George R R Martin

Does anyone else love this fuckin guy? I picked up the new book, A Feast for Crows, and am BLOWN away allready. This guy rocks. Allready Im hooked and Im on page 35.

Yes!!!!! I'm only on the second, though. LOVE IT!!! Loved the first one, too....as I'm sure I will love the rest.

LUCKY YOU!!!! I started when the hardcover of Game of Thrones came out. Ive been reading them since 1996!!!! IT SUCKS having to wait for 5 years between 3 and 4. You have no idea how good this series is going to get...the twists that Clash of Kings take are amazing.

Oh damn I can't wait to read the rest. I'm a little past the middle of Clash of Kings, and wow. Yeah, I'm definitely glad I didn't have to wait 5 years like you...I can only imagine.

I enjoyed it. I don't quite consider it "finished" because I haven't yet finished reading the preview of the Dani POV from "A Dance of Dragons."

What's interesting is that he made two books out of it. The next book book will largely consist of the POVs that he pulled out of this book to save the publisher having to make too damned big a book out of it (again).

So basically there's no Jon Snow (a bit of him in the first Sam Tarly POV or two), Tyrion, Danaerys, nor Daavos (though he gets mentioned a time or two, I suspect what we hear isn't actually true) in this one, they'll be in the next book.

Interestingly, the next book begins at the same time as this book, not after it.

His original plan was to have AFfC cover a five year period. To basically get rid of the childhood POVs and have those characters grow up, learn things, and get ready for the final act (or two). At some point he found that wasn't working and wanted to sew up the story lines that would need some treatment before the "five year break." What ended up happening is that he had too damned much material for one book (his books have tended to be enormous reads). Hence we now get two books that run concurrently.

The upside is that the story lines this book treats move along like it's one book. Which is great. The down sides are you get minimal (or no) treatment of certain characters. I can cope, I read it for the great writing and intriguing plots, I'm not one of those who stops reading the series after their fave character gets killed off. The only real downside that I can see is that there'll be a considerable wait for this books plots to get resolved. I can cope, been waiting long enough for this one.

Don't put too much stock in the lukewarm Amazon.com reviews of the book. Some readers got upset when they didn't get exactly what they were expecting.

I had bought the first three all at once a few years back, and then, for various reasons, I didn't get a chance to read them until this past Spring. So, I was fortunate in a way — by the time I got around to reading them, I didn't have to wait nearly so long for the next book.

Also, it was really nice to be able to just read straight through however many thousands of pages there were, book-to-book. I really like long books, at least as long as they are well written (i.e., if they are lengthy for a good reason, not just filler, and are enjoyable to read). I definitely have enjoyed this series so far.

I picked up the latest book about a week ago, but I've had approximately zero time to read it. I think I'm about two chapters into it. I shall be logging off soon specifically to get some quality reading time in this evening. I think it may take me a few evenings to get into it, though, since it has been a while since I finished the previous book. (I need to get reaquainted with the characters and story details.)

Still not enough Arya.

Downside: There'll likely be NONE of her in the next book.
Upside: In the book after that she'll be "street-legal," at least in terms of fantasy-world morality. It'll be five years later. Though honestly, I can't picture Arya doing too much more than killing a bunch of people. Or being a "Faceless Man."

GRRM doesn't want to do kid POVs any more. Hence the five year gap. Shit, even the screwy Lord in the Aerie will be 13 by then. I'm foreseeing some ugly POVs for Sansa/Alayne in that one, assuming he survives for five more.

The death count is actually quite low in this book. We get one recognizable non-POV character who dies. One POV character seems to die, but it's not clearly stated, and because the death seems to serve no real purpose just yet, it's possible that character will be another Theon Greyjoy. Presumed dead, but who the hell knows?

Stop giving away stuff, damn you!!!! I'm trying not to let myself read this... But seriously, I'm only on the second book, okay? At least put this under a spoiler warning. Be considerate.

I'm just pissed about how long I'm gonna have to wait for him to resolve the cliffhangers he left in A Feast For Crows (Brienne, especially).

Actually, if you read it, I didn't let on about all that much. I mentioned one character (not by name) with a vague description of him. Another I mentioned by name, simply stating that it's unclear whether he's survived or not. The Arya stuff I mentioned has been "about to happen" for a couple of books now, you know it'll happen, it was simply a matter of how and when. And she's been killing people since the first book.

Mainly what I was pointing out is that the new book and the one after it take place at the same time. The book after them will be after a five year break. That's not a spoiler, that's just an explanation of how time will pass. Hence what I've really revealed is that Arya will be 16 or 17.

Now if you want (speculative) spoilers...

[Edited on Nov 26, 2005 by Timer]

These books are AMAZING. The whole character arc of Jamie blew me away. We get to know the characters through the writtign style, some thoughts, but more action. I much prefer GRRM to Robert Jordan. Im somewhat bitter against Jordan though, as I see his 10 page brooding introspecions as filler in order to make more books...11 allready?

What other series are comparable to Game of Thrones?

[Edited on Nov 26, 2005 by RodVito]

I'm part of the way through Storm of Swords right now - amazing books. Hell of an author. I love the Imp. He's awesome.

I'm such a nerd, I bought the Game of Thrones board game.

I never thought I'd find a fantasy series greater than the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, but these just blow that series out of the water.

RE: RodVito's Spoiler.

I just had a horrible thought. What if GRRM keels over next week? He's not a small man. I need closure on this series!!!

Oh yeah, GRRM is no longer doing the five year break. Change in plans, apparently, so ignore all that about people being older in the book after "A Dance with Dragons."

Bingo. Jordan's characters tend to be rather one-dimensional. If it's not one of the leads, it's a guy who is a walking stereotype of whatever city/land he's from. He has a pointy hat, the other guy is from city B and always strokes his beard. Makes fun of the former for his pointy hat. The former tells him that he can't possibly win a battle if he spends all his time stroking his beard. Character B will stroke his beard every time he says something to someone else.

And if they are women, no matter how powerful politically or magically, they think like a 15 year old girl.

Oh yeah, living in the desert magically makes you twice as tough as anyone else.

Don't get me started on that guy.

HAHAHAHAHA....FINALLY, someone who agrees with me.

THIS GUY MINDGASMS ME EVERY PAGE!

I just finished AFfC and can't wait to read Dance With Dragons. There is just something so compelling about the way he writes.

The Winds Of Winter will be epic beyond scope

I've been writing reviews on the Fire and Ice series, and comparing it to the show.

I actually HATED A Feast of Crows. Thought it was a horrible book. But looking forward to A Dance with Dragons.