Any George R.R. Martin Fans Here?

Xymog swears by these. I have them, but haven't read them yet. I'll get to them, I promise. I'd kind of like to wait for another volume or two to come out before beginning ... but, Xymog won't leave me alone until I read them, so ...

I do love what I have read of Martin: "Fevre Dream" and "Sandkings" especially.

Martin's writing makes Robert Jordan look like a sophomore english major at Kennesaw State. I need the next book NOW!

I devoured the first three books, and have not hesitated to recommend them to all and sundry. What impresses me is how he manages to make a great fantasy series without relying on magic and monsters -- with a few small changes, this entire series could be taking place in feudal England. The story is so compelling in its own right, the fantasy elements are icing on the cake.

And Tyrion the dwarf (a real dwarf, not a fantasy dwarf) is one of my favorite literary characters of all time.

aSoIaF is brilliant. Plain and simple. No holds barred, kick your teeth in, totally un-PC goodness.

I picked up this series on a whim, and it is now proudly displayed with my Tolkien collection.

For the poster who is just starting the second book, I envy you. I'm in the midst of A Clash of Kings right now, albeit my third time, and I'll never forget the experience and shock of reading these three books the first time! Enjoy!

Also, this series is easily the most quotable of any fantasy saga, period.

Galt

Tyrion is a right lovable bastard, eh? I've heard that GRRM really, really enjoys writing this character. I agree, he's a tremendous creation.

I have grown to hate- HATE- the impulse that made me pick up the first book in this series--

because now I have to wait to finish the story. Magnificent, magnificent books. I love how much you end up caring about these characters, even the ones who aren't all that likeable. Tyrion, Jon Snow, and Sandor Clegane are by far my favorite characters. And, as much as I hate to admit it, I'm actually starting to develop a liking for Jamie.

I think the fact that Martin makes you care so much about these people combined with his willingness to kill them is a big part of what makes these books so good. You really feel it when he puts the characters in danger, because it gets established fairly early on that being a major character doesn't mean you're safe.

I recommend that anyone who likes fantasy read them, and I also recommed that you wait until the entire series is out before you start. There are days when the thought that I'm going to have to wait until at least September for A Feast for Crows causes me physical pain.

ARRRGH! Speaking of physical pain, I just went to Martin's website. Check the link to the Fantasy Flight page about the game they're developing. A March 12th post says that Crows should be on the shelves in early 2003! Dammit!!

The third book, A Clash of Kings, had several of the most jaw-dropping moments I've ever read in a book. I mean literally, I shouted "Holy shit!" to myself at least three or four times because I couldn't believe he was actually doing what he was doing. This isn't some safe book where you know the main characters are pretty much immune. This thing has teeth.

Hey Xymog...not to suck my own dick here but wasn't I the original CHUD-proponent of these magnificent works of literature?

Uh-huh, you bet your sweet, sweet frosted cheeks I was. These things rule all. The only series-es that I can find that would BEGIN to be comparable in scope and carry-out would have to be the HYPERION CANTOS and King's DARK TOWER.

These are as riveting as 24, as realistic as BLACK HAWK DOWN, as magical as...well, a really magical thing.

Love them, just don't get love ON them...

No mention of Wild Cards? An inconsistant series (thanks to the ubiquity of Melinda Snodgrass), but Martin's characters (especially Jay Ackroyd) were usually fun.

He also had an unfinished Jack the Ripper novel (collected in the NESFA TPB Quartet) that's a blast, and I so wish he'd get around to it again.

*Kicking up an old thread here*

Okay, I'm halfway thru the Wheel of Time series and I couldn't fucking take the pain of it anymore. I picked up Thrones and Kings from my buddy a few weeks ago, and I've gotta say this is one excellent series! I've almost finished A Storm of Swords, and I can't wait for more. The writing is excellent, and you find yourself engrossed in ALL of the characters. As soon as you finish a Jon chapter, you want to follow his path more, and don't want to wait, but when you see that a Jamie chapter is next, you don't care!

