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Post by dinadan on Feb 7, 2005 16:32:51 GMT -5
Another great fantasy author who proves that to be a great fantasy author you have to have at least one "R" middle initial.
His books are rich and complex and the character development is unbelievable outstanding.
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Post by twyrch on Feb 7, 2005 17:02:15 GMT -5
Another great fantasy author who proves that to be a great fantasy author you have to have at least one "R" middle initial. His books are rich and complex and the character development is unbelievable outstanding. Aye... He posts updates once in a while at the Terry Brooks forum. I haven't read anything of his yet, but I guess there's a lot of grumbling that he takes too long to write his books.... but they are great when published. |
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Post by dinadan on Feb 7, 2005 17:06:58 GMT -5
Yes, Mr. Martin's "Ice and Fire" books--originally slated to be 4 in number, now jumped to 6--are delicious and do, indeed, take him forever to write. I've been waiting on book four since the day after book three came out in November of 2000. But, he is a genius; each chapter is from the POV of a character in the novel...spanning multiple continents and seas, and each in interconnected through this vast web of plot. Accordingly, even the slightest editing error might completely destroy his delicately crafted story--so if it takes him a while, that's ok. I'll wait patiently for another absolutely delicious volume to devour.
But if he should (God Forbid!) die before he finishes his series, I will be very, very angry with him for eternity.
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Post by Dred on Feb 7, 2005 17:16:49 GMT -5
I have enjoyed reading his ASOIAF series. I've gotten through the first three and am eagerly awaiting the release of the 4th book. He writes very creatively with a lot of description. The plot is complex to say the least. There are a great many stories within stories.
If you have any qualms with writing that has vulgar language or content that isn't what would be considered wholesome, then it is best not to read this series.
All in all though, it is very good.
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Post by dinadan on Feb 7, 2005 17:19:27 GMT -5
Yeah, it can be a little graphic at times--but to me that adds a sense of verisimilitude to his work. It seems like something that could happen--if the world had magick and dragons in it, and the seasons could last for years.
But yes...every time I read "A Game of Thrones" and come to the passage where Dany eats the horse-heart...well, I'm starting to get sick just thinking about it now.
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Post by Dred on Feb 7, 2005 17:24:32 GMT -5
I know what you mean. There are a number of things that point to realism that while graphic, enhance the novels.
While they can be shocking, I've enjoyed them. I'm not really all that squeamish when it comes to what he has written about.
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Post by twyrch on Feb 7, 2005 17:43:57 GMT -5
Yes, Mr. Martin's "Ice and Fire" books--originally slated to be 4 in number, now jumped to 6--are delicious and do, indeed, take him forever to write. I've been waiting on book four since the day after book three came out in November of 2000. But, he is a genius; each chapter is from the POV of a character in the novel...spanning multiple continents and seas, and each in interconnected through this vast web of plot. Accordingly, even the slightest editing error might completely destroy his delicately crafted story--so if it takes him a while, that's ok. I'll wait patiently for another absolutely delicious volume to devour. But if he should (God Forbid!) die before he finishes his series, I will be very, very angry with him for eternity. News from Martin! I have been getting lots of email lately asking for an update on the progress of A FEAST FOR CROWS. Here it is. I aim to please. I have been getting even more email asking if the latest publication date announced by one bookstore or another is correct. It isn't. I don't even care what date it is. I am still writing the book. Until it is done and delivered, all these announced pubdates are arrived at by throwing darts at a calendar. As I have been saying for a year, the moment the book is done I will announce it here. The instant. The second. So if you visit this website, and this notice is still in place, it means I'm still writing. That remains as true in June as it was in January. Yes, I have been slow in updating this announcement, but believe me, I will not be slow to tell the world that my FEAST is headed for the table. For whatever reason, this fourth book has given me much more trouble than any of the earlier volumes. As of today, I have finished forty-eight chapters, and have another eighteen partially written. Half a dozen of them are within a few whiskers of completion. The good news is that I have recently completed the final Jaime chapter for this volume. I'm very close on Arya and Sansa too, and fairly close on Tyrion. The not-so-good news is that all the other viewpoints remain incomplete, and one crucial one is barely half-done. The prologue is giving me fits as well, but as of last night I think I may have solved it. The last printout I did for my editors (who are even more interested in my progress than my readers) came in at 1067 manuscript pages. That count includes includes only the finished chapters, not the partials. The final draft of A GAME OF THRONES was 1088 manuscript pages. A FEAST FOR CROWS will definitely be longer. Most likely it will be longer than A CLASH OF KINGS. As to whether it will eventually be as long as A STORM OF SWORDS... I hope not, but I have given up on making predictions. The tale grew in the telling, J.R.R. Tolkien once said. Mine too. At a certain point, the best that you can do is follow your story where it leads you. The vast majority of the email that I receive continues to be very supportive. I do not have the time to respond to all those letters, or to answer questions about why the seasons are the way they are, how the maesters make their chains, which of the Targaryen kings married their sisters, or where Myr is located in relation to Tyrosh (there will be a map of the Free Cities in FEAST that should take of that last one at least). If I did, my progress would be even slower than it