HBO - Song of Ice&Fire Series -Varsity Thread - no TV only whiners (3 Viewers)

[encaitar]

The book is good. Not great, but good. It's definitely not written by GRRM. I'm sure he approved the writing and the history, but the writing style is not GRRM. The history is interesting, if you're into fake history. It feels more like a textbook in that regard. However, the pictures are incredible. The book is worth having for the artwork alone. Incredible scenes from Westeros, shown as they were meant to be according to Martin and not HBO.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Is the history all gleaned from the previous books if you looked hard enough? Is there any totally new background material?

No. Yes.

There is a #### ton of stuff not in the novels.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

The book is good. Not great, but good. It's definitely not written by GRRM. I'm sure he approved the writing and the history, but the writing style is not GRRM. The history is interesting, if you're into fake history. It feels more like a textbook in that regard. However, the pictures are incredible. The book is worth having for the artwork alone. Incredible scenes from Westeros, shown as they were meant to be according to Martin and not HBO.

The book is presented as having been written by a maester for King Robert. So, it has its own "voice". Martin said he wrote 300,000 words for this. But I don't know if the narrator's style is his or the two others that worked on it.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Is this a stand alone book or one in a series?

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

The book is good. Not great, but good. It's definitely not written by GRRM. I'm sure he approved the writing and the history, but the writing style is not GRRM. The history is interesting, if you're into fake history. It feels more like a textbook in that regard. However, the pictures are incredible. The book is worth having for the artwork alone. Incredible scenes from Westeros, shown as they were meant to be according to Martin and not HBO.

The book is presented as having been written by a maester for King Robert. So, it has its own "voice". Martin said he wrote 300,000 words for this. But I don't know if the narrator's style is his or the two others that worked on it.

Which is pretty awesome that GRRM still does pov even in a history text.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Not sure if I should put this in spoilers or not, but there was a story on the web about Jamie's plot line in TV show season 5.

Sounds like he isnt going to the riverlands, but they are sending him to Dorne.

 

[strykerpks]

The cast has been signed through season 7

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Not sure if I should put this in spoilers or not, but there was a story on the web about Jamie's plot line in TV show season 5.

Sounds like he isnt going to the riverlands, but they are sending him to Dorne.

Wtf?

 

[th3f00l]

Not sure if I should put this in spoilers or not, but there was a story on the web about Jamie's plot line in TV show season 5.

Sounds like he isnt going to the riverlands, but they are sending him to Dorne.

Wtf?

What? Maybe he will be replacing a minor character from the sand snakes? Leaving out the riverlands plot line isn't too crucial I guess. They already have Jamie Trained back to swordsman, and outing his cousin isn't super important. I forget what else goes on there.

 

[Gr00vus]

Not sure if I should put this in spoilers or not, but there was a story on the web about Jamie's plot line in TV show season 5.

Sounds like he isnt going to the riverlands, but they are sending him to Dorne.

Wtf?

What? Maybe he will be replacing a minor character from the sand snakes? Leaving out the riverlands plot line isn't too crucial I guess. They already have Jamie Trained back to swordsman, and outing his cousin isn't super important. I forget what else goes on there.

The only interesting part of it was the Jenye Westerling stuff, which they've pretty much short circuited in the show. I anticipate some good scenes between him and Doran. I guess Jamie is replacing Ser Balon Swann. Maybe Arys Oakheart (have we seen him yet in the show?), but they'd have to deviate from the books even more to make that work.

 

[encaitar]

I thought the Riverland chapters were Jaime's best in the series. He was finally starting to become a true commander like his father and I was starting to respect him more. I don't see him reaching the same type of development in Dorne, no matter how "fun" his scenes with Doran might be. Plus, it'll be tough for Brienne to meet up with him if he's a thousand miles south of her.

 

[DCThunder]

I thought the Riverland chapters were Jaime's best in the series. He was finally starting to become a true commander like his father and I was starting to respect him more. I don't see him reaching the same type of development in Dorne, no matter how "fun" his scenes with Doran might be. Plus, it'll be tough for Brienne to meet up with him if he's a thousand miles south of her.

