Lol, publisher deadlines. George has so much pull now that those make no difference, and he doesn’t know when it will be done. He doesn’t even know how it will end. I believe it was going to be a trilogy at first, so we already have been given extra content. Plus, if you rush George the material isn’t going to be as good. How he writes is amazing. Maybe the best writer alive, but he doesn’t outline and his process is very attuned to quality through trial and error correction. Some of the processes he’s explained are unlike anything any other major writers do that I know of. That takes a lot longer, but the material is about 10 times as good as Stephen King or Dean Koontz, each of whom also have their unusual process, it’s just 30 times as slow. As all of that background material builds it is harder to move the story forward without contradictions because of the lack of an outline too. It’s amazing that he can even do it.
The best writer alive? I’ll grant you the first three books were pretty solid, but the 4th one was so bad I don’t know that one can recover from that to go on and be a best anything. Arguably better than King and Koontz, but I wouldn’t put either of them in “best writer alive” category either.
I really thought he’d finished it and it was with the publisher for release next year, to stave off the hunger for the TV series. Sort of given up… I’m not interested in all the family histories – he did say that there was a book out next year and 2019.
My secret hope is that he’s sitting on 6 and 7 and is just planning to drop them in the next year or so and be done with it. I can tell he just doesn’t want to write them anymore, if the fact that he’s released at least 4 other books is any indication.
My day job is working for a division of his publisher, and I just trolled through the database (where I found 2020). But it could also be a diversionary tactic for people like me who look it up every other week, so who knows??
I gave up on the series awhile ago, not sure when you joined in on the series but the last book to come out was “just waiting for the final touches” for FOUR years. And, imho, was not even remotely worth wait and decided as far as I was concerned the series was done.
Because the series has gone past the books and will likely end before the next one is even released, I wonder about the quality of both. The series can’t introduce new characters because they haven’t been written. The creators of the series supposedly know who will sit on the iron throne. How will he wrote the books that need written to finish the story? Will he add new characters to further the story? Will he decide that he will change the ending? It’s frustrating that he has not finished the story and will not before the series end
What’s everyone reading to fill the void? I’ve enjoyed the Farseer books by Robin Hobb. There are somewhat similar. And the huge volume of A World of Ice and Fire is gorgeous, with lots of good background reading and beautiful illustrations.
Enders Game series by Orson Scott Card / Dune series by Frank Herbert / Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind / The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
I am so very upset with this man at this point…..I mean, is he going to just end up having someone else finish the writing like Robert Jordan did??? Pfah!
They are definitely not a read-just-to-read sort of books, you definitely have to have an interest in the style/genre AND have a strong stomach at times!
My husband went and bought me the complete-to-date set of matched paperbacks because he hated seeing me wailing and gnashing my teeth waiting for the library holds……then, it turns out it wasn’t even finished being written GAH!!!
I just made the horrible decision to see if there is an official site for him (duh, of course there is) and to see ALL THE RELATED CRAP that’s been published but the next book in the series isn’t mentioned anywhere on the site that I can find……I may just have to fire off a very well-worded letter of dismay to this man!!!
The first book in the series was published 21 years ago, the fifth one was published 11 years after that. In the meantime, HBO and Martin just went ahead and finished the entire series on film. Martin is not in a hurry, or bothered about it. But I’ll read the books when they do get published… damn his eyes.
I would also offer up David Eddings’ Belgariad/Mallorean/Elenium/Tamuli and Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar novels, beginning with Magician if ya’ll would like a *finished* series ??
I think George Martin must have more than a touch of Oppositional Defiant disorder. Every time he finishes a project, someone asks about completing the books. Then he goes off and starts yet another project that is not completing the books.
I’m actually glad I never got into reading this. It sounds like a horrible mess. I bought the first 3 books on Kindle, thinking it would be just my thing! As I’ve always loved fantasy etc. And there is no apparent reason for him not to have finished the series by now.
It’s some of the best reading I’ve ever done. And it will seriously go on my list of top three shittiest things ever to happen to a fandom I’m into if he doesn’t finish it. Because where it sits is NOT OKAY D:
There is NOTHING worse. My husband actually flatly refuses to read a series until it has been completed!! I hope for all the fans’ sake that he does get around to it, and soon.
