Jump to content

George R.R Martin


s.gal83

Recommended Posts

I really like the song of ice and fire by George R.R martin. I had read the first 2 books of this series, and I am currently reading the third book, a storm of swords. I find the story to be rich in characterisation and to have surprising plot twists.

 

I wonder if anyone likes his story as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 110
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • 4 years later...

How are you guys getting on with the series?

 

Only about halfway through book 1 (Song of Fire and Ice) myself - but what a fantastic find!

 

Sometimes you just open a book and fall right into it :readingtwo:  - it's just "right" y'know?

 

Looking forward to enjoying the rest of 'em - and the series isn't finished yet, either! :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've read A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow, all of which I really enjoyed. I've got the rest of the books to read, and then of course it's waiting for the next books in the series.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Athena and everyone -

 

I've already found a couple of favourite characters. Daenerys Targaryen is one - finally standing up to her bullying brother was a real milestone for her.   He needs to get real and accept the facts of his life now, instead of hanging onto fantasy.

 

Also, to  my own surprise I'm getting fond of Tyrion Lannister! Born very challenged himself, he's understanding of "underdogs" and did his best to help both Jon and Bran with their problems. On the other hand he's got a bad reputation to live down, so time will tell ... !  

 

A good story is a  bit like getting to know new family members - the good and the bad.

 

Happy  :readingtwo:  to us all. :smile:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To be fair to Martin, he has always written at his own speed and the books in this saga have all had years between them.

 

the last interview I read he had a bit more attitude than that about it - basically kind of said a polite version of don't call me, I'll call you if and when I get round to it and basically I don't. It kind of annoyed me. 

 

In 2012 it was:

 

"--New George R.R. Martin: There's good news and bad news for Game of Thrones fans. Watch Martin, the mastermind behind the fantasy series-turned-popular HBO show, read from his upcoming sixth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, The Winds of Winter. But fans will to have to wait for the real thing. Martin tells CTV News he has written about 200 pages so far and plans to finish in about two years."

 

a year later it is:

 

MARTIN: I have to have the next book out in less than five years.

 

What will his expected time span be on it by the middle of this year? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To be fair to Martin, he has always written at his own speed and the books in this saga have all had years between them.

 

That's not strictly true.  The first three books came out in four years, between 1996 and 2000.  After that he took five years to write the fourth and six years for the fifth.  I don't think it's any coincidence that the first three books are far and away the best of the bunch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's not strictly true.  The first three books came out in four years, between 1996 and 2000.  After that he took five years to write the fourth and six years for the fifth.  I don't think it's any coincidence that the first three books are far and away the best of the bunch.

 

so in other words he needs to stop farting around and pull his finger out and write the book already!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I suppose I can be a bit smug about the delay to the last book - 'cos I haven't finished the first, yet! :smile:

 

With other books to read in between, it'll probably be late this year or even next before I start to miss the series, and then - it's always useful to go back to the beginning, again. When a reader is familiar with all the details of a series (and there's loads of detail here)  a second reading can an can harvest deeper meanings, humour or etc., more readily from the novels, and be just as much fun as the first.

 

Still fond of Tyrion, thoiugh he could learn to keep his mouth shut, he keeps talking himself into trouble :( - the curse of the intelligent man.       

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't mind waiting for him to publish the final books. I prefer the fact that he takes the time to flesh out the plot and work on the writing.

GoT is my favourite fantasy series at the moment (with The Wheel of Time a close second), and although it is a bit frustrating having such a long wait in between books, I guess I can use that time to reread the series. I've forgotten some of the plot points already.

 

My favourite character has changed throughout the series, which I think illustrates George's ability to show his characters as human - no one is inherently good or evil.

 

 

I'm beginning to feel sorry for Cersei now - I know she has done some horrible things, but she did them as a mother thinking about her children.

 

Edited by Angury
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My favourite character has changed throughout the series, which I think illustrates George's ability to show his characters as human - no one is inherently good or evil.

 

 

To change the direction of the discussion - with regard to your 'spoiler' comment - does doing the wrong things for the right reason make them right? I don't think so. Just because we can understand the motivation behind actions, that does not make the wrong actions excusable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do we as readers really have any right to expect sequels to be written in any given time? I can certainly imagine publishers putting the pressure on, and if you love a series it's hard to be patient while you wait for the next one. But they are particularly huge books, with very intricate and clever plots. There is the danger that authors will lose fan's interest with long delays and I'm sure that's something they are aware of. but I'd far rather wait and get a really well written book, than have a poorer rushed one. I'm not surprised George Martin got a little tetchy when people started demanding the next one be published.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do we as readers really have any right to expect sequels to be written in any given time? I can certainly imagine publishers putting the pressure on, and if you love a series it's hard to be patient while you wait for the next one. But they are particularly huge books, with very intricate and clever plots. There is the danger that authors will lose fan's interest with long delays and I'm sure that's something they are aware of. but I'd far rather wait and get a really well written book, than have a poorer rushed one. I'm not surprised George Martin got a little tetchy when people started demanding the next one be published.  

 

As a person who writes slowly myself I understand his writing style however having said that I would not embark on a lengthy series and leave people hanging. I also don't understand his attitude. Sorry but it is just plain silly to further alienate readers by having attitude when they have enjoyed your books so much that they are saying 'we want the next one' and if sometimes there is a little over enthusiasm in saying that, well he doesn't have to get shirty about it. Fans, and more importantly enthusiastic fans are to be appreciated not snubbed. When they leave, they often don't come back.

 

I compare his attitude to that of Kristen Britain who took a long time to write the last book in her Green Rider series. She took to her blog and apologised for how long it was taking, explained a few of her personal circumstances that had led to the delay and assured fans that she was writing it as fast as she could. This had the effect of appeasing fans who were desperate to find out what happened and created a completely different atmosphere around waiting. Martin's attitude leaves me stone cold quite frankly.

Edited by CuriousGeorgette
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh Karsa, I've only read the first one :blush: Hope I'm not too disappointed when I reach them on my (metaphorical toppling) Kindle TBR pile.

 

It's interesting, though - if you don't have to wait to read them you'll probably enjoy them more than I did after waiting years for them :smile:

 

The other problem for Good Ol' George is that the tv series has been confirmed for seven seasons, which means it's going to finish in 2017.  He's not going to have finished the sixth and seventh books by then :shrug:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

The other problem for Good Ol' George is that the tv series has been confirmed for seven seasons, which means it's going to finish in 2017.  He's not going to have finished the sixth and seventh books by then :shrug:

They might have to do a Peter Jackson on them and make one book stretch to three movies, or in this case, series :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To change the direction of the discussion - with regard to your 'spoiler' comment - does doing the wrong things for the right reason make them right? I don't think so. Just because we can understand the motivation behind actions, that does not make the wrong actions excusable.

I don't think it's as black and white as that. The actions may be wrong for us, but for the character they may be the right thing to do - the GoT world is so brutal, I don't think anyone would survive for very long if they acted the way we do in reality. Given the circumstances, and her position both in power and as a woman, I think Cersei has done what was needed for her and her family to survive. She's done some brutal things, but I don't think that makes her a bad person.

Edited by Angury
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...