Right. How Jaime forces the Blackfish to give up Riverrun without violating his vow to Catelyn is a key part of his redemption. But maybe that isn't a part of the TV series.

 

[Tom Hagen]

I thought the Riverland chapters were Jaime's best in the series. He was finally starting to become a true commander like his father and I was starting to respect him more. I don't see him reaching the same type of development in Dorne, no matter how "fun" his scenes with Doran might be. Plus, it'll be tough for Brienne to meet up with him if he's a thousand miles south of her.

Right. How Jaime forces the Blackfish to give up Riverrun without violating his vow to Catelyn is a key part of his redemption. But maybe that isn't a part of the TV series.

In the show Blackfish was at the Red Wedding so that part of storyline was probably already unlikely. I agree that his chapters in the Riverlands were important to his character development, but I can see how they don't have time to explore it with all the other plot lines.

Also, if there is no Stoneheart the meeting with Brienne doesn't really make sense.

 

[sn0mm1s]

I thought the Riverland chapters were Jaime's best in the series. He was finally starting to become a true commander like his father and I was starting to respect him more. I don't see him reaching the same type of development in Dorne, no matter how "fun" his scenes with Doran might be. Plus, it'll be tough for Brienne to meet up with him if he's a thousand miles south of her.

Right. How Jaime forces the Blackfish to give up Riverrun without violating his vow to Catelyn is a key part of his redemption. But maybe that isn't a part of the TV series.

In the show Blackfish was at the Red Wedding so that part of storyline was probably already unlikely. I agree that his chapters in the Riverlands were important to his character development, but I can see how they don't have time to explore it with all the other plot lines.

Also, if there is no Stoneheart the meeting with Brienne doesn't really make sense.

Yeah, no Jeyne Westerling, no Lady Stoneheart, no Blackfish (or at least not much) pretty much makes the Jaime story arc there pointless. Assuming that Jaime dies in the Riverlands at the hands of Stoneheart in the books, that redemption (not really redemption but transformation into a commander) can be done pretty much anywhere. With how gutted that plot is already, I wouldn't mind seeing Myrcella and Jaime being shuttled off to Dany as "gifts" from Quentyn.

 

[kupcho1]

The book is good. Not great, but good. It's definitely not written by GRRM. I'm sure he approved the writing and the history, but the writing style is not GRRM. The history is interesting, if you're into fake history. It feels more like a textbook in that regard. However, the pictures are incredible. The book is worth having for the artwork alone. Incredible scenes from Westeros, shown as they were meant to be according to Martin and not HBO.

It was written by fans. I think two people that started one of the forums for ASOIAF

GRRM has gone full Patterson here.

 

[PatsWillWin]

I thought the Riverland chapters were Jaime's best in the series. He was finally starting to become a true commander like his father and I was starting to respect him more. I don't see him reaching the same type of development in Dorne, no matter how "fun" his scenes with Doran might be. Plus, it'll be tough for Brienne to meet up with him if he's a thousand miles south of her.

Right. How Jaime forces the Blackfish to give up Riverrun without violating his vow to Catelyn is a key part of his redemption. But maybe that isn't a part of the TV series.

If the Jaime/Riverrun part doesn't happen in the show I will be very disappointed.

ETA: I'd forgotten that the Blackfish was at the Red Wedding in the show. I guess that does it.

 

[Abrantes]

Meh. I won't rehash my previous posts on the subject, but a great deal of what goes on in AFFC and ADWD simply doesn't translate well to television. Jaime running around the Riverlands wouldn't further the plot of the show in any meaningful way, much like it didn't in the books, with the added downside that it wouldn't be particularly exciting television. Jaime going to Dorne adds a new dimension to his own story arc and to the multiple threads being woven in Dorne (even though the show seems to be simplifying it quite a bit). I'm all for it.

 

[Gr00vus]

I thought the Riverland chapters were Jaime's best in the series. He was finally starting to become a true commander like his father and I was starting to respect him more. I don't see him reaching the same type of development in Dorne, no matter how "fun" his scenes with Doran might be. Plus, it'll be tough for Brienne to meet up with him if he's a thousand miles south of her.

