The Sword and Laser discussion
This topic is about
A Song of Ice and Fire
Questions for George R R Martin
Will all the books be released before the series catches up?
Michelle wrote: "Christopher wrote: "ummm....I am not going to ask what happens if he dies...been there, done that....just don't anyone else do that...even though he had a nice sense of humor about it. If he ever ..."actually, I'd rather ask if he'll be able to start the story, before ... you know.... because for me, all the books till now, were kinda like a prologue
Does he have the classic John Anealio song as his ringtone? Do you feel other stories would be better if the authors were as willing to kill off characters we'd grown attached to?
Can we get a GRRM re-write for the ending of Mass Effect 3?
I've got to know if he thought that Bobby Moynahan captured his essence in that SNL skit. Also, how excited is he to be a Guest of Honor with me at ConQuesT next year! Wait, that one might not work...Chris
Okay, my question is, how can someone recommend an actor for the third season? I have someone in mind for either the part of Catelyn's brother Edmure Tully if they haven't already casted someone-the actor Sam Neill, or of course I'm just recommending him to fit in somewhere in the third show, he'd be great! :)
- Have you known how the series is going to end since day one?- Was the Mummer's Dragon always part of your plans?
- Can we get a guarantee that Hodor will make it through the series?
the moment when Theon jumps down whith the fake Arya, reminded me of Jonathan Harker from bram stoker's Drakula. ( both Theon and Harker, helped a sadist, gain a land) Was Stocker one of G.R.R. Martin's favorite authors in the young days?
How does he keep track of the many different character threads? Does he have some sort of crazy notebook or spider diagram to follow each character's progress, position in the overall timeline and interactions/crossed paths with other characters?
Long before I read any of the Song of Ice and Fire books I read and loved Fevre Dream. Has he ever thought about returning to that world? I grew up hoping for a sequel...Fevre Dream
Thought of another one! The world of ASOIAF is incredibly detailed, with constant references to food, armor, weapons and the like. How much research did he do (or continues to do) into real-world medieval culture when developing the setting?
If he could visit any one place in his stories, whether it's the Wall, the Inn at the Crossroads, King's Landing, Qarth or somewhere else, where would he want to spend a few days?
Sansa Stark is my favorite character in the entire series. She's a pretty polarizing character, but I think she's very heroic in her own way. Do you have anything cool coming up for her character? Will she ever be able to get home?
My question: how do you motivate yourself to so write much, when you could just as easily sit around in your underwear all day watching TV?
Who are your favorite characters? Are they your favorites because they are the most fun to write about? Because you relate to them more? Does he have plans to write anything else set in this world? I very much enjoyed reading the Dunk and Egg novellas, which are set about one hundred years before the events in A Song of Ice and Fire.
A question for Mr. Martin -- In the latest book, why does Tyrion advise "Young Griff" to go west? Does he really intend him to follow the advice?
Renegade wrote: "A question for Mr. Martin -- In the latest book, why does Tyrion advise "Young Griff" to go west? Does he really intend him to follow the advice?"the advice was kinda unexpected from Tyrion, he probably really wanted to save him the humiliation of being rejected
Here's mine:If someone asked you to summarize in a single sentence the overall plot arc of the ASOIAF series, what would that single sentence be? (E.g., for Lord of the Rings it would be something like: "All the free peoples of Middle-earth band together to destroy an evil Ring that holds the key to a Dark Lord's power.")
I ask this because as ASOIAF becomes more and more lengthy and elaborate, I'm having a hard time finding what the through-line is. Most of the time, when I try to explain it to my friends, I have to settle for describing the setting because it's difficult to discern what everything is building toward.
Will Dunk ever grow that inch into 7 feet ??? Will we found out about the book Roose burnt while at Harenhall?
Dear G.R.R.M,Here is a question many fans have argued over. In your opinion, who are the top five fighters (dead or alive) in the ASoIaF series?
Thank you.
I have a sort of related question to Gord's. Gord asked "I'd love to know if he ever gives any thought to what happens in the future of his world. If the pseudo-medieval era were to start progressing in a way parallel to our world, what would his world's "modern era" be like?"What I'd like to ask, is if Mr. Martin plays Tabletop Role Playing games, and more specfically, has he ever played Shadowrun, which is set in a near future parallel world/alternate history in which a mix of high technology and high fantasy are key elements in the setting?
Thanks for considering my question, chummers! ^_^
-UGEplex
'Juz ah nutha Unexplained Genetic Expression in da 'plex
The Television series is a bit different than the books, do you feel these changes are necessary for a television show? Is there any changes you wish that they didn't make?
