On the fence with a Song of Ice and Fire

[David]

Oh no! Mind you, it would fill an evening.

[Evilynn]

David wrote: "Any news on his next instalment?"

The last I heard was that the earliest we can expect The Winds of Winter is "late 2014" so summer 2015 sounds about right. :P

The TV series is currently on A Storm of Swords, but they mix in elements from later books as well, and at this rate they'll be certain to wrap up long before GRRM does.

[Greg]

That's of course if the grim reaper doesn't get to him first. Oh, I hate to think of it! He's already said he doesn't want another writer to come in in case he doesn't finish.

[Evilynn]

Greg wrote: "That's of course if the grim reaper doesn't get to him first. Oh, I hate to think of it! He's already said he doesn't want another writer to come in in case he doesn't finish."

After finishing WOT, I have to say I agree (I know plenty of folks really love the Sanderson effort, but it just read as very disjointed to me). If it comes to that I would like to see the notes on how he was planning to finish the series though. It seems like the biggest obstacle for him to write ASOFAI faster is that he's got a billion other engagements that he's also working on, some of which I kind of wish he'd say no to, but that's obviously his prerogative.

[Michelle]

He's moving up in years, sure, but he's only 64 and not in any ill health that I'm aware of. My Grandma turns 80 this October and she's in great shape for her age. Don't write him off yet. :)

[Erica]

I both love and hate this series. I love it because there are so many characters he really makes you care deeply about. I hate it because most of these characters subsequently get killed off. I stopped reading midway through the series simply because I couldn't face another favourite dying.

[Wade]

Love the show. Love it! HBO is doing a great job.
I can't lie though, despite the overall good content, I didn't finish the first book...it was almost painful to read.

[Stan]

Wade wrote: "Love the show. Love it! HBO is doing a great job.
I can't lie though, despite the overall good content, I didn't finish the first book...it was almost painful to read."

Well, as the old man in that movie "Neverending Story" said, some books are safe, and some aren't.

[Wade]

Now, I would like to add to my previous post.
I'm a beginning author, one published work, who would love all the fans and success that Mr. Martin has achieved...maybe one day if/when I'm so well received I'll really have room to speak.

[Laure]

If anyone's still reading this thread, a question for the Malazan fans:

I know very little about the series, but I see that there were two authors who were collaborating initially to create the world, but it looks like each author had penned his own series independently.

Which author do you recommend, or if both, which is the best place to begin?

[Stan]

The two series complement each other. However, I don't think that Esslemont's series can stand alone, meaning I don't think it will make much sense if you haven't already read Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. I think Erikson is, by far, the better storyteller of the two, but Esslemont's style is much more straightfoward.

In short, Erikson tells the main story and Esslemont offers more information about things/events that Erikson merely mentions in passing.

You should read both, but start with Erikson.

[F.F.]

Oh man. It hurts my heart and brain to hear folks couldn't finish GoT! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down.

[Heather]

F.F. wrote: "Oh man. It hurts my heart and brain to hear folks couldn't finish GoT! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down."

Me too! I felt like I was in a dysfunctional relationship with Martin...he would not let me read anything else for such a long time. I had so many books piled up, waiting until I finished the series.

Sometimes, I still miss reading GoT, even though it consumed me...

[Jonathan]

I just finished A Game of Thrones (as in the first book, not the whole series) a few weeks ago. My thoughts were mainly: (view spoiler)[Joffrey, you royal piece of crap. Ned was my favorite character. His execution made me more excited for all the potential "side plots" in a way that I wasn't able to feel before; namely Daenerys, the Others, Lord Renly, Lord Stannis, etc. For the most part, I just took pleasure in how royally (ha. haha.) screwed Joffrey was from every corner of the globe. I'm guessing it's not as clear-cut as that, since there are so many books left, but it gave me comfort. (hide spoiler)]

[Eric]

the first 3 books are great. the 4&5 are awful. he shoukd have just made it a trilogy. its like he has no clue where hes going with the series.

[Stan]

Eric wrote: "the first 3 books are great. the 4&5 are awful. he shoukd have just made it a trilogy. its like he has no clue where hes going with the series."

I agree completely.

[Andrius Tapinas]

Eric wrote: "the first 3 books are great. the 4&5 are awful. he shoukd have just made it a trilogy. its like he has no clue where hes going with the series."

I can partly agree that quality of the 4th and 5th books is declining. Maybe not exactly quality but world is stretching in all possible directions and Martin probably feels like butter who is too thin on the bread (not exact quote from Gandalf but you know what I mean).
Second reason might be that he is losing some of the motivation to write, especially as after TV series he is covered in money and fan adulation from head to toes.
Nevertheless I still think him high above average fantasy crowd and looking forward to reading 6th book as well as re-reading other five once again.

[F.F.]

The thing that first really nailed me in the face about Song of IandF was that it was not in any way a remake of LoTR. I was shocked that it started with action. That he never explained the world explicitly, just let you experience it and learn as you went along. The way there was no good and evil, and the way he put tension into family dynamics, kingdom wide politics, underhanded plots. Oh man.

I will say that Arya's plot line is now getting weird and annoying. I liked Tyrion better in the earlier books, and –HOLY MACKEREL what am I doing i should be working on my own book right now.

[Mark]

I enjoy the books and always have. I do agree that Feast and Dance are not as engrossing as previous outings.
The rate at which the books are released is, frankly, ridiculous. A book every 5 years is not productive. If Feast and Dance were works of staggering genius I would not mind. However there has been definite slide in quality.

I look on the authors homepage and it is like a tsunami of product-placement. Thankfully, with the slide in quality I am able to contain my clamour for his latest release.

Here's hoping that The Winds of Winter brings some much-needed coherence to this series.