Right. How Jaime forces the Blackfish to give up Riverrun without violating his vow to Catelyn is a key part of his redemption. But maybe that isn't a part of the TV series.

If the Jaime/Riverrun part doesn't happen in the show I will be very disappointed.

ETA: I'd forgotten that the Blackfish was at the Red Wedding in the show. I guess that does it.

I thought he left before the main "festivities" got going. I don't think they ever showed him getting killed.

 

[Mister Martie]

I thought the Riverland chapters were Jaime's best in the series. He was finally starting to become a true commander like his father and I was starting to respect him more. I don't see him reaching the same type of development in Dorne, no matter how "fun" his scenes with Doran might be. Plus, it'll be tough for Brienne to meet up with him if he's a thousand miles south of her.

Right. How Jaime forces the Blackfish to give up Riverrun without violating his vow to Catelyn is a key part of his redemption. But maybe that isn't a part of the TV series.

If the Jaime/Riverrun part doesn't happen in the show I will be very disappointed.

ETA: I'd forgotten that the Blackfish was at the Red Wedding in the show. I guess that does it.

I thought he left before the main "festivities" got going. I don't think they ever showed him getting killed.

Correct.

 

[Mister Martie]

Meh. I won't rehash my previous posts on the subject, but a great deal of what goes on in AFFC and ADWD simply doesn't translate well to television. Jaime running around the Riverlands wouldn't further the plot of the show in any meaningful way, much like it didn't in the books, with the added downside that it wouldn't be particularly exciting television. Jaime going to Dorne adds a new dimension to his own story arc and to the multiple threads being woven in Dorne (even though the show seems to be simplifying it quite a bit). I'm all for it.

I agree here. Jamie wandering around in the Riverlands wouldn't exactly be great TV. It's not like they are going to have an inner monologue for him like the Wonder Years so the redemption arc would more or less fall flat, imo.

 

[Redwes25]

Meh. I won't rehash my previous posts on the subject, but a great deal of what goes on in AFFC and ADWD simply doesn't translate well to television. Jaime running around the Riverlands wouldn't further the plot of the show in any meaningful way, much like it didn't in the books, with the added downside that it wouldn't be particularly exciting television. Jaime going to Dorne adds a new dimension to his own story arc and to the multiple threads being woven in Dorne (even though the show seems to be simplifying it quite a bit). I'm all for it.

I agree here. Jamie wandering around in the Riverlands wouldn't exactly be great TV. It's not like they are going to have an inner monologue for him like the Wonder Years so the redemption arc would more or less fall flat, imo.

The show is going to be ahead of the books by the end of this next season. There is just to much in a Feast for Crows that can get passed by and Dorne greatly simplified. Doubt they get to John getting killed at the end of this season but a lot of things will be beyond the books.

 

[sn0mm1s]

Meh. I won't rehash my previous posts on the subject, but a great deal of what goes on in AFFC and ADWD simply doesn't translate well to television. Jaime running around the Riverlands wouldn't further the plot of the show in any meaningful way, much like it didn't in the books, with the added downside that it wouldn't be particularly exciting television. Jaime going to Dorne adds a new dimension to his own story arc and to the multiple threads being woven in Dorne (even though the show seems to be simplifying it quite a bit). I'm all for it.

I agree here. Jamie wandering around in the Riverlands wouldn't exactly be great TV. It's not like they are going to have an inner monologue for him like the Wonder Years so the redemption arc would more or less fall flat, imo.

The show is going to be ahead of the books by the end of this next season. There is just to much in a Feast for Crows that can get passed by and Dorne greatly simplified. Doubt they get to John getting killed at the end of this season but a lot of things will be beyond the books.

I don't think there is any way that the upcoming season finishes before the next book is released. The following season is the one that book readers will have to worry about.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Meh. I won't rehash my previous posts on the subject, but a great deal of what goes on in AFFC and ADWD simply doesn't translate well to television. Jaime running around the Riverlands wouldn't further the plot of the show in any meaningful way, much like it didn't in the books, with the added downside that it wouldn't be particularly exciting television. Jaime going to Dorne adds a new dimension to his own story arc and to the multiple threads being woven in Dorne (even though the show seems to be simplifying it quite a bit). I'm all for it.