1.Do you have any methods for getting into the voice of a character? 2.Is it ever difficult to reconcile describing the micro vs. summarizing the macro?
3. do you ever have trouble balancing visual descriptions with grandiloquent explanations or general wordiness?
Kamil wrote: "the advice was kinda unexpected, he probably really wanted to save him the humiliation of being rejected"I ask because later, when Tyrion hears Young Griff did in fact go west, he thinks to himself that the pretty princeling "swallowed the bait."
I'd be interested to know why (or how) the culture in Ice and Fire has not developed at a similar pace as our culture. To summarise, they've had 8,000 years of cultural development and don't even have cannon. We've had half the time and have gunpowder, planes and paracetamol.I wrote about it on my blog last week: http://apostrophien.blogspot.ch/2012/...
Dany wrote: "Dear G.R.R.M,Here is a question many fans have argued over. In your opinion, who are the top five fighters (dead or alive) in the ASoIaF series.
Thank you."
Yes! Great question! I always think about that. I have my assumptions, but nothing better that the GRRM himself to answer this. Who is in the top tier of ASIaF?
I just want to know whether, if, he would even NOT be able to continue to the story, if there is another author out there that he would give permission to to complete the saga or continue the story? I'd also like to know whether his work on Dunk & Egg would continue, bringing that story (or other stories) to the beginning of Game of Thrones?
(sorry for the non-serious question)Does your mighty beard help you write? Why do so many fantasy writers have big bushy beards? Do you feel like fantasy writers are required to have great beards?
What is the "Meereenese Knot" and is it completely untangled? Thanks
I do!! I do I do I do have a question, though he pobably won'tanswer it...I have this theory, and then I discovered that tons of people have the same theory, and I would love to know what he would say to this:
I think Jon is Rhaegars and Lyanna's son. because a) he looks "Stark" - like Arya, who is said to look like Lyanna. b) "Promise me, promise me, Ned..." and she never says what! c) Ned Stark is just TOO LOYAL to father a bastard. and then Robert has all Rhaegars kids killed....
Possible spoiler!My theory is that Jon Snow is the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna. Any way I can get a yes or no on that?
I thought the Meereenese Knot was the writer's block and his getting stuck around the part of A Dance With Dragons where Dany ends up in Meereen? Thought of more questions!
I've heard rumors that the only character whom the fans can rely on to survive through the end of the series is Tyrion. Is that true?
I've also heard theories that the theme of the book is about the disinherited - the Stark children, Jon Snow, Dany... even characters like Sam, Brienne and Tyrion. What are his thoughts on that? Did he consciously plan for that theme, or did it spontaneously appear without him thinking too much about it?
Many of the characters and plot lines in A Song of Ice and Fire, run parallel to Historical Figures and Events in our own world. (SPOILER ALERT) One example that comes to mind is the stabbing of Jon Snow, due in part to a reactionary position taken by his subordinates against his Pro-Wildling Policies, and the Execution of the Roman General Flavius Stilicho, which was enacted partially because of his pro barbarian stance towards the Goths. Do you intentionally draw inspiration form History, or does History inevitably work its way into fiction written on the scale of A Song of Ice and Fire?
I find that in most epic fantasy series (or for that matter, pretty much any series) whenever an exceptionally main/pivotal character gets into a dangerous situation, while the situation is usually exciting, there still tends to be an element of 'safety' about it, in that you know that the character is highly unlikely to actually die, as main characters tend to so rarely actually get killed off. This feeling is completely gone in A Song of Ice and Fire by about the end of Book 2 - every situation of danger feels much more tense and thrilling with the knowledge that the characters in this series are by no means protected by the status of 'main character'. Is this something you set out to do? Or is it just a by-product of the type of story you're telling?Also, a related question: do you know ahead of time which characters will live and die, or do the deaths surprise you as much as they do the readers?
(I'm really looking forward to this interview! Thanks so much, guys! :D)
I'd like to know if he ever looks at fan theories and if he's ever been surprised or affected by them, like theories about Jon's parentage or Jaqen being Syrio. It seems like he would have had some ideas locked in, but I still wonder if he's interested in theories and ideas.
Not sure my posted, so sorry if this is a double post1. George, what are the redeeming quality of some of your most memorable bastards: Joffrey, Ramsey, The Mountain?
2. George, what are your favorite novels in other genres: murder mystery, romance, non-fiction?
I would like to know how George R.R. Martin keeps track of all of his characters and their intersecting storylines. Is it all in his head or does he keep some kind of massive flow chart wherever he writes A Song of Fire & Ice?
Every one of these questions better be answered on the bonus interview.
Of everything Ive ever read or watched The "villains" in A Song of Fire and Ice are the most despicable, and easy to hate that I've ever come across. What Kind of people or experiences inspires the creation of such wicked characters?
Rachel wrote: "I know he won't answer, but.... Who is Jon Snow's mother?!?"
Good Question...I always assumed she was a nameless wench that was forced to give up Jon by Either Ned or Circumstance
I'm in the 'Jon is actually the child of Rhaegar and Lyanna' camp. I don't think George will answer that in an interview, mostly because he doesn't really hand out spoilers; and even if he originally planned for Jon to be the son of a random woman, he probably delights in watching his fans run around playing Guess the Parent. But I still really want to know!
GRRM, you have an uncanny ability to make me love even my most (initially) hated characters such as Jamie and Tyrion Lannister. That being said I still hate Cersei, will she ever get any redeeming qualities?Will Arya and Jaqen H'gar cross paths again?
How heavily influenced was your writing by the War of the Roses (I can't help but feel a Henry Tudor moment coming?)
And I'd just like to thank GRRM for writing my all time favorite series, I think I've read my Song of Ice and Fire books at least a dozen times each, so much so that I've had to replace my first copies of Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings because the bindings were falling apart (And I'll need to do it again soon). Also- the Game of Thrones TV series is what got my boyfriend, a non-reader, into Fantasy. You rock GRRM!
In the books each character has it's own moments of stardom, when you began the TV show did you know that Peter Dinklage/Tyrion Lannister was going to become the star of GoT?
Mr. Martin,First of all, thank you for your novels. They are a huge part of my life - it is very rare that a story has place so enduring of a grip on my mind.
My question is about alternate histories and potential futures. Which character, if they had lived or taken a different path would have produced the greatest change in the world?
My first thought would be Rhaegar. He is by far one of my favorite characters in the series, even though he was never alive during the timeframe of the books. I think it's fascinating how quickly and with so few lines that Rhaeger was made into a legend. Perhaps one of my favorite lines in the entire series is after the Battle of the Green Fork when Tyrion says to Tywin "Take heart, Father. At least Rhaegar Targaryen is still dead." That little bit of dialogue says so much about how differently the world would be, and how differently the war would be going if Rhaegar had lived.
James wrote: "Mr. Martin,First of all, thank you for your novels. They are a huge part of my life - it is very rare that a story has place so enduring of a grip on my mind.
My question is about alternate hist..."
I believe Jon Snow is the best answer to this question.
Rasnac wrote: "How about R.E.Howard's Conan? It's as dark and gritty as it gets. And how it approaches to magic and politics in fantasy world is very similar to A Song of Ice and Fire series."I'm a long-time reader of REH, Michael Moorcock, and The Black Company books. I know GRRM didn't invent dark and gritty fantasy. But I do think it's fair to say its current dominance in the epic fantasy genre is largely due to ASOIAF's success, and that was the thrust of my question.
Will Tommen make Ser Pounce an honorary member of the White Guard? That would be amazing! He could get a little cape and everything.
Paul wrote: "A lot of people are excited about the GoT TV show. Do you feel that the show conveys anything about story, characters, or world that you couldn't put on the page? Does the medium of TV allow you ..."Many folks asked variants of this question, and I'd like to +1 them all, but here's the particular angle I'd like answered...
...The actors in the HBO series are wonderful. I'm curious - has their work on the TV series changed or influenced your own approach to the characters they portray?
For example, I personally find Jorah Mormont much more interesting and compelling - and his story much more tragic - now that I've seen Iain Glen's portrayal of him. I see that character in a totally new way.
Something I've been curious about is whether the act of crowning a girl Queen of Love and Beauty, if she accepts, technically constitutes as a form of marriage contract.
How does he keep track of all of the various characters and plots going on the Game of Thrones series? Does he ever feel a little lost on what a character may be doing or where to take the plot for that characer?
In regards to the TV show and changes. Have there been any changes that have made you wish you had done it that way in the book? For instance, and I say this with all due respect, I've found the evolution of Theon's character to be far better in the TV series than in the book. I never really understood his motivations in the books but on the TV series I could really sympathize with him even while thinking he was approaching Joffrey levels of evilness.
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Black Company (other topics)The Black Company (other topics)
Fevre Dream (other topics)
Legends (other topics)
Legends II (other topics)
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I believe he has told the people who do the show how it ends so in case he does die before the books are finished they will be able to complete the series. At least that's what I've heard.