Tyrion is in my top 5 favourite fantasy characters now, right up there next to Raistlin.

Tyrion is an awesome character, neither good nor bad but a fascinatingly complex gray. Love him.

And there are moments in the last few chapters of Swords that made me gasp out loud, something a book rarely does to me.

You folks do know about the "Song of Ice and Fire" novella in Legends? The Hedge Knight.

I read that awhile back. It was most excellent. Martin is one heck of a writer.

will re-iterate the WILD CARDS love...at least up till book 6 or so...onecthey entered the "jumpers" stories, it got a bit sucky.

Top 10, Astro City, a lot of these neo-silver age comics today owe something to WILD CARDS....and forget about ackroyd, its all about the great and powerful turtle

That's two Legends references from Blofeld in one day!

My favorite non-Song of Ice and Fire Martin book: Fevre Dream

There is NOT a sequel novella to Fevre Dream in Legends.

It's good to see some love for Raistlin Majere here.

My only brush with Martin has been Sandkings, which knocked my fucking socks off. I didn't like the Outer Limits adaption, but man I loved that short story. Looks like I'm going to have to make a trip down to a bookstore now.

Confirmed. A Feast For Crows is now set for 4/24/04.

Noooooooo!!!!!!!!! I can't wait that long. I just finished Storm of Swords. I finished all three in like 2 weeks. I haven't read that many pages in such a short time since cramming for finals in college.

Serious addiction. I really don't think I can wait that long.

Perhaps you can use this time to read some good books.

I think the whole notion of "good" is inherently problematic and leads inevitably to a hierarchy of taste dominated by social and intellectual elites.

I really liked these books and how, like some have already said, you can start of hating a character and then love them, or at least sympathize with them. The way he writes different chapters from totally different points of view... I'm not even sure who I think should be the rightful king!

YES. What those who are complaining about discussion of these books don't understand is that they are very sophisticated in that sense. I wouldn't call it "character development," because it's not as simple as that.

This series is hugely subversive when it comes to an aspect of literature that "serious" literature too often ignores: character.

I've become bored reading books and seeing films that subvert traditional notions of time, plot, and narrative structure.

Martin's subverting the very idea that we can pin down characters as good or evil, worthy or unworthy. And he's NOT doint it through "developing" those characters, i.e., showing how they change in response to conflict. His characters aren't changing so much as what we know about them is.

LOVE. Posters who say these aren't "good," i.e. sophisticated, need to step the fuck off!

Confirmed from where? I've been checking Martin's website for any confirmation and he hasn't changed his message yet.

STILL SORRY. STILL NOT DONE YET.

I continue to make progress on A FEAST FOR CROWS, but more slowly than I would like. In recognition of the fact that the book has not yet been completed or delivered, my publishers both in the US and UK have finally changed the April pubdate to something more realistic... but until such time as I actually deliver the book, any publication date is pure guesswork.

I am still writing as fast as I can. The moment the book is done I will announce it here. The instant. The second. So if you visit my website, and this notice is still in place, it means I'm still writing.

I have been receiving a great many emails from my readers since I posted the first version of this announcement, the vast majority of them telling me to take my time, that the quality of the book is what matters most to them. That is what matters most to me as well. "We will still be here when you are done," one reader says. I do appreciate that, more than I can say. I wish I could promise that the novel will be done tomorrow, but it won't be. It is a very long book, and a very complex one. I can only write one page at a time, and trust that in the end my readers will agree that A FEAST FOR CROWS was worth the wait. Meanwhile, I thank you once again for your patience.

--George R.R. Martin

That is the new release date as provided by the publisher. This is the third such date this release has had...

Still not as bad as waiting for the next Chtorr book. It's been 20 years since A Matter for Men was published.

I'm halfway through A Storm of Swords. When I'm done, I'll read something else. I can wait.

Just picked these up and finished A Storm of Swords in 3 days. Started A Clash of Kings 2 days ago, and will most likely finish tonight.

When the heck does #4 come out? Hate to jump right into #3 (which I will anyway) not knowing when its coming out.