I agree here. Jamie wandering around in the Riverlands wouldn't exactly be great TV. It's not like they are going to have an inner monologue for him like the Wonder Years so the redemption arc would more or less fall flat, imo.

The show is going to be ahead of the books by the end of this next season. There is just to much in a Feast for Crows that can get passed by and Dorne greatly simplified. Doubt they get to John getting killed at the end of this season but a lot of things will be beyond the books.

I don't think there is any way that the upcoming season finishes before the next book is released. The following season is the one that book readers will have to worry about.

I don't know anything about marketing or publishing, but I wonder which gets Martin, his publisher, and HBO the most bang for its buck:

1. Release the next book immediately before/during/after this coming season for a Big Bang of media attention.

or

2. Release it later in the year to keep both TV and books at a pretty high hype level spread over a longer period.

Hindsight and all, but.........

The "problems" the TV show has in staying behind the books started at the very beginning. An insistence on only 7 seasons and the "one book = one season" was doomed from the get-go, both because they had to know would outpace the books (because: seven seasons) and because they now have to condense about 4,000 pages into 30 hours. They were screwed after season 2. Given the pace they set the first two seasons, they really should go for 8 seasons.

I put "problems" in quotes above it's very likely that the showrunners privately don't give a flying #### whether they fly past Martin or not as they have a bona fide cultural phenomenon on their hands. Martin himself probably doesn't care all that much - he's also all over the media, he has made a #### ton of money because of that show, and knew a long time ago (probably when the deal was struck) he couldn't beat the dead line.

 

[DCThunder]

I thought the Riverland chapters were Jaime's best in the series. He was finally starting to become a true commander like his father and I was starting to respect him more. I don't see him reaching the same type of development in Dorne, no matter how "fun" his scenes with Doran might be. Plus, it'll be tough for Brienne to meet up with him if he's a thousand miles south of her.

Right. How Jaime forces the Blackfish to give up Riverrun without violating his vow to Catelyn is a key part of his redemption. But maybe that isn't a part of the TV series.

In the show Blackfish was at the Red Wedding so that part of storyline was probably already unlikely. I agree that his chapters in the Riverlands were important to his character development, but I can see how they don't have time to explore it with all the other plot lines.

Also, if there is no Stoneheart the meeting with Brienne doesn't really make sense.

Yeah, no Jeyne Westerling, no Lady Stoneheart, no Blackfish (or at least not much) pretty much makes the Jaime story arc there pointless. Assuming that Jaime dies in the Riverlands at the hands of Stoneheart in the books, that redemption (not really redemption but transformation into a commander) can be done pretty much anywhere. With how gutted that plot is already, I wouldn't mind seeing Myrcella and Jaime being shuttled off to Dany as "gifts" from Quentyn.

How is Quentyn giving gifts after he got fried by Drogon?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I thought the Riverland chapters were Jaime's best in the series. He was finally starting to become a true commander like his father and I was starting to respect him more. I don't see him reaching the same type of development in Dorne, no matter how "fun" his scenes with Doran might be. Plus, it'll be tough for Brienne to meet up with him if he's a thousand miles south of her.

Right. How Jaime forces the Blackfish to give up Riverrun without violating his vow to Catelyn is a key part of his redemption. But maybe that isn't a part of the TV series.

In the show Blackfish was at the Red Wedding so that part of storyline was probably already unlikely. I agree that his chapters in the Riverlands were important to his character development, but I can see how they don't have time to explore it with all the other plot lines.

Also, if there is no Stoneheart the meeting with Brienne doesn't really make sense.

Yeah, no Jeyne Westerling, no Lady Stoneheart, no Blackfish (or at least not much) pretty much makes the Jaime story arc there pointless. Assuming that Jaime dies in the Riverlands at the hands of Stoneheart in the books, that redemption (not really redemption but transformation into a commander) can be done pretty much anywhere. With how gutted that plot is already, I wouldn't mind seeing Myrcella and Jaime being shuttled off to Dany as "gifts" from Quentyn.