It must also be very hard for a writer when the show goes a different way from what s/he envisaged for the books. And then you end up with a scenario where the books and screen versions are set in alternate realities. (I used to be a Bridget Jones fan for example. Now I’m so confused I haven’t even seen the last movie! Apart from committing the deadly sin of killing off one of the most popular characters… oh wait that is sounding familiar)
I absolutely don’t begrudge him his position…. it’s an absolute cluster. I’m just willing to go to his house and like bring him ice water or something if it’ll get those books done. LOL
My one, last, teeny shred of a hope is that he has them finished. Season 8 finale, last frame: Buy Winds of Winter tomorrow. A Dream of Spring, same date, 2019. BOOM.
I said the same thing! I have a tiny, secret hope that he’s sitting on 6 and 7 and is just trolling everyone and will drop them both, like, the week before christmas and then be done with it.
Nothing around here is indicating that that is even a thing, BUT WOULDN’T IT BE THE BEST.
Yes
2016 is long over, and now 2017 is almost over too……**gnashes teeth**
Lol, publisher deadlines. George has so much pull now that those make no difference, and he doesn’t know when it will be done. He doesn’t even know how it will end. I believe it was going to be a trilogy at first, so we already have been given extra content. Plus, if you rush George the material isn’t going to be as good. How he writes is amazing. Maybe the best writer alive, but he doesn’t outline and his process is very attuned to quality through trial and error correction. Some of the processes he’s explained are unlike anything any other major writers do that I know of. That takes a lot longer, but the material is about 10 times as good as Stephen King or Dean Koontz, each of whom also have their unusual process, it’s just 30 times as slow. As all of that background material builds it is harder to move the story forward without contradictions because of the lack of an outline too. It’s amazing that he can even do it.
The best writer alive? I’ll grant you the first three books were pretty solid, but the 4th one was so bad I don’t know that one can recover from that to go on and be a best anything. Arguably better than King and Koontz, but I wouldn’t put either of them in “best writer alive” category either.
No.
🙁
I recently heard 2020, but you didn’t hear that from me. And who knows if it’s true.
WWWHHHHAAAAATTTTT????????
Yeaaaaaaaaaaah. That’s what the database says :/
*headslam*
I will mind my manners and not rant like a gutter-mouthed lunatic….
Go for it! I did 😉
I really thought he’d finished it and it was with the publisher for release next year, to stave off the hunger for the TV series. Sort of given up… I’m not interested in all the family histories – he did say that there was a book out next year and 2019.
My secret hope is that he’s sitting on 6 and 7 and is just planning to drop them in the next year or so and be done with it. I can tell he just doesn’t want to write them anymore, if the fact that he’s released at least 4 other books is any indication.
My day job is working for a division of his publisher, and I just trolled through the database (where I found 2020). But it could also be a diversionary tactic for people like me who look it up every other week, so who knows??
I gave up on the series awhile ago, not sure when you joined in on the series but the last book to come out was “just waiting for the final touches” for FOUR years. And, imho, was not even remotely worth wait and decided as far as I was concerned the series was done.
Because the series has gone past the books and will likely end before the next one is even released, I wonder about the quality of both. The series can’t introduce new characters because they haven’t been written. The creators of the series supposedly know who will sit on the iron throne. How will he wrote the books that need written to finish the story? Will he add new characters to further the story? Will he decide that he will change the ending? It’s frustrating that he has not finished the story and will not before the series end
What’s everyone reading to fill the void?
I’ve enjoyed the Farseer books by Robin Hobb. There are somewhat similar.
And the huge volume of A World of Ice and Fire is gorgeous, with lots of good background reading and beautiful illustrations.
I started catching up on my “obligatory” list of classics that I missed in school!
I created post its of all the unread books in my apartment and ereader, tossed them in a bowl, and have been working my way through them.
I’m gonna be occupied for a while. ?
I am reading The Scylding by Valerie L Price. Second book in The Liatris Saga.
Enders Game series by Orson Scott Card / Dune series by Frank Herbert / Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind / The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
*weeps with a host of hoarded emotion*
Oh, you sweet summer child.
