George R.R. Martin

[The_Khan]

Those of you who have read George R.R. Martin know that he is indeed an incredible writer. Here is a character sketch from George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight, prequel to his famous A Song of Ice and Fire series, enjoy

Ser Lyonel Baratheon "The Laughing Storm":
http://www.roaringstudios.com/colors/lb.jpg

[FlyingPhoenix]

:welcome: the_Khan to cosforum. I ask you to edit your post and attache this pic because its against the rules to post so big pics.

To attache a pic you need to click at: Manage Attachment
Than you add this file which isn't allowed be bigger than 40 KB from your HardDisk to cosforum. This will make it easier to load this thread.

[The_Khan]

Okay, I edited my post and added the picture as a link. Thanks for the warm welcome, greatly appreciated :)

Here are several character sketches from George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight, prequel to his famous A Song of Ice and Fire series, enjoy :)

Egg:
http://www.roaringstudios.com/thk/pictures/characters/Egg.jpg

Ser Duncan the Tall "Dunk":
http://www.roaringstudios.com/thk/pictures/characters/Dunk.jpg

Tanselle:
http://www.roaringstudios.com/thk/pictures/characters/Tanselle.jpg

[Lady Greyjoy]

Hello Khan (shouldn't that be Khal ;)),

Fellow fan here, trying to spread the word of Martin ;) :)

Check out my sig for a Song of Ice and Fire Pic.

The series is great, perhaps the best i've read in the epic fanatasy department.

The characters are real, the battles arn't bloodless or without loss, and the story is mesmerizing.

Good to see another fan.

[Lord_Chatterley]

Hello!i'm an italian fellow fan!I once made even a cast for ASOIAF!I don't know if I can post pics here....it would be a dream to watch movies of these books!

[Lady Greyjoy]

Here is the cast voted on by the A Song of ice and Fire ezboard.

http://www.geocities.com/immateriald/Home.html?1063874511006

[Lord_Chatterley]

I made this (http://www.labarriera.net/invision/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=1035&) cast,the forum is italian,but I hope you to understand! ;)

[Lady Greyjoy]

Of course i understand Lord Chatterly :p :) You'd be suprised at how many members of your cast were under disscussion at the ASOIAF board.

Here is a link to the A Song of Ice and Fire ezboard

http://pub26.ezboard.com/basoiaf

I invite you to come!
We always hunger for fresh blood ;)

And the best dissussions about the series take place there :) My username there is LadySnow03

On a side note....I take it your favorite character in ASOIAF is The Unburnt, Mother of Dragons ;)

[Lord_Chatterley]

Wow I already know that forum and consequential,I already know even you ladysnow03! :wow:
yes my fav character is the khaalesi,but I don't know if my siggie is correct,I translated that phrase directly from the italian book.

[The_Khan]

Lady Greyjoy:
Lol, well, I am Khal, but on the ASOIAF board that you mentioned to Lord_Chatterley :)

It's always a pleasure to meet a fellow Martin fan. I agree with you 100%, George is truly a master of his craft. Thanks for the warm welcome :)

Lord_Chatterley:
Hello, how is it in Italy? I've heard such wonderful things about your country. I agree with you that a movie of ASOIAF would be terrific :)

I agree with you both that these cast members that you put together are truly magnificent and if a movie is ever made in the future then definitely it would be the greatest movie of all time :)

Here is a five page preview of George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight issue #1, enjoy :)

Page 1:
http://www.imagecomics.com/PREVIEW/thehedgeknight1_p1.jpg

Page 2:
http://www.imagecomics.com/PREVIEW/thehedgeknight1_p2.jpg

Page 3:
http://www.imagecomics.com/PREVIEW/thehedgeknight1_p3.jpg

Page 4:
http://www.imagecomics.com/PREVIEW/thehedgeknight1_p4.jpg

Page 5:
http://www.imagecomics.com/PREVIEW/thehedgeknight1_p5.jpg

[The_Khan]

Here is a five page preview of George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight issue #2, this is a most entertaining read, please enjoy :)

