A Song of Ice and Fire (Book discussion)

[Palin]

If anything I feel the fantasy elements of the books have been increasing as I've read them.

[Ksandra]

If anything I feel the fantasy elements of the books have been increasing as I've read them.

ya I was going to say, not much "fantasy" stuff happens on the wall for a pretty long time, just "threatening" and suspense on what's out there. And outside that, there's only minor stuff that goes on.

[tyven]

yea like dragons

[Penthesilea]

or birthing shadow babies.

[Ksandra]

yea like dragons

ya but doesn't that not happen until like book 2? Or am I forgetting.

[Penthesilea]

Book 1, after the wedding right?

[tyven]

ya but doesn't that not happen until like book 2? Or am I forgetting.

Book 1, after the wedding right?

its at the very end of book 1

[Ksandra]

bleh my bad, could have sworn it was book 2, but it's been awhile since I've read them. XD

[Qalbert]

http://shelf-life.ew.com/2011/03/03/...-dragons-date/

Are you ready for the biggest fantasy news since HBO decided to make a TV show called Game of Thrones?
The next book in George R.R. Martin’s bestselling A Song of Ice and Fire series has a publication date.
Yes, we swear, after waiting six long years since the release of the last novel in the saga, the fabled Book 5 A Dance With Dragons is close enough to being finished* for Martin’s publisher to set a release date. We have that date, exclusively, along a first look at the book’s cover art and an interview with the man himself.
A Dance With Dragons will be published on July 12. The manuscript is huge — the publisher estimates the hardcover edition will run more than 900 pages, putting it about the same length as the longest book in the series, A Storm of Swords. Schedule your summer vacation accordingly.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What took so long?
GEORGE R. R. MARTIN: I’m not sure I have a good answer. If I did, I would have taken less time. It’s enormous. It’s as long as A Storm of Swords. It’s very complicated. I have a lot of characters and points of view. And I’ve been doing a ton of rewriting, trying to get it where I wanted it to be. Some of these chapters I’ve rewritten more times than I can count before I’m satisfied with them.
Can you tease something from the book?
I don’t want to spoil any surprises. I can say all the characters people have been waiting for are there: Daenerys, Jon Snow, and Tyrion. There’s also new characters, and viewpoints from characters who did not have viewpoints before.
For more of Martin’s interview — where he compares Dragons to the previous four books, and weighs in on the HBO adaptation — pick up this week’s print edition of Entertainment Weekly.
*That the author is still writing might worry some longtime fans (giving Martin a deadline is a bit like making a photo request of J.D. Salinger) but his publisher assures us the date is firm. Winter, and A Dance With Dragons, is coming.

GOD MY OH!
credit to tyven for linking me

[Bweigelt]

Fucking Finally. God damn that took a long time for a book was that half finished to start with.

[-Zer0-]

FUCK. YES.

[Ksandra]

fucking finally


this is good 'cause I've been plowing through the wheel of time books out of lack of things to read (I've read them before). This should give me plenty of time to finish those and reread the previous Martin books so I can refresh my memory.

[Darkmagi]

FUCK YES. finally

[Zeb]

I had the book on preorder in June '08. Amazon kept sending me emails every few months with reminders that they no longer have a due date.

[Odesseiron]

So the series looks great. I've never read any of the books. These trailers make me want to read the books. Am I a terrible person for not reading them?

[-Zer0-]

You should be reading them. Why aren't you reading them already? Why are you reading this? Get to reading!

[Odesseiron]

You know, I've been meaning to read some fantasy books. I really never knew where to start. I've heard the Drizzt series is pretty good, but I think I'll start with the Ice & Fire books instead.

If anyone can recommend any other great fantasy books/series please feel free to suggest. I've got a lot of free time on my hands for the moment.

[Doombear]

No offense to Mr. Salvatore, but the Drizzt/Forgotten Realms series is just not in the same league as these books. That said, I read the Icewind Dale Trilogy and loved it. That was a 10 or so years before Game of Thrones came off the press though, I didn't know what good Fantasy was =P I also haven't read ALL of Salvatore's Dark Elf books, as I feel they kinda ran away with themselves after a while, and he was just churning out cash more than story as they dragged on.

[Belragga]

You know, I've been meaning to read some fantasy books. I really never knew where to start. I've heard the Drizzt series is pretty good, but I think I'll start with the Ice & Fire books instead.

If anyone can recommend any other great fantasy books/series please feel free to suggest. I've got a lot of free time on my hands for the moment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malazan_Book_of_the_Fallen
That and Wheel of Time are two of my favorite series. Both series are nearly complete if I remember right so its a great time to start.

[Penthesilea]

Some people enjoy the Terry Goodkind series, starts with Wizards First Rule