A Song of Ice and Fire (Spoilers! Only enter if you have read all books)

[mgriff]

I'm so amped. New trailer came out.

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Shae in Tywin's bed! Oh shit, son!

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

I will hear you say it! She was Elia of Dorne!

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I thought for a second that it was Coldhands at the end. Just another stupid Other.

 

[ND NYC]

15-Minute 'Game of Thrones' Teaser Gives Glimpse of Shocking Season 4

buckle up!

 

[IrishLion]

I'm gonna buzzkill all over this HBO-related happiness, but I just saw that Martin's publisher said there is no way "Winds of Winter" will be out before 2015.

I'm gonna start preparing for a 2016 release now to save myself the heart ache.

 

[Corry]

I'm gonna buzzkill all over this HBO-related happiness, but I just saw that Martin's publisher said there is no way "Winds of Winter" will be out before 2015.

I'm gonna start preparing for a 2016 release now to save myself the heart ache.

This goes along with what I've been thinking. Wait until HBO catches up, once they do release Winds of Winter. It would be the most business sense, everyone in this thread is going to buy the book as soon as it comes out, why not try to get as many people interested as you can in the mean time. I think you could squeeze one more season out the existing material.

 

[IrishLion]

This goes along with what I've been thinking. Wait until HBO catches up, once they do release Winds of Winter. It would be the most business sense, everyone in this thread is going to buy the book as soon as it comes out, why not try to get as many people interested as you can in the mean time. I think you could squeeze one more season out the existing material.

No doubt. The question is if HBO tries to get two seasons out of Feast for Crows/Dance with Dragons after this upcoming season. Together, they present many pages of content for the show... but realistically, a few of the story lines just kind of plodded along. I feel like there isn't enough "juicy" content for multiple seasons. Viewers that are non-readers would get bored.

That would mean the fifth season of the show (April 2015) would cover aFfC/aDwD
A late 2015/early 2016 release of "The Winds of Winter"
Sixth season of the show (April 2016) would cover at least the first half of tWoW
Seventh season of the show (April 2017) could cover the second half of tWoW

Even if HBO does split aFfC/aDwD into two season and you push the above timetable back a year, you are still looking at HBO catching up by 2018. And I don't see Martin being finished with "A Dream of Spring" by then.

 

[ND NYC]

dont think some of the actors will keep returning back to these roles either, they will have moved on espcially guy who plays jon stark who is kind of an important character for the long term here.... but i could be wrong...for some of them it isnt an option anyway LOL
#theircharactersarealldeadanyway

 

[ND NYC]

No doubt. The question is if HBO tries to get two seasons out of Feast for Crows/Dance with Dragons after this upcoming season. Together, they present many pages of content for the show... but realistically, a few of the story lines just kind of plodded along. I feel like there isn't enough "juicy" content for multiple seasons. Viewers that are non-readers would get bored.

That would mean the fifth season of the show (April 2015) would cover aFfC/aDwD
A late 2015/early 2016 release of "The Winds of Winter"
Sixth season of the show (April 2016) would cover at least the first half of tWoW
Seventh season of the show (April 2017) could cover the second half of tWoW

Even if HBO does split aFfC/aDwD into two season and you push the above timetable back a year, you are still looking at HBO catching up by 2018. And I don't see Martin being finished with "A Dream of Spring" by then.

isnt the coventional wisdom that the "final book" i.e. book 7 will be a movie and not a book or part of the hbo series at all? it all ends with an epic 3 hour movie

thought i read that somewhere..

 

[Whiskeyjack]

isnt the coventional wisdom that the "final book" i.e. book 7 will be a movie and not a book or part of the hbo series at all? it all ends with an epic 3 hour movie

thought i read that somewhere..

I've read speculation to that effect, but that's likely nothing more than wishful thinking by fans. There would be a lot of problems with trying to switch formats for the finale.

 

[ND NYC]

I've read speculation to that effect, but that's likely nothing more than wishful thinking by fans. There would be a lot of problems with trying to switch formats for the finale.

actually glad it is not hapening.
although growing impatient, much prefer all the books to be completed, in full, to whatever GRRM's vision is, on paper.

whatever hbo does is gravy.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I'm gonna buzzkill all over this HBO-related happiness, but I just saw that Martin's publisher said there is no way "Winds of Winter" will be out before 2015.

I'm gonna start preparing for a 2016 release now to save myself the heart ache.

If he didn't insist on describing ever piece of clothing to smallest detail, the books would be half as long and probably finished. I can't remember how many times my mind drifted off because of this.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

The UK publisher probably wouldn't know how far along he is until he is finished.

 

[IrishLax]

Remember when the Neonazis held Jesse Pinkman prisoner and forced him to do nothing but cook meth? Someone needs to do that to Martin. But with a typewriter instead of a meth lab.

 

[gkIrish]

I guess I would rather read a well-written book than one written under the pressures of being rushed.

That being said, he's taken an objectively long time.

 

[wizards8507]

If he didn't insist on describing ever piece of clothing to smallest detail, the books would be half as long and probably finished. I can't remember how many times my mind drifted off because of this.

You're describing the exact thing that makes the books so appealing and immersive to many people.

 

[IrishLax]

I guess I would rather read a well-written book than one written under the pressures of being rushed.

That being said, he's taken an objectively long time.

That's my beef. Either he has serious writer's block on how to wrap things up and is dabbling in other endeavors because of this... or he's being a bit of a douche. He could elect to put a much larger percentage of his focus on the novels if he so chose.

 

[gkIrish]

That's my beef. Either he has serious writer's block on how to wrap things up and is dabbling in other endeavors because of this... or he's being a bit of a douche. He could elect to put a much larger percentage of his focus on the novels if he so chose.

I think that's a big part. There are 2-3 convincing explanations (posted in this thread) for how the story will end. I think Martin may want to come up with something no one has thought of considering his flair for the dramatic. If that's the case, I'm all for waiting another couple of years.

 

[wizards8507]

I guess I would rather read a well-written book than one written under the pressures of being rushed.

That being said, he's taken an objectively long time.

I don't think it's nearly as bad as everyone seems to think, considering the length of each book. For comparison, the Harry Potter series had 4,100 pages released over 3,674 days for an average of 1.12 pages per day. Through five books, ASoIaF has seen 4,228 pages over 5,453 days for an average of .78 pages per day. I don't have the books next to me to compare margins and print size, but I'm guessing ASoIaF has significantly more words per page and is obviously in another sphere of the English language in terms of style and complexity. Add that to the fact that Rowling did nothing BUT Harry Potter while GRRM has his hands in all kinds of different projects, and I don't think he's taking inordinately long.

 

[IrishLion]

That's my beef. Either he has serious writer's block on how to wrap things up and is dabbling in other endeavors because of this... or he's being a bit of a douche. He could elect to put a much larger percentage of his focus on the novels if he so chose.

It's probably a little bit of everything. The range of characters, the story lines, the theories, potential tie-ins and tie-ups, the detail he uses for everything, etc... he's probably hesitant to end it for fear of not fulfilling the climactic resolution that he once hoped, but I'm sure he also enjoys his (extended) breaks from ASOIAF to work on his atlases and novellas.

At this point, with the major story lines (Jon Snow, Danaerys, the battle of the frozen lake), the "minor"-but-still-major story lines (Sansa/Littlefinger, Bran, Rickon, Arya, Lady Stoneheart) and the King's Landing tidbits (Zombie Gregor Clegane, Jamie's new-found moral compass), I'm worried that "Winds of Winter" and "Dream of Spring" will just kind of fizzle out after expecting everything to tie together perfectly and for the purposes of all the extra details to be revealed.

I'm kind of fearful that the entirety of "Dream of Spring" is just going to be like the last five chapters of LOTR. 20+ different endings for the various stories.

 

[wizards8507]

It's probably a little bit of everything. The range of characters, the story lines, the theories, potential tie-ins and tie-ups, the detail he uses for everything, etc... he's probably hesitant to end it for fear of not fulfilling the climactic resolution that he once hoped, but I'm sure he also enjoys his (extended) breaks from ASOIAF to work on his atlases and novellas.

At this point, with the major story lines (Jon Snow, Danaerys, the battle of the frozen lake), the "minor"-but-still-major story lines (Sansa/Littlefinger, Bran, Rickon, Arya, Lady Stoneheart) and the King's Landing tidbits (Zombie Gregor Clegane, Jamie's new-found moral compass), I'm worried that "Winds of Winter" and "Dream of Spring" will just kind of fizzle out after expecting everything to tie together perfectly and for the purposes of all the extra details to be revealed.

I'm kind of fearful that the entirety of "Dream of Spring" is just going to be like the last five chapters of LOTR. 20+ different endings for the various stories.

Based on the vibe I get from Martin, I don't think that'll be much of an issue. I wouldn't put it past him to leave certain things completely unresolved just to screw with people.

 

[gkIrish]

I don't think it's nearly as bad as everyone seems to think, considering the length of each book. For comparison, the Harry Potter series had 4,100 pages released over 3,674 days for an average of 1.12 pages per day. Through five books, ASoIaF has seen 4,228 pages over 5,453 days for an average of .78 pages per day. I don't have the books next to me to compare margins and print size, but I'm guessing ASoIaF has significantly more words per page and is obviously in another sphere of the English language in terms of style and complexity. Add that to the fact that Rowling did nothing BUT Harry Potter while GRRM has his hands in all kinds of different projects, and I don't think he's taking inordinately long.

I get what you're saying but it took 2, 2, 5, and 6 years between each book. 5 and 6 years are very long waits. We have already waited 3 years for Winds of Winter and it looks like it could be another 4-6 year wait.

Harry Potter took 1, 1, 1, 3, 2, and 2 years. Very little wait time.

 

[IrishLax]

I think that's a big part. There are 2-3 convincing explanations (posted in this thread) for how the story will end. I think Martin may want to come up with something no one has thought of considering his flair for the dramatic. If that's the case, I'm all for waiting another couple of years.

Jon Snow kills Dumbledore?

 

[gkIrish]

Jon Snow kills Dumbledore?

Jon Snow is alive???

(not sure if italics are appropriate)

 

[IrishLion]

Jon Snow is alive???

(not sure if italics are appropriate)

Melisandre is going to give him the kiss of fire. Stone Cold Lock of the Week.

 

[gkIrish]

Melisandre is going to give him the kiss of fire. Stone Cold Lock of the Decade.

FIFY

 

[wizards8507]

I get what you're saying but it took 2, 2, 5, and 6 years between each book. 5 and 6 years are very long waits. We have already waited 3 years for Winds of Winter and it looks like it could be another 4-6 year wait.

Harry Potter took 1, 1, 1, 3, 2, and 2 years. Very little wait time.

Very little wait time but for less content. After a 4-6 year wait we get books twice the size of what any book ought to be. Maybe his mistake is sticking to a 7-part series.

 

[wizards8507]

Jon Snow is alive???

(not sure if italics are appropriate)

Melisandre is going to give him the kiss of fire. Stone Cold Lock of the Week.

The dragon must have three heads.

 

[IrishHokie22]

I will hear you say it! She was Elia of Dorne!

The entire time I was reading that passage I was thinking to myself "omg just kill him you stupid Dornish idiot!"

Possibly my favorite passage in the entire series. I can't wait to see what HBO does with it.

 

[IrishHokie22]

GRRM's problem is that he spends too much time focusing on things that very few people care about. I think I read somewhere once that he gets bored if he's doing nothing but focusing on aSoIaF, so he likes to work on other things to pass the time. Or something to that effect.

Still though, he had the first three books finished in 4-5 years, and it took him another 10+ years to write the next two (which weren't favorites among many fans).

I think there's a possibility that GRRM has lost control of this series and isn't sure how to resolve the myriad of plot lines he's created. At least he'll continue to feel the pressure from HBO to get WoW released relatively soon. I'd be surprised if things drag out all the way into 2016.

Either way, this is easily my favorite all-time book series.