Page 1:
http://www.imagecomics.com/PREVIEW/thehedgeknight2_p1.jpg

Page 2:
http://www.imagecomics.com/PREVIEW/thehedgeknight2_p2.jpg

Page 3:
http://www.imagecomics.com/PREVIEW/thehedgeknight2_p3.jpg

Page 4:
http://www.imagecomics.com/PREVIEW/thehedgeknight2_p4.jpg

Page 5:
http://www.imagecomics.com/PREVIEW/thehedgeknight2_p5.jpg

[The_Khan]

Happy Holidays everyone :)
http://www.roaringstudios.com/for_the_web/dl/huma.jpg

[The_Khan]

Here is the penciled and inked cover to Raymond E. Feist, The Woodboy, it has yet to be colored, but I wanted to give you all a sneek peek, enjoy :)

http://www.roaringstudios.com/for_the_web/WoodBoy1_Cvr.jpg

[EmilyRose]

This thread has been dead! I can't believe it.

The next book was supposed to be out this month, according to the publishers. According to George RR Martin, that's news to him as he isn't done yet.

So!

Who here's a fan? I love the Song of Ice and Fire series, and am awaiting the next installment by reading the samples he puts out.

For my favorite scene, I can't get the.. wedding.. out of my head. I'm drawing Catelyn in it now, since I think they're fairly visual books, and that scene just stuck as an image.

I'd like to strike up some GRRM discussion.

[RoadSafetyGirl]

I do love his books - and actually it was discussing the numerous clues of the future in GRRM books that led me to the clues in the Harry Potter books. Love foreshadowing and trying to guess what happens next.
I am *dying* for the next book to come out, checking GRRMS website regularly. The problem with loving series books is the agonising wait for the next one ... thank God for the net to fill the time in between!

[Lady Greyjoy]

ER,

Yeah, the Red Wedding tends to grab me the most on re-reads :)
The atmosphere in that chapter is incredible, one can feel Catelyn go from uncomfortable to terrorized to madness.

Question :)

Favorite Character?
Favorite Quote?
Favorite moment?
Favorite book?

Littlefinger. He's just so **** evil :p
"He tried to think of some famous last words, bugger you all was unlikely to win him a place in the history books"
Arya making "Weasel Soup" in Harrenhal
A Clash of Kings

[MSLupin]

The Red Wedding... Excrutiating read. I had a soft spot for Robb, too. It's shocking how vividly Catelyn comes through to the reader in that scene. My heart rends with her every time, and she'd always felt rather aloof to me. "Don't cut my hair, Ned loves my hair." Awful. At least the Freys are cursed now... they broke the Guest Right, they must be.

Favorite Character: Sansa and Davos.
Favorite Quote: I really cannot choose one, but Tyrion's speech apologizing for being a dwarf is terrific, as are most of Jaime's thought's about Brienne, and pretty much anything Sandor Clegane says. Oh, and of course, "Elia of Dorne. You raped her, you killed her, you murdered her children. Say her name!"
Favorite Scene: The pickings are far too ripe to choose.
Favorite Book: I'm enjoying A Storm of Swords again, so that for the moment.

EmilyRose, I'd love to see some of your artwork. Perhaps you could post some?

[EmilyRose]

Character: Tyrion. I love him. Followed by Jon, just because.
Quote: Anything Tyrion says. He's really quite entertaining.
Scene: Red Wedding, the midgets
Book: Storm of Swords

Seems like everyone is familiar with The Red Wedding, thus far. None the less, so as not to spoil that (part of the sticking power is the shock, after all), I'm just going to link over.

http://goldgummiemily.homestead.com/files/red_wedding.jpg

It's not done yet! Keep that in mind. I don't want to spoil the scene too much, but I welcome constructive criticism (though it might need to go to Owl Post).

Anyone else fanatically check GRRM's website? I'm waiting for him to update us on the status, and so tempted by the t-shirts.

What are your favorite Households?

[Lady Greyjoy]

The Starks of course...thier words are quite catching "Winter is Coming", followed by the Greyjoys, thier culture is just so foriegn and intresting to me "We do not sow", quite a boast.

[RoadSafetyGirl]

Character: Arya
Quote: Def agree with anything Tyrion says
Scene: The scenes with Brienne and Jaime, I like the start of his redemption and the layers in their relationship
Book: Game of Thrones, because I started reading it when I was giving a free copy on a train journey home, bored & never having read anything like it, not expecting to like it at all and loving it, and just devouring the whole thing.