How is Quentyn giving gifts after he got fried by Drogon?

I have a feeling he's thinking Trystane, who has been aged up a bunch for the show (along with the fact that there's no mention of a Quentyn casting)

 

[PatsWillWin]

Meh. I won't rehash my previous posts on the subject, but a great deal of what goes on in AFFC and ADWD simply doesn't translate well to television. Jaime running around the Riverlands wouldn't further the plot of the show in any meaningful way, much like it didn't in the books, with the added downside that it wouldn't be particularly exciting television. Jaime going to Dorne adds a new dimension to his own story arc and to the multiple threads being woven in Dorne (even though the show seems to be simplifying it quite a bit). I'm all for it.

I agree here. Jamie wandering around in the Riverlands wouldn't exactly be great TV. It's not like they are going to have an inner monologue for him like the Wonder Years so the redemption arc would more or less fall flat, imo.

The show is going to be ahead of the books by the end of this next season. There is just to much in a Feast for Crows that can get passed by and Dorne greatly simplified. Doubt they get to John getting killed at the end of this season but a lot of things will be beyond the books.

My wife is convinced that John is not dead. She thinks he either survives the wounds or, more likely, is alive via some kinda worg-ish thing and is alive in Ghost.

 

[Gr00vus]

Meh. I won't rehash my previous posts on the subject, but a great deal of what goes on in AFFC and ADWD simply doesn't translate well to television. Jaime running around the Riverlands wouldn't further the plot of the show in any meaningful way, much like it didn't in the books, with the added downside that it wouldn't be particularly exciting television. Jaime going to Dorne adds a new dimension to his own story arc and to the multiple threads being woven in Dorne (even though the show seems to be simplifying it quite a bit). I'm all for it.

I agree here. Jamie wandering around in the Riverlands wouldn't exactly be great TV. It's not like they are going to have an inner monologue for him like the Wonder Years so the redemption arc would more or less fall flat, imo.

The show is going to be ahead of the books by the end of this next season. There is just to much in a Feast for Crows that can get passed by and Dorne greatly simplified. Doubt they get to John getting killed at the end of this season but a lot of things will be beyond the books.

My wife is convinced that John is not dead. She thinks he either survives the wounds or, more likely, is alive via some kinda worg-ish thing and is alive in Ghost.

I don't think he leaves the story, and I'm pretty sure Mellisandre will somehow be involved in keeping him from being proper dead.

 

[The Duff Man]

Meh. I won't rehash my previous posts on the subject, but a great deal of what goes on in AFFC and ADWD simply doesn't translate well to television. Jaime running around the Riverlands wouldn't further the plot of the show in any meaningful way, much like it didn't in the books, with the added downside that it wouldn't be particularly exciting television. Jaime going to Dorne adds a new dimension to his own story arc and to the multiple threads being woven in Dorne (even though the show seems to be simplifying it quite a bit). I'm all for it.

I agree here. Jamie wandering around in the Riverlands wouldn't exactly be great TV. It's not like they are going to have an inner monologue for him like the Wonder Years so the redemption arc would more or less fall flat, imo.

The show is going to be ahead of the books by the end of this next season. There is just to much in a Feast for Crows that can get passed by and Dorne greatly simplified. Doubt they get to John getting killed at the end of this season but a lot of things will be beyond the books.

My wife is convinced that John is not dead. She thinks he either survives the wounds or, more likely, is alive via some kinda worg-ish thing and is alive in Ghost.

I don't think he leaves the story, and I'm pretty sure Mellisandre will somehow be involved in keeping him from being proper dead.

Mellisandre will learn the power of keeping him alive but it takes some time. Jon will then meet up with Stoneheart and with the two of them in similar states they will (ironically) hook up. The resulting unholy creature born of this union will start a series of books that bonds the entire realm together, then he will jerk around and drag out the conclusion.

His name will be George (Ned) Snow and he will be unbearable because he will describe his meal in agonizing detail to anyone within ear shot every time he eats.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Give me a good chapter or 3 to read in AFFC, I'm bored!