This has RUINED me for WOT. Stupid Jordan and his stupid, smirking "Aren't the differences between men and women CUTE?!"

Not for me. I want to hear more about this incest/fratricide/dragons breast feeding shit.

Also, love Tyrion, Jon Snow, Arya and, amazingly, Sansa. Cannot stand Theon Greyjoy (but oddly, wanted him and his sister to get it on...whats WITH me?)

The latest date I've heard, prala, and keep in mind this is the 3rd or 4th release date for "A Feast for Crows" is April '04.

GAUUUUGH!

Oh well, at least I have something to look forward to this spring.

Guh.

There is now a sample chapter from A Feast of Crows at:

http://www.georgerrmartin.com/

You need to click on "About a Feast of Crows"; there is an updated sorry the book isn't finished yet but click here for a sample chapter.

Enjoy!

I love Martin!

Fav Characters:

Jon Snow
Daenerys
Arya Stark
Sandor Clegane
Brienne

I hope to see The Hound fight The Mountain in future books. That would be a battle to end all. Plus to see Arya return as a Faceless Man would be cool. Get some revenge on those hated Frey's. Can't stand old Lord Frey.

Some of the best scenes in the books are Jon on the Wall. It'll be interesting to see who his real parents are. Rhaegar and Lyanna?

When Dany get's back to the Seven Kingdoms, I can't wait to see the reaction of the people to her dragons.

Picked up a 1st edition HB of "The Armageddon Rag" -- damn, what a great read!

Didn't Martin already answer this in Book 3? It has been a long time since I have read them, but his dad is of course Lord Stark and his mom was some princess from the kingdom in the South (the name of the kindgom alludes me right now...Sandar, something like that)

Actually, I don't think that Ned Stark is his real dad. I think Martin is playing with us. The chat forum at A Song of Ice and Fire is alive with rumors about this. Soon as I can figure out how to post a link there, I will.

They have all sorts of theories and lines from the book to back things up. Really interesting stuff. Things I never caught reading the books.

Thanks for posting that link Brooklyn. I was going to get around to do it, but totally forgot.

The warning you said was appropriate, but the things you said are also why I like the books. Totally different than the average fantasy out there.

Fav characters:

Jon Snow
Arya Stark
Jaimie Lannister
Sandar Clegane (The Hound)
Brienne

Here is a Feast for Crows Arya chapter from Martin's website...enjoy and be spoiled

http://www.georgerrmartin.com/chapter.html

I haven't read any spoiler chapters. This one or Dany's. I like to read them in the book all at once and in the order they are presented.

I admit, it's really tempting. It's been forever since the last book.

I just noticed this thread again. I'm re-reading the series right now, and Jesus fucking Christ are these good books. Just outstanding in every way.

'Red Wedding' indeed. Dammit I love this series.

*Sigh*

Once I get done reading the history of this and that and what not I will start again on the first book and see what comes of it...

CT I can't believe you can get through Eye of the World and not Game of Thrones.

That's absurd.

I don't get it either...I think my tastes have gone away from such things presently but hopefully I second read past 1oo pages will do me better.

Once you pass Page 200 you don't ever stop reading

It is a great series and I agree he is no Robert Jordan (dang that guy ticked me off). He takes a long time between volumes, so I will probably read the whole thing over again before reading the next one out.

What I like best is he does a good job of developing his characters, much better than most in the genre, IMO, and also he is willing to let "bad" things happen to characters, which keeps up the suspense and makes it seem more real.

Where. Is. The Damm. Book?

He is still writing it. According to his official website, as soon as it is completed, he will be update the site to state that he is finally done with a Feast for Crows.

The waiting does suck. However, if the book is as great as the 3 previous novels of the series, it should be worth the wait.

Fantastic books, but confusing as all hell. How Martin can keep track of all those characters is beyond me. Tolkien had nothing on this guy.

Oh, thank God. I'm not the only one.

* Promises not to randomly restart any old threads for at least a few days.