Octopus Overlords

Probably don't need a thread for this on its own yet, but I just read an interview with GRRM where he answered a question as to how it's coming. Might as well start the countdown thread now...

Warning: GRRM is only partially working on TWoW. Handle your rage before continuing...

HBO One final question on behalf of all your fans -- how's the next book coming?

George R.R. Martin I'm working on that, and a number of "Ice and Fire" related things at the same time. Not only "The Winds of Winter," which is Book 6, but we're also coming out with a big concordance called "The World of Ice and Fire," which is about the whole history of Westeros and will be lavishly illustrated. So I've been filling in some of the histories of the kings who ruled 200 years ago or 500 years ago. We've also been doing a map book, and I'm working on a new novella about Dunk and Egg, the prequel series I have. It's a slow process the way I write, especially books of this size that are as large and complex as they are. It's still a slow process. I am aware of the TV series moving along behind me like a giant locomotive, and I know I need to lay the track more quickly, perhaps, because the locomotive is soon going to be bearing down on me. The last thing I want is for the TV series to catch up with me. I've got a considerable headstart, but production is moving faster than I can write. I'm hoping that we'll finish the story at about the same time... we'll see.

Hmm; finishing the story at the same time would put book 7 out in...

Season 1 - Book 1 - 2011
Season 2 - Book 2 - 2012
Seasons 3 & 4 - Book 3 - 2013 - 2014
Season 5 - Book 4 - 2015
Season 6 - Book 5 - 2016
Season 7 - More of Books 4 & 5 (my guess) - 2017
Season 8 - Book 6 - 2018
Season 9 - Book 7 - 2019

Who knows... But I can't see the HBO series going much further than that, so I think 2020 is really the drop-dead timeframe. Hopefully GRRM doesn't drop dead before then...

The last thing I want is for the TV series to catch up with me. I've got a considerable headstart, but production is moving faster than I can write. I'm hoping that we'll finish the story at about the same time... we'll see.

Why did that make me laugh?

He's going to cock it up. Mark my words -- one way or another this will end badly.

wait... S03 isn't before 2013?!?
Nooooooooooooo

So I just started the series, finishing the first two books and I enjoyed what I've read. Taking a small break to read other things but look forward to reading more. But I've been weak and have scanned some of the threads about the other books and I suspect as I read further in the series that winter is coming (in terms of quality of writing)...but not in a good way.

Vorret wrote:wait... S03 isn't before 2013?!?
Nooooooooooooo

You seriously expected season 3 this year?

pr0ner wrote:

Vorret wrote:wait... S03 isn't before 2013?!?
Nooooooooooooo

You seriously expected season 3 this year?

Yes
I mean... October is a long way from now!

Vorret wrote:

pr0ner wrote:

Vorret wrote:wait... S03 isn't before 2013?!?
Nooooooooooooo

You seriously expected season 3 this year?

Yes
I mean... October is a long way from now!

Season 1 came out in April 2011. Season 2 came out in April 2012. Not sure why you'd think that Season 3 wouldn't follow the same pattern.

pr0ner wrote:

Vorret wrote:

pr0ner wrote:

Vorret wrote:wait... S03 isn't before 2013?!?
Nooooooooooooo

You seriously expected season 3 this year?

Yes
I mean... October is a long way from now!

Season 1 came out in April 2011. Season 2 came out in April 2012. Not sure why you'd think that Season 3 wouldn't follow the same pattern.

I started watching in October last year... it mislead me !

FWIW, I'd be interested in reading your email and reply from GRRM when you indicate it's only fair that since you started watching in October of 2011, season 3 of the HBO series should start in October of 2012 --- to hell with the production schedule.

So how many of the original actors will still be playing the same roles in 2020 for book 7?

Get Sanderson on standby, stat!

He's 63 now...I don't see him doing it unless he suddenly steps things up immensely. Sanderson indeed.

He will rue the fact that he didn't put a five year gap between book 3 and 4 like he was originally going to do. My guess is that the tv production will have to do this at some point. The youngest characters can't really be in their early 20's when the book timeline is only about two years between book 1 and 5.

He's totally not going to write it on time, and I'm already debating with myself whether I'll watch the final season.
This is not a complaint, mind.

$iljanus wrote:So I just started the series, finishing the first two books and I enjoyed what I've read. Taking a small break to read other things but look forward to reading more. But I've been weak and have scanned some of the threads about the other books and I suspect as I read further in the series that winter is coming (in terms of quality of writing)...but not in a good way.

It's kind of hard to explain. It's not the quality of the writing, exactly. I mean, the characters are still incredibly alive and real and consistent, and the world feels like you could step right into it, look around, and know exactly where you were. It's more that he gets lost in the minutia and in some of the less-vital characters, spending too much time (in my opinion - not everyone agrees) recounting day-to-day events that ultimately don't (seem to) mean a damn thing. This same guy has skipped the details of not just major battles, but whole campaigns by major, major characters, and then follows one character traipsing around the countryside, camping out with hedge knights, bandying words with local nobles, shopping for accessories, etc., etc., etc., Gah! It's all told with Martin's amazing ability to make it feel like it's happening to people you could walk up to and meet, but that doesn't help when those actual-seeming people are just wandering around doing nothing much. Books 4 and 5 are just stuffed full of crapola that I feel ought to have been trimmed or deleted entirely, and as we can see it (along with all of his many other projects) has potentially put Martin not just behind schedule, but in jeopardy of actually finishing the thing by the deadline (the deadline, in this case, being his health or the TV series schedule or both). The fact that, I believe, he has stated that he would not allow anyone else to complete the work in the event of his untimely demise doesn't help, either (though that may just be a rumor - I cannot remember where I read it or how credible the source was).

It would be extremely helpful if his editor sat him down and said, "George - THIS is the story. THIS PART RIGHT HERE. Cut away all the rest of the crap and TELL THE STORY." I'm not optimistic that will happen, however.

Maybe when he's gone, we can get a Brian Herbert-type of stories to expand the universe.

Odin wrote:It would be extremely helpful if his editor sat him down and said, "George - THIS is the story. THIS PART RIGHT HERE. Cut away all the rest of the crap and TELL THE STORY." I'm not optimistic that will happen, however.

And here....and over there....and right there, too.

Wait a minute, we've discovered another part of the story after we cut out all that crap. G.R.R.M. reminds me of the WHARRGARBL dog.

Sample chapter: Arianne Martell

I'm late to this series. I'm just reading them now.

GRRM writes this story the same way that I play Skyrim. There are about three main quests that I'm working on, but I tend to wander aimlessly until I've filled my quest log with so much crap that I can't remember which quests I was actually working on. "Oooooo... what's over here... I've never seen this cave before..."

I got about 20% into book three and put it down. I decided to take a long break between each one. I noticed that subsequent books are bloated with far too much re-telling of what happened in prior books. This probably works better if the books are read in the manner in which they were created. Reading them back to back becomes quite annoying when you are essentially reading the same story for a second, or third time. Coupled with the slow pace of the plot reading book three immediately after one and two was quite agonizing. I'm hoping that a long break between each book will minimize this effect because I do like the world that he's created.

Also, reading these books makes me hungry. Has there ever been an author so fascinated with food?

Dude. If you stopped 20% of the way through book 3, we can't help you. That book is pure gold.

Zaxxon wrote:Dude. If you stopped 20% of the way through book 3, we can't help you. That book is pure gold.

Excellent! Maybe by the time I return to it, I'll have forgotten enough of the first two books that having them re-hashed in book three will be necessary instead of annoying.

I tend to read in spurts; I always have. I'll read a series once it is completed, and then read all of the books back to back. The necessary re-telling of prior stories is always annoying because of this. For some reason the re-telling seemed especially annoying in "A Song of Ice and Fire". It's probably because I'm getting old.

RLMullen wrote:Also, reading these books makes me hungry. Has there ever been an author so fascinated with food?

He's not the only one.

A passion project from superfans and amateur chefs Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer—and endorsed by George R. R. Martin himself—A Feast of Ice and Fire lovingly replicates a stunning range of cuisines from across the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. From the sumptuous delicacies enjoyed in the halls of power at King’s Landing, to the warm and smoky comfort foods of the frozen North, to the rich, exotic fare of the mysterious lands east of Westeros, there’s a flavor for every palate, and a treat for every chef.

Isgrimnur wrote:

RLMullen wrote:Also, reading these books makes me hungry. Has there ever been an author so fascinated with food?

He's not the only one.