 

[Sabertooth]

The book is good. Not great, but good. It's definitely not written by GRRM. I'm sure he approved the writing and the history, but the writing style is not GRRM. The history is interesting, if you're into fake history. It feels more like a textbook in that regard. However, the pictures are incredible. The book is worth having for the artwork alone. Incredible scenes from Westeros, shown as they were meant to be according to Martin and not HBO.

It was written by fans. I think two people that started one of the forums for ASOIAF

GRRM has gone full Patterson here.

Wait what? What book?

 

[Sinn Fein]

Meh. I won't rehash my previous posts on the subject, but a great deal of what goes on in AFFC and ADWD simply doesn't translate well to television. Jaime running around the Riverlands wouldn't further the plot of the show in any meaningful way, much like it didn't in the books, with the added downside that it wouldn't be particularly exciting television. Jaime going to Dorne adds a new dimension to his own story arc and to the multiple threads being woven in Dorne (even though the show seems to be simplifying it quite a bit). I'm all for it.

I agree here. Jamie wandering around in the Riverlands wouldn't exactly be great TV. It's not like they are going to have an inner monologue for him like the Wonder Years so the redemption arc would more or less fall flat, imo.

The show is going to be ahead of the books by the end of this next season. There is just to much in a Feast for Crows that can get passed by and Dorne greatly simplified. Doubt they get to John getting killed at the end of this season but a lot of things will be beyond the books.

My wife is convinced that John is not dead. She thinks he either survives the wounds or, more likely, is alive via some kinda worg-ish thing and is alive in Ghost.

I don't think he leaves the story, and I'm pretty sure Mellisandre will somehow be involved in keeping him from being proper dead.

So he is just mostly dead?

 

[Brady Marino]

Meh. I won't rehash my previous posts on the subject, but a great deal of what goes on in AFFC and ADWD simply doesn't translate well to television. Jaime running around the Riverlands wouldn't further the plot of the show in any meaningful way, much like it didn't in the books, with the added downside that it wouldn't be particularly exciting television. Jaime going to Dorne adds a new dimension to his own story arc and to the multiple threads being woven in Dorne (even though the show seems to be simplifying it quite a bit). I'm all for it.

I agree here. Jamie wandering around in the Riverlands wouldn't exactly be great TV. It's not like they are going to have an inner monologue for him like the Wonder Years so the redemption arc would more or less fall flat, imo.

The show is going to be ahead of the books by the end of this next season. There is just to much in a Feast for Crows that can get passed by and Dorne greatly simplified. Doubt they get to John getting killed at the end of this season but a lot of things will be beyond the books.

My wife is convinced that John is not dead. She thinks he either survives the wounds or, more likely, is alive via some kinda worg-ish thing and is alive in Ghost.

I don't think he leaves the story, and I'm pretty sure Mellisandre will somehow be involved in keeping him from being proper dead.

So he is just mostly dead?

What is dead may never die.

 

[zoonation]

I think it is time to face the fact that Martin has basically turned into Chappelle. There will never be an end to this story.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

heard the theme song on the radio today and I got chills

 

[CletiusMaximus]

HarperCollins has apparently officially confirmed that Winds of Winter will not be released in 2015. It now seems virtually certain the tv series will end well before the final book is released.

 

[thecatch]

HarperCollins has apparently officially confirmed that Winds of Winter will not be released in 2015. It now seems virtually certain the tv series will end well before the final book is released.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

HarperCollins has apparently officially confirmed that Winds of Winter will not be released in 2015. It now seems virtually certain the tv series will end well before the final book is released.

They're going to release the dunk and egg (or whatever) and other prequels I think all together in one book this year. Wind next year. Dream of spring ..... Who the #### knows.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

HarperCollins has apparently officially confirmed that Winds of Winter will not be released in 2015. It now seems virtually certain the tv series will end well before the final book is released.

The way her statement was worded was kind of weird. She didn't say "Martin has said there's no way he'll be done in time for a 2015 roll out". She said there were no plans on her schedule to publish. I have a friend who works for a publishing house and they WILL clear a spot for a book that is going to cause a deluge when it's ready.