I do religiously check the website and I agree about the power of the red wedding - it was just such a shocking and big thing to happen that you do wonder where it goes from there!
I think the Targyarens (sp??) are the most interesting household because its the one we know least about really.

[EmilyRose]

Seems I didn't answer my own question.

The Lannisters. They've certainly got their problems. I don't -like- them, but I have to admit just being downright fascinated with them. They're currently the background on my computer.

[MSLupin]

Most interesting house? For sheer intrigue, I'd have to agree to the Lannisters. Uber disfunction. Most of them are loathsome (excluding Tyrion, and Jaime's improving), but it does make for facinating reading.

Who is/are your least favorite character(s)?
What is your favorite theory?
How do you pronounce 'Jaime'?

-I loathe Walder Frey, Roose Bolton and Theon Greyjoy.
-Jon is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.
-'Jay-me'. (My sister says 'Jaym'.)

[RoadSafetyGirl]

Who is/are your least favorite character(s)? Lyra Stark
What is your favorite theory? Jon Stark definitely but the meaning of 'fire & ice' and linking that to the idea of a future relationship between Dany and Jon is also one I find interesting.
How do you pronounce 'Jaime'? Jay-me

[EmilyRose]

Least Favorite Character: Joffrey. (heh. I guess I need to find a new one). Um. I'm not a fan of Theon.

Favorite Theory: Jon as Lyanna's child.

It's Jay-me, so far as I'm concerned.

[Lady Greyjoy]

I actually quite like Theon...as a book character. He's complex and layered and his journey from Stark ally to a child killer is fasinating...and the whole time he's the same person :)

I do love the villians though, they are so intresting. But the good thing about ASOIAF is that telling the diffrence betweent the good and the bad is impossible.

Littlefinger was Sansa before his dishonor by the hands of Brandon, now he seeks nobility and power.

Jamie tried to be Arthur Dayne the Sword of the morning, and in his own words "became the smiling knight instead"

Ned is a good man, but lies for love.

Catelyn loves her children but hates Jon.

Theon is neither wolf nor Kraken.

Sansa caused her father's death by telling Cersei his plans.

Shades of grey indeed.

[EmilyRose]

Oh, I agree. The major difference between GRRM's works and the other fantasy that's popular at the moment is that the characters are so rich, and so developed. They actually change, like real people, and seem multidimensional, whereas many other fantasies have very static ("I'm the hero!" "I just love being evil.") characters.

I just.. well.. don't like Theon. I'm quite a fan of Tyrion, who is not exactly your ideal guy, and I'm actually fairly fond of Cersie and Littlefinger. But something strikes me wrong about Theon, and I dislike him. I don't recommend taking him out of the books completely, but he's never going to be my favorite.

[MSLupin]

Another thing that also amazes me about Martin is the ambiguity of so many of his conflicts. I can't count how many times I've read a battle or duel and had absolutely no idea of which faction I'm rooting for! And Tyrion, the king of ambiguity, is one of the most facinating characters in the series.
Lady Greyjoy, I agree completely about the shades of gray, but I have to disagree a bit about Cat. While she unquestionably resents Jon for being Ned's baseborn son, I don't believe she hates him- the source of her qualms seems to lie with her husband. Also, I don't think that Sansa had any possible idea as to the potential consequences of spilling to Cersie.

[RoadSafetyGirl]

I know, take the succession - I mean, Robert stole the throne so is it wrong it is stolen back by someone else, or wrong of Dany to want to take what is rightfully hers? Is it wrong of Stannis as next in line even though Joffrey is (officially recognised as) or Renly, by right of popularity ??? .. the richness and complications is what make it so engaging as a series and always means you take away more from it every time you read it.
I mean who is the hero of the stories? I always thought it was set up to be Jon or Bran? Yet even that isnt clearcut!

[Lady Greyjoy]

MS Lupin,

I agree Sansa had no idea that the consequences of telling Cersei about her father's plans would be so horrible.

But after watching Cersei condemn Lady to death, she should have been a little less naive about the Queen's nature, of course she transfered the blame to Arya....that's a thirteen year old for you :).

New Question..

Favorite Minor Character?
What new/minor character do you has a role to play in the rest of the series

My favorite minor character is of course Oberyn Martell, The Red Viper of Dorne

Ellaria Sand: "Your going to fight that! [Gregor]
Oberyn Martell: "I'm going to kill that.

Another is Dolorous Edd, the funniest man to ever wear the black

"We will defend the wall to the last man!"
Dolorous Edd: "Probably me"

The minor character i think will have a role to play in the future is Gendry, Arya's companion and Blacksmith...the romantic in me wants to see them create the Stark-Baratheon union that has been put off for so long :(

The realist in my thinks if he discovers his heritage he might unite the smallfolk and fight for the throne, becoming a Thorn in Dany's side.

[MSLupin]

Favorite minor character: Edric Dayne, Lord Beric's squire. He seemed genuinely kindhearted and eager to put Arya at ease. Besides which, he's a Dayne, and I like the Daynes for some reason. I also like the (legendary) Willas Tyrell, who I feel we must meet before long- even Lady Olenna vouches for his good character. Myrcella and Tommen have a certain sweetness as well. How they are Cersei's spawn and Joffery's siblings is quite beyond me.
What new/minor character do you has a role to play in the rest of the series?: Gendry, Myrcella (If Dorne doesn't crown her, I'm Gregor Clegane), and probably Willas.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone else read the Feast for Crows chapter in the mass market version of Storm of Swords?

[EmilyRose]

Cersie's chapter? I most certainly have. If you haven't gotten to it, there's another chapter from A Feast for Crows on GRRM's website, http://georgerrmartin.com or to head directly there, http://georgerrmartin.com/chapter.html

It's from Arya's point of view.

[MSLupin]

I actually haven't worked up the nerve to read any of the spoiler chapters on the internet (yet). Somehow, it feels less like cheating when it's in print before you, and there aren't half a dozen blaring red warnings stating that, yes, this is a SPOILER CHAPTER!!! :shrug:. But what did you think of it? (I'll put it in spoilers, just in case someone doesn't want to know.) I am so proud of Jaime, ignoring Cersie like that! That's our boy! Also, I knew I liked Ser Kevan for some reason :)
Who do you think the other new POV is? I am hoping for Willas Tyrell, the Blackfish or a Dornish nobleman we haven't yet met.

[EmilyRose]

*L* GRRM didn't blare up spoiler warnings. It's just another chapter, because he's keeping us waiting. So, I don't mind. I'm not searching around for spoilers, but it seems fair enough that way.

Just to be brief. *achem* I must say I agree on said opinion in spoiler. *L*

I'm worried we'll end up with Stannis's POV, though.

[MSLupin]

He didn't? Whoops :blush:. Can you tell I haven't been looking so hard? I'm just drawing on my experience from movie and TV spoilers :).
Stannis would make sense, but we already have Jon, Sam and possibly Bran speaking from on/beyond the Wall, which is why I am expecting Dorne or Highgarden to yield a new POV.

[EmilyRose]

I'd wondered about Asha Greyjoy myself--if she's up to something, we need some POV in order to see what she's doing. Might be interesting to see from her viewpoint, as she's a.. very interesting character.

Anyone else expect to see more of Theon, by the by?

[Lady Greyjoy]

Highlight spoiler text for info on new PoV...minor spoilers only

Dragon Magazine released an excerpt of A Feast for Crows in their Novemeber issue, it contained three new PoV's Asha Greyjoy, and her uncles Aeron and Victorion Greyjoy. I've read it and its excellent. Martin said in an online interview that in addition to the Greyjoy's the new book will contain more PoV's than one new unknown Pov and Cersei, they will be Aurinne Martell (heir to Sunspear)[her chapter heading is called "Queenmaker" instead of AURINNE, Areo Hotah (The captain of Doran Martell's guards)[His Chapter heading is called "The Captain of the guards"] and Aerys Oakheart (Mycella's personal guard and a memeber of the Kingsguard) [His chapter heading is called "The Soiled Knight] FYI Asha's Chapter heading is called "The Kraken's Daughter", her uncles are called "The Prophet" and "The Warrior" respectivly

If you realllly want to be spoiled (as i have :angel: ) wander around this http://b15.ezboard.com/fasoiaffrm2 message board for accounts of the new Pov's, and some old ones.

[Hagrid442]

As a creature of Knockturn Alley (or whatever they're calling it nowadays) I really should venture out into other areas. :)

Ok... sorry for that impertinent bit of information.

I love GRRM's books, but lately have been frustrated with the delay of the next book's release! It was supposed to be August 2003, and then bumped to this month. I look on Amazon, it's now Aug 2004!

Favorite Character?
Jon, Tyrion, Samwell, and Daenerys are amongst my favorites. So is Davos and Oberyn.
Favorite Quote? It's been a while. I'd have to do a re-read.
Favorite moment? The elder Lannister's death was quite gratifying. Plus, the ironic quote that summed it all up plays into my sick sense of humor. :)
Favorite book? They're all equally good.
Who is/are your least favorite character(s)? Joffrey, Cersei, "daddy" Lannister (forget his name), and Littlefinger especially.
What is your favorite theory? I haven't really delved into theories....
How do you pronounce 'Jaime'? Hah-EEM!!! Ok... I doubt that. JAY-me.

[Lady Greyjoy]

Hagrid,

Don't let the no book blues get you down, Books can't be rushed if they are to be good. I have No ASOIAF book blues and No New Harry Potter book blues.

The cure is to read other stuff.

Anway back to the books, its definatly Jay-me (Jamie), its also Ser-See (Cersei), Dan-air-rays(Daenerys), Tar-Gar-yen(Targaryen), Tear-e-on(Tyrion), and Kat-e-lyn (Catelyn) according to GRRM (www.westeros.org [so spake martin] is a great asset)

Some more good quotes:

"How many Dornishmen does it take to start a war, he asked himself, just one" Tyrion about Oberyn Martell

"Why sad?"
"Because these are the knights of summer and Winter is coming"
-Catelyn to Brienne

"Rhaegar won, d-a-m-n him! He has Lyanna, and I have her"
-Robert to Ned

"Heh"- Walder Frey

"I am a direwolf, and I am done with wooden teeth."
-Arya about her wooden sword

"You have juice on your face, your grace"
-Arya to Sansa

"Some said she was beautiful, she was not, she was red and horrible and red"
-Maester Cressen about Mellisandre


I read this series a little too much :)

[MSLupin]

Dan-air-rays(Daenerys)

Really? I thought it was Day-ner-eez. Does that mean that all 'ae's are pronounced 'ah'? Rah-gar, Ah-mon, Bah-lor...

Tear-e-on(Tyrion)

Your kidding. I thought it was Tie-ree-on. *Sigh*.

"Heh"- Walder Frey

*Quivers in fury*

May I add:
"A pure world. I don't belong here." -Sansa Stark.

'"The boy's feeding worms," said Bronn with his usual tact.'

[EmilyRose]

I also read it as "Day-ner-rez," which seems to just sound better. Though, I do pronounce it "Tear-e-on."

Re-reading and focusing more on the dreams. It seems to support the Jon/Lyanna connection, since Eddard seems to connect his shame at not telling Jon something with the scene of Lyanna dying.

And Dany's visions with Rhaegar--he's the one that mentions a song of fire and ice. It's interesting to reread with all this in mind.

[Lady Greyjoy]

Dany's Visons in the House of the Undying are extremly intresting to re-read.

I think he might point to half of the story of ASOIAF in there.

Dany's has three mounts "One to bed" " One to dread" "One to Love"
The "one to bed" is obviously Drogo...she was basically sold as a breeding horse by her brother. The second......hmmm to dread, i gonna guess she will have to marry (or "mount")someone she doesn't like. Strangly enough the vison that follows this pronoucement in her head is of " A man at the prow of a ship smiling sadely" I think its Theon Greyjoy :) :huh: More later

[EmilyRose]

Heh. Again, I really dislike Theon. And he rarely smiles anything but impudently. I'd prefer Davos Seaworth to Theon, but it'd never happen--he was born common, and the match doesn't make sense. So, I'm hoping for someone (anyone) else.

By the way--I've noticed a big argument among readers with this next one:

Jon Snow-Winterfel or the Wall? Where should he be?

I have to say the Wall, even if he is Lyanna's. He swore an oath, after all, and I think there will be enough honor for him in the Watch.

[MSLupin]

I was actually a bit miffed when Jon didn't go home to Winterfell after he heard about Ned's death. My sister kept saying "Oh, such a great scene is coming up, it's beautifull...", refering to the bit when Pip and Gren and all his friends come to get him, yelling the Oath. And of course, all I could think about was, "No, no, he's got to go home!" despite the fact that it was pretty clear he wouldn't/couldn't.
The dreams of the crone that Arya meets are interesting as well, though her's are much less difficult to disipher. The part that sticks out particularly is when she prophesized the maiden in the snow slaying a giant around a castle. Clearly Sansa, and probably refers to her ripping the head of Little Lord Robert's doll, but I can't help but hope it might signify greater things for her.
One other thing. When Dany was walking through the house of the Undying, she saw a feast presided over by a king with a wolf's head, looking at her in mute suplication. I wonder if this means that if Dany had been in Westeros before the Red Wedding, she might not have been able to help Robb.

[EmilyRose]

I think, without his honor, Jon would be less than a Stark. And he's proven how much of a Stark he can be. So, I want him to stay on the Wall. Of course, I want The Gift to be populated again, and him in essence to be the lord over it, while we're at it.

I think if Jon went and usurped his brother's position, it would not only rob Bran of his chance to become a man and the Stark in Winterfell, it would make Jon not much better than Theon. (Though I, of course, would still like him much more than Theon).

[Lady Greyjoy]

Strangley I still root for Theon,

He's a mediocre man, and he knows it. He can't be loved or trusted, only hated, even by his family. One of the most striking moments is when he threatens to kill Beth, the knight-at-arms daugter. After he makes the threat he thinks to him self " He isn't suprised." Even someone who knew him as a child thinks the worst of him. An intresting character, he reminds me of Tyrion...without the brilliant wit...hence his tragedy.

Anyhou.

After the Undying tell Dany "a mount to bed" see sees a vision of Drogo on their wedding night, after "A mount to dread" she sees "a man at the head of a ship smiling sadly" (man with a ship=The greyjoys are known for them, smiling sadly=Grey Joy). Then the undying say " a mount to love" Dany sees a blue rose (Lyanna's flower) growing from the ice... For me that points to Jon as her mount to love.

[EmilyRose]

I wonder.

With Winterfell sacked, and no one there, but the structure still pretty much intact...

If she does ever leave Mereen and head over to Westeros, a queen needs a castle. The problem there is Stannis being so close now. Mormont might actually encourage her, since he had his grudge against Ned Stark (though he's on the outs with her).

That brings her closer to the Wall and Jon, and brings her to the blue rose herself, Lyanna, down in the crypts (also still intact).

I want to see if there's any of Dany's visions that could be visually referring to Lyanna, but are interpreted otherwise. It'd be interesting if she recognized Lyanna's likeness somehow, from one of her visions with her brother. The map of her side of the world lines up with northern Westeros (the fourth map in ASoS). She will be landing North, unless she goes down to Dragonstone (another possibility). But it's very far south, and too close to Kings Landing.

This is assuming, of course, she gives up ruling in Mereen and comes over to Westeros as she planned.

[Gryffindor4]

I am reading A game of Thrones for the first time right now. George Martin is a genius.

[EmilyRose]

Isn't he spec-freakin'-tacular?

Finally have my husband reading them. He's having to fight my father for them, since I got him reading them as well and I've just got the one copy of each.

[MSLupin]

I've got my copies divied up among my friends. I irritate them constantly by asking (/cajoling/begging) when are they going to finish... Hopefully they will finish them over the summer, and I can re-read :).

[EmilyRose]

I just 'casually' check where they're at, either by stealing their books or quizzing them, so that I know what I can babble about.

[Lady Greyjoy]

I've given copies of A Game of Thrones to a couple of my friends in the hopes of hooking them :)

[EmilyRose]

From http://www.georgerrmartin.com posted yesterday by the author:

MORE PAGES. STILL NOT DONE. ALAS, ALAS.

I have been getting lots of email lately asking for an update on the progress of A FEAST FOR CROWS. Here it is. I aim to please.

I have been getting even more email asking if the latest publication date announced by one bookstore or another is correct. It isn't. I don't even care what date it is. I am still writing the book. Until it is done and delivered, all these announced pubdates are arrived at by throwing darts at a calendar.

As I have been saying for a year, the moment the book is done I will announce it here. The instant. The second. So if you visit this website, and this notice is still in place, it means I'm still writing. That remains as true in June as it was in January. Yes, I have been slow in updating this announcement, but believe me, I will not be slow to tell the world that my FEAST is headed for the table.

For whatever reason, this fourth book has given me much more trouble than any of the earlier volumes. As of today, I have finished forty-eight chapters, and have another eighteen partially written. Half a dozen of them are within a few whiskers of completion. The good news is that I have recently completed the final Jaime chapter for this volume. I'm very close on Arya and Sansa too, and fairly close on Tyrion. The not-so-good news is that all the other viewpoints remain incomplete, and one crucial one is barely half-done. The prologue is giving me fits as well, but as of last night I think I may have solved it.

The last printout I did for my editors (who are even more interested in my progress than my readers) came in at 1067 manuscript pages. That count includes includes only the finished chapters, not the partials. The final draft of A GAME OF THRONES was 1088 manuscript pages. A FEAST FOR CROWS will definitely be longer. Most likely it will be longer than A CLASH OF KINGS. As to whether it will eventually be as long as A STORM OF SWORDS... I hope not, but I have given up on making predictions.

The tale grew in the telling, J.R.R. Tolkien once said. Mine too. At a certain point, the best that you can do is follow your story where it leads you.

The vast majority of the email that I receive continues to be very supportive. I do not have the time to respond to all those letters, or to answer questions about why the seasons are the way they are, how the maesters make their chains, which of the Targaryen kings married their sisters, or where Myr is located in relation to Tyrosh (there will be a map of the Free Cities in FEAST that should take of that last one at least). If I did, my progress would be even slower than it is at present. I do read my emails, however, and I appreciate all the enthusiasm and kind words.

Of late, some of the words I have been getting have been less kind. I don't answer those either, though at times I am tempted. I will say, just to set some rumors straight, that I am not dead, I am not dying, I am not in ill health, I have not forgotten about my readers, and I am not lounging in my hot tub drinking chilled wine with hot babes in bikinis (though I'd like to be). I have been working on this bloody book almost every bloody day (okay, except for Sundays during football season and the two days of the NFL draft) for more years than I care to contemplate, writing, rewriting, revising, and writing again, trying to make FEAST a feast in truth.

As for those of you (only a handful, thankfully) who seem outraged that I continue to collect toy knights, read books by other people, travel, teach, speak, and make appearances (as evidenced by my website)... sorry, but I have a life beyond A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE. You should get one too. I am sorry if the long delays on A FEAST FOR CROWS have made you lose interest in the series, but believe me, your frustrations cannot possibly hold a candle to my own. For one thing, the way the book biz works, I don't get paid until the novel is (a) delivered, and (b) published.

It is worth remembering that Jack Vance published the third volume of his wonderful Demon Prince series (THE PALACE OF LOVE) in 1967 and the fourth volume (THE FACE) in 1979. And need I mention how long J.R.R. Tolkien worked on THE LORD OF THE RINGS or THE SILMARILLION? Does anyone now wish that he had knocked them out faster?

In the end, the only thing anyone remembers about a book is how good it was. I won't tell you that A FEAST FOR CROWS is going to be great. That's not my call to make. But I will say that I am doing my damndest.

Hang in there. I'll try to make you glad you did.


—George R.R. Martin, June 16, 2004


Also, I have to say: If you didn't read the Arya Chapter? You're out of luck. On the samples page it's been replaced by the Cersie chapter we got in the back of the paperback A Storm of Swords. Ah, well.

[MSLupin]

That makes me feel a bit better, in an odd sort of way... It's nice to get reasurance every so often that he really is trying his hardest to get us a spectacular book. And that he's still alive, of course.
Now, if only we could say the same for Sandor Clegane...

[EmilyