my shelf, I count sixteen (16) remaining copies. These are the Poseidon Press trade hardcovers, first edition, first printing... but they are remainder stamped, and on fourteen of the sixteen, the dustjackets are in pretty bad shape, with rips, tears, fraying on the edges, chunks missing. Two of the sixteen have no dustcovers at all. On t'other hand, I will be glad to sign and inscribed the books, no extra charge.
I've been selling FEVRE DREAM at $29 on the Signed Books page. To move these out and clear a little shelf space, I'm going to cut the price to $22 apiece for the fourteen copies with the beat-up dustjackets, and to $17 for the two copies with no dustjacket at all. Those prices include book rate/ media mail shipping within the US. Priority mail and overseas shipping will be extra; inquire of my assistant Ty at grrmbooks@gmail.com for a quote on that. (Depends on where you live).
Elsewise, it's first come, first served, so long as the supply last. Send your orders via PayPal to direwolf@georgerrmartin.com
Some of the dustjackets are in worse shape than others. (Though all of them have defects). The earliest orders will get the best copies, the later orders the ones that are more messed up).
(And if FEVRE DREAM isn't your cup of brew, or you already own a copy, check out the Signed Books page on my website for a list of my other available titles. Please note: I am NOT selling any of the Ice & Fire books, all of which are available easily at any bookstore. I only sell the older, out of print books and editions).
Thanks.
First up: my 1982 historical novel FEVRE DREAM. Vampires on the antebellum Mississippi. Huck Finn with fangs. A finalist for the World Fantasy Award (lost to Michael Shea's NIFFT THE LEAN).
I bought a large stock of the first edition hardcovers when Poseidon Press remaindered them back in 1984, and have been selling off signed copies ever since... but now, after all those decades, my stock is almost exhausted. Looking at my shelf, I count sixteen (16) remaining copies. These are the Poseidon Press trade hardcovers, first edition, first printing... but they are remainder stamped, and on fourteen of the sixteen, the dustjackets are in pretty bad shape, with rips, tears, fraying on the edges, chunks missing. Two of the sixteen have no dustcovers at all. On t'other hand, I will be glad to sign and inscribed the books, no extra charge.
I've been selling FEVRE DREAM at $29 on the Signed Books page. To move these out and clear a little shelf space, I'm going to cut the price to $22 apiece for the fourteen copies with the beat-up dustjackets, and to $17 for the two copies with no dustjacket at all. Those prices include book rate/ media mail shipping within the US. Priority mail and overseas shipping will be extra; inquire of my assistant Ty at grrmbooks@gmail.com for a quote on that. (Depends on where you live).
Elsewise, it's first come, first served, so long as the supply last. Send your orders via PayPal to direwolf@georgerrmartin.com
Some of the dustjackets are in worse shape than others. (Though all of them have defects). The earliest orders will get the best copies, the later orders the ones that are more messed up).
(And if FEVRE DREAM isn't your cup of brew, or you already own a copy, check out the Signed Books page on my website for a list of my other available titles. Please note: I am NOT selling any of the Ice & Fire books, all of which are available easily at any bookstore. I only sell the older, out of print books and editions).
Thanks.
October 11, 2011
STRANGE STREETS Giveaway
DOWN THESE STRANGE STREETS, the latest anthology from me and Gardner Dozois, was released on October 4 in hardcover and ebook formats... and Pat, of Pat's Fantasy Hotlist, is giving away a couple of copies.
To enter, check out the contest rules at http://fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com/2011/10/win-copy-of-down-these-strange-streets.html
DOWN THESE STRANGE STREETS is the latest crossgenre anthology from Gardner Dozois and yours truly. This one is called DOWN THESE STRANGE STREETS, and in its pages you'll find another all star roster of writers, with a mixture of urban fantasy, science fiction, hardboiled mystery, noir, paranormal romance, historicals, and fantasy PI stories.
The lineup includes a Lord John novella from Diana Gabaldon, a SPQR story by John Maddox Roberts, a Charlaine Harris story set in the world of Sookie Stackhouse, a Garrett tale from Glen Cook, an Edge story from Melinda Snodgrass, a Gordianus yarn from Steven Saylor, a WWII mystery novella by Bradley Denton (that deserves to be an awards contender, if there is any justice), a Joe Lansdale story than can only be described as Gonzo Lovecraft, and wonderful contributions from Carrie Vaughn, Conn Iggulden, Simon R. Green, Laurie R. King, Lisa Tuttle, M.L.N. Hanover, Patricia Briggs,and S.M. Stirling.
The complete table of contents:
- "The Bastard Stepchild" (introduction), by George R.R. Martin
- "Death by Dahlia," by Charlaine Harris
- "The Bleeding Shadow," by Joe R. Lansdale
- "Hungry Heart," by Simon R. Green
- "Styx and Stones," by Steven Saylor
- "Pain and Suffering," by S.M. Stirling
- "It's Still the Same Old Story," by Carrie Vaughn
- "The Lady Is a Screamer," by Conn Iggulden
- "Hellbender,"by Laurie R. King
- "Shadow Thieves," by Glen Cook
- "No Mystery, No Miracle," by Melinda Snodgrass
- "The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery," by M.L.N. Hanover
- "The Curious Affair of the Deodand," by Lisa Tuttle
- "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies," by Diana Gabaldon
- "Beware the Snake," by John Maddox Roberts
- "In Red, With Pearls," by Patricia Briggs
- "The Adakian Eagle," by Bradley Denton
And for those who don't win a free copy from Pat's Fantasy Hotlist, don't fret. You'll find DOWN THESE STRANGE STREETS in your favorite local bookstore or online retailer, and they'll be glad to sell you one.
To enter, check out the contest rules at http://fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com/2011/10/win-copy-of-down-these-strange-streets.html
DOWN THESE STRANGE STREETS is the latest crossgenre anthology from Gardner Dozois and yours truly. This one is called DOWN THESE STRANGE STREETS, and in its pages you'll find another all star roster of writers, with a mixture of urban fantasy, science fiction, hardboiled mystery, noir, paranormal romance, historicals, and fantasy PI stories.
The lineup includes a Lord John novella from Diana Gabaldon, a SPQR story by John Maddox Roberts, a Charlaine Harris story set in the world of Sookie Stackhouse, a Garrett tale from Glen Cook, an Edge story from Melinda Snodgrass, a Gordianus yarn from Steven Saylor, a WWII mystery novella by Bradley Denton (that deserves to be an awards contender, if there is any justice), a Joe Lansdale story than can only be described as Gonzo Lovecraft, and wonderful contributions from Carrie Vaughn, Conn Iggulden, Simon R. Green, Laurie R. King, Lisa Tuttle, M.L.N. Hanover, Patricia Briggs,and S.M. Stirling.
The complete table of contents:
- "The Bastard Stepchild" (introduction), by George R.R. Martin
- "Death by Dahlia," by Charlaine Harris
- "The Bleeding Shadow," by Joe R. Lansdale
- "Hungry Heart," by Simon R. Green
- "Styx and Stones," by Steven Saylor
- "Pain and Suffering," by S.M. Stirling
- "It's Still the Same Old Story," by Carrie Vaughn
- "The Lady Is a Screamer," by Conn Iggulden
- "Hellbender,"by Laurie R. King
- "Shadow Thieves," by Glen Cook
- "No Mystery, No Miracle," by Melinda Snodgrass
- "The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery," by M.L.N. Hanover
- "The Curious Affair of the Deodand," by Lisa Tuttle
- "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies," by Diana Gabaldon
- "Beware the Snake," by John Maddox Roberts
- "In Red, With Pearls," by Patricia Briggs
- "The Adakian Eagle," by Bradley Denton
And for those who don't win a free copy from Pat's Fantasy Hotlist, don't fret. You'll find DOWN THESE STRANGE STREETS in your favorite local bookstore or online retailer, and they'll be glad to sell you one.
Ser Sheldon of House Cooper
GAME OF THRONES is suddenly all over television.
There was a reference on CASTLE.
And another on GREY'S ANATOMY.
And now...
keep your eyes on BIG BANG THEORY, boys and girls.
Yes, that's Longclaw. From the good folks at Valyrian Steel: http://www.valyriansteel.com/
There was a reference on CASTLE.
And another on GREY'S ANATOMY.
And now...
keep your eyes on BIG BANG THEORY, boys and girls.
Yes, that's Longclaw. From the good folks at Valyrian Steel: http://www.valyriansteel.com/
More Interviews
As long as I'm posting videos, here are some interviews with cast members from A GAME OF THRONES.
These were recorded at recent UK and Irish conventions.
Enjoy.
These were recorded at recent UK and Irish conventions.
Enjoy.
George R.R. Martin's Blog
- George R.R. Martin's profile
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George R.R. Martin isn't a Goodreads Author
(yet),
but they
do have a blog,
so here are some recent posts imported from
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