I'm not being pie-in-the-sky or overly optimistic, just saying that the quote that is being passed around the web doesn't - the way it's worded - mean a whole lot.

 

[kupcho1]

HarperCollins has apparently officially confirmed that Winds of Winter will not be released in 2015. It now seems virtually certain the tv series will end well before the final next book is released.

fixed

 

[flysack]

Part of me like to think Martin has them all written sitting in a vault under his desk, and he's just milking the spotlight until he drops dead, when they'll be released.

 

[Maelstrom]

I don't think he has them done, I actually think the story kind of got away from him and he is really struggling on how to get it back to his original vision. There is so much going on he's just going to need to kill a few people simply to extinguish some plot threads so he can draw things to a close in 2 books. He may be scared that people won't like how it finishes (heck, most long series like this have a lot of people who hate how they finish anyways).

I also think there is an element of marketing involved (scarcity or delay makes more people talk about it, which increases his probable audience). Sure, some might quit reading because of the delays, but vastly dwarfed by the number of people exposed to it in other ways.

In the end though, I think he just doesn't prioritize finishing it - at some point he just accepted that the HBO show would likely pass him up, and so there is no urgency to get it done. As long as he's still writing it, he is still relevant.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

he had an awesome 3 books and had no idea how to finish the story. HBO will do it for him in the next 3 years

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I don't think he has them done, I actually think the story kind of got away from him and he is really struggling on how to get it back to his original vision.

I think this was true for the 4th and 5th, but going forward he knows what he wants to do.

He does have a lot of projects on his plate. And he's meticulous with plot details and his web of character/history/setting connections. Can't be an easy thing to do even if you're really good at it.

 

[Maelstrom]

I don't think he has them done, I actually think the story kind of got away from him and he is really struggling on how to get it back to his original vision.

I think this was true for the 4th and 5th, but going forward he knows what he wants to do.

He does have a lot of projects on his plate. And he's meticulous with plot details and his web of character/history/setting connections. Can't be an easy thing to do even if you're really good at it.

Yes, sorry, I should have clarified that I do believe he is "back on track" now, based on things he has said. But he still has to incorporate the storylines from 4 & 5 into the final books going forward and do so without derailing again.

Man, I'll need to re-read 4 and 5 before the series kicks back off.

 

[kupcho1]

I don't think he has them done, I actually think the story kind of got away from him and he is really struggling on how to get it back to his original vision.

I think this was true for the 4th and 5th, but going forward he knows what he wants to do.

I'll believe it when I see it.

If I see it.

The longer this takes the less likely it is that he'll live to finish the series. I know he doesn't like hearing it but valar morghulis,as he'd say.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

With HBO doing this imax thing, I think they're testing the waters on one of GRRM's suggestions. Also, this publishing in one place of prequel stories could be related as well. If you recall, GRRM hoped that between the show catching up to Winds and his finishing the final book that they would do a prequel season or two. Then have the final half (or more?) of the final book be released in theaters instead of on HBO.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

He's 66, so who knows?

Also, can't believe I never noticed this, but what are the odds?

J. R. R. Tolkien

G. R. R. Martin

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

He's 66, so who knows?

Also, can't believe I never noticed this, but what are the odds?

J. R. R. Tolkien

G. R. R. Martin

How have u never noticed before???

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

He's 66, so who knows?

Also, can't believe I never noticed this, but what are the odds?

J. R. R. Tolkien

G. R. R. Martin

How have u never noticed before???

 

[flysack]

I was just clowning about him having them all written. Of course he doesn't.

On a serious note, I suspect the proliferation of the internet has something to do with it. There are so many theories about what's going on in his books (R+L=J, etc.) and Martin strikes me as the kind of guy who likes to keep people surprised. I do believe has a clear vision - had it from book 1 - but now is struggling not with what to write, but how to write it so it's interesting and fresh to the swathes of fans who've debated and discussed the series ad infinitum.

His turtle speed might be our fault, in a way. He's always written rather slow (pre-internet explosion) but now the net might have made it even worse.