is at present. I do read my emails, however, and I appreciate all the enthusiasm and kind words. Of late, some of the words I have been getting have been less kind. I don't answer those either, though at times I am tempted. I will say, just to set some rumors straight, that I am not dead, I am not dying, I am not in ill health, I have not forgotten about my readers, and I am not lounging in my hot tub drinking chilled wine with hot babes in bikinis (though I'd like to be). I have been working on this bloody book almost every bloody day (okay, except for Sundays during football season and the two days of the NFL draft) for more years than I care to contemplate, writing, rewriting, revising, and writing again, trying to make FEAST a feast in truth. As for those of you (only a handful, thankfully) who seem outraged that I continue to collect toy knights, read books by other people, travel, teach, speak, and make appearances (as evidenced by my website)... sorry, but I have a life beyond A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE. You should get one too. I am sorry if the long delays on A FEAST FOR CROWS have made you lose interest in the series, but believe me, your frustrations cannot possibly hold a candle to my own. For one thing, the way the book biz works, I don't get paid until the novel is delivered, and (b) published. It is worth remembering that Jack Vance published the third volume of his wonderful Demon Prince series (THE PALACE OF LOVE) in 1967 and the fourth volume (THE FACE) in 1979. And need I mention how long J.R.R. Tolkien worked on THE LORD OF THE RINGS or THE SILMARILLION? Does anyone now wish that he had knocked them out faster? In the end, the only thing anyone remembers about a book is how good it was. I won't tell you that A FEAST FOR CROWS is going to be great. That's not my call to make. But I will say that I am doing my damndest. Hang in there. I'll try to make you glad you did. —George R.R. Martin, June 16, 2004 ******************************************** I said that I hoped to have the book done by the end of the year. Famous last words. No, it's not done, though I am getting closer. I have more than thirteen hundred pages in final draft form and another hundred or so in roughs or fragments, but there are still some chapters yet to write. I'm telling myself that I'm on the home stretch. As soon as FEAST as done, I will announce it here. —George R.R. Martin, January 17, 2005 |
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Post by dinadan on Feb 7, 2005 20:36:05 GMT -5
Yes, I think that was the last statement on his website.
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amodman
Mabinog
[M:395]
The Nightcrawler
Posts: 226
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Post by amodman on Feb 15, 2005 2:07:51 GMT -5
I just read Game of Thrones ans was fairly impressed. A third of the way into the book I DEFINITELY thought it was over-hyped, but it got better and nearly lived up to it's reputation (like anything does). But it is some of the best fantasy out there I've seen, then. No SOA Trilogy! I'd be reading Clash of Kings right now if I hadn't somehow started This Present Darkness in the shuffle and now feel compelled to finish it and it's sequel first.
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Post by dinadan on Feb 18, 2005 12:19:32 GMT -5
Well, Mr Martin updated his website yesterday.
Was it to give us news on the next book? Was it to, perhaps, give us another chapter to satiate our desire for the next book? Was it even to tell us when his next appearance will be?
NO
The man updates his website to show off more of his ridiculously expensive toy knights. TOY KNIGHTS! As if I care about your obsessive collection of toy knights, Mr Martin, when I have been a dilligent fan who buys all of your books in hardcover on the day they come out. When I have sent you fan mail (which you do at least respond to) telling you after every book how much I enjoyed it. I realize that you have to have something else in you life besides writing, and I realize that the very reason that your books are so great is because they are so exquisitely crafted--BUT FIVE YEARS OF WAITING HAS MADE ME A LITTLE UPSET AND YOU UPDATE YOUR WEBPAGE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR TOY KNIGHT COLLECTION!
Arrgh.
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Post by twyrch on Feb 18, 2005 13:13:33 GMT -5
Well, Mr Martin updated his website yesterday. Was it to give us news on the next book? Was it to, perhaps, give us another chapter to satiate our desire for the next book? Was it even to tell us when his next appearance will be? NO The man updates his website to show off more of his ridiculously expensive toy knights. TOY KNIGHTS! As if I care about your obsessive collection of toy knights, Mr Martin, when I have been a dilligent fan who buys all of your books in hardcover on the day they come out. When I have sent you fan mail (which you do at least respond to) telling you after every book how much I enjoyed it. I realize that you have to have something else in you life besides writing, and I realize that the very reason that your books are so great is because they are so exquisitely crafted--BUT FIVE YEARS OF WAITING HAS MADE ME A LITTLE UPSET AND YOU UPDATE YOUR WEBPAGE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR TOY KNIGHT COLLECTION! Arrgh. LOL.... Here you go man...   |
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Post by twyrch on Feb 18, 2005 15:36:38 GMT -5
Dinadan... you do realize, I'm just messin' with ya.... right?  |
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Post by dinadan on Feb 18, 2005 16:02:46 GMT -5
HAHA, yes...you don't usually have to worry about offending me.
I just thought I'd mention the absurdity of Martin's update for anyone else who might be a fan.
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Post by twyrch on Feb 18, 2005 16:55:25 GMT -5
HAHA, yes...you don't usually have to worry about offending me. I just thought I'd mention the absurdity of Martin's update for anyone else who might be a fan. Good to know. Some people take me too seriously. Yeah, I liked your update. No wonder it takes him 5 years between books... |
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Post by dinadan on Feb 18, 2005 17:12:05 GMT -5
Yeah, it wasn't meant terribly seriously...it was more a "here's a humorous way to express my general frustration."
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Twyrch /|\