I haven’t read the first one yet!
OMG, I wish I had waited until it was done being written, I had no idea when I started!
Never never ever while he makes a ton of cash on the television series! Me? Cynical? Ha.
I am so very upset with this man at this point…..I mean, is he going to just end up having someone else finish the writing like Robert Jordan did??? Pfah!
I always say: “If he Robert Jordan’s my ass, I’m going to be sooooooo mad!!”
He’s already got someone lined up for it.
Do not care, never been into them at ALL!
They are definitely not a read-just-to-read sort of books, you definitely have to have an interest in the style/genre AND have a strong stomach at times!
It would be nice, but I’m not going to hold my breath. Love the books. I’m close to finishing book two.
My husband went and bought me the complete-to-date set of matched paperbacks because he hated seeing me wailing and gnashing my teeth waiting for the library holds……then, it turns out it wasn’t even finished being written GAH!!!
I read 2018 sometime….but who knows
I just made the horrible decision to see if there is an official site for him (duh, of course there is) and to see ALL THE RELATED CRAP that’s been published but the next book in the series isn’t mentioned anywhere on the site that I can find……I may just have to fire off a very well-worded letter of dismay to this man!!!
I wouldn’t hold your breath. I honestly think he’s over writing the books because he keeps focusing on other projects and other stories.
The first book in the series was published 21 years ago, the fifth one was published 11 years after that. In the meantime, HBO and Martin just went ahead and finished the entire series on film. Martin is not in a hurry, or bothered about it. But I’ll read the books when they do get published… damn his eyes.
Probably after I’m gone! 🙂
I have decided I am not reading any more GoT books until George R. R. Martin has finished the entire series. If he ever does. ?
I’m with you Mary! It just became interminable
**stomps off to throw an epic temper tantrum** 😉
maybe, but there are a lot of young adult books that read like fire and ice
I would also offer up David Eddings’ Belgariad/Mallorean/Elenium/Tamuli and Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar novels, beginning with Magician if ya’ll would like a *finished* series ??
They’ve saved me more than once!
I think George Martin must have more than a touch of Oppositional Defiant disorder. Every time he finishes a project, someone asks about completing the books. Then he goes off and starts yet another project that is not completing the books.
Just as likely that the story is now hopelessly confused him due to his participation in a project that so diverged from the initial tale.
I’m actually glad I never got into reading this. It sounds like a horrible mess. I bought the first 3 books on Kindle, thinking it would be just my thing! As I’ve always loved fantasy etc. And there is no apparent reason for him not to have finished the series by now.
It’s some of the best reading I’ve ever done. And it will seriously go on my list of top three shittiest things ever to happen to a fandom I’m into if he doesn’t finish it. Because where it sits is NOT OKAY D:
There is NOTHING worse. My husband actually flatly refuses to read a series until it has been completed!! I hope for all the fans’ sake that he does get around to it, and soon.
I like to think that he’s had to wait on finishing them because he wants to keep surprising us and how can he do that if he goes by the show?
It must also be very hard for a writer when the show goes a different way from what s/he envisaged for the books. And then you end up with a scenario where the books and screen versions are set in alternate realities. (I used to be a Bridget Jones fan for example. Now I’m so confused I haven’t even seen the last movie! Apart from committing the deadly sin of killing off one of the most popular characters… oh wait that is sounding familiar)
I absolutely don’t begrudge him his position…. it’s an absolute cluster. I’m just willing to go to his house and like bring him ice water or something if it’ll get those books done. LOL
My one, last, teeny shred of a hope is that he has them finished. Season 8 finale, last frame: Buy Winds of Winter tomorrow. A Dream of Spring, same date, 2019. BOOM.
It’s not gonna happen. But I can dream. LOL
I said the same thing! I have a tiny, secret hope that he’s sitting on 6 and 7 and is just trolling everyone and will drop them both, like, the week before christmas and then be done with it.
Nothing around here is indicating that that is even a thing, BUT WOULDN’T IT BE THE BEST.
OMG, if only if only……
I’m afraid he’ll pass away before finishing them ?
he got REALLY angry when that was said to his face…
Really? I thought he was the one that started that rumor ??♀️ Lol