A passion project from superfans and amateur chefs Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer—and endorsed by George R. R. Martin himself—A Feast of Ice and Fire lovingly replicates a stunning range of cuisines from across the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. From the sumptuous delicacies enjoyed in the halls of power at King’s Landing, to the warm and smoky comfort foods of the frozen North, to the rich, exotic fare of the mysterious lands east of Westeros, there’s a flavor for every palate, and a treat for every chef.

Awesome! That book is going on my wish list.

I can do without lamprey pie, thank you.

I guess you're not British.

Every Jubilee and Coronation, the people of Gloucester have sent a pie to the Royal household made from lampreys, a locally sourced eel-like fish.

But for the first time in centuries the city has been forced to import the delicacy from abroad, because of a scarcity in its rivers.

The "lamprey pie" for the Diamond Jubilee gift to Queen is to be made from Canadian-sourced fish.

The custom of sending the pie stretches back to the at least the Middle Ages when it was considered to be a great treat.

It was so popular that King Henry I was said to have died of food poisoning in 1135, caused by his eating "a surfeit of lampreys", of which he was excessively fond.

Not last I checked.

Isgrimnur wrote:I guess you're not British.

Every Jubilee and Coronation, the people of Gloucester have sent a pie to the Royal household made from lampreys, a locally sourced eel-like fish.

But for the first time in centuries the city has been forced to import the delicacy from abroad, because of a scarcity in its rivers.

The "lamprey pie" for the Diamond Jubilee gift to Queen is to be made from Canadian-sourced fish.

The custom of sending the pie stretches back to the at least the Middle Ages when it was considered to be a great treat.

It was so popular that King Henry I was said to have died of food poisoning in 1135, caused by his eating "a surfeit of lampreys", of which he was excessively fond.

I'd give it a try. I figure if people are willfully eating something that ugly it must be delicious. What's the worst that could happen anyway, die like a king?

Archinerd wrote:What's the worst that could happen anyway, die like a king?

Hopefully not like any of the last several kinds of Westeros.

Isgrimnur wrote:I guess you're not British.

The custom of sending the pie stretches back to the at least the Middle Ages when it was considered to be a great treat.

It was a great treat in the middle ages... not now. We know better now.

Damn it! I was hoping to come into this resurrected thread to find that the book was finished!

Oh well, the wait continues...

Torfish wrote:Damn it! I was hoping to come into this resurrected thread to find that the book was finished!

You are funny.

That's why it says [NotDoneYet]. If it were, I'd be hassling Zaxxon to change the title.

coopasonic wrote:

Isgrimnur wrote:I guess you're not British.

The custom of sending the pie stretches back to the at least the Middle Ages when it was considered to be a great treat.

It was a great treat in the middle ages... not now. We know better now.

Mmmm, just like a tasty eel. And...

Unlike other fish, the lamprey has no scales, jaws, gill covers or bony skeleton.

Yummmy! Just made for eating!

Well, until just reading this from Wikipedia...

The mucus and serum of several Lamprey species including the Caspian lamprey (Caspiomyzon wagneri), River Lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis and L. planeri) and Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), are known to be toxic, and require thorough cleaning before cooking and consumption.

Damn you Wikipedia!

Isgrimnur wrote:That's why it says [NotDoneYet]. If it were, I'd be hassling Zaxxon to change the title.

Reporting for duty.... Err... .Crap.

I hope that's just a rough draft or that it gets better editing before it goes to publishing.

Zaxxon wrote:Dude. If you stopped 20% of the way through book 3, we can't help you. That book is pure gold.

Book 3 was awesome.

I just finished plowing through Book 4 which was not quite so awesome. Really, really don't care about the Ironmen and their succession.

It's going to be odd when the HBO series starts up again. When I watched the first two seasons I hadn't read the books. Now that I have I'll have to try to remember two similar but not identical storylines.

This thread needs to cease being bumped until the damned thing is done. Everytime I see it I get excited and then disappointed.

I'm reading through the Book 4 thread and just came across this little gem

Zaxxon wrote:Current plan is 7 books.

5 - A Dance With Dragons - Feb (?) 2007
6 - The Winds of Winter - 2010 (?)
7 - A Dream of Spring - When the Cows Come Home

I started The Wheel of Time in 1995. Based on that experieince, after book 2 of Game of Thrones, even though I loved it, I decided to wait until the series was done to read any more. I hope I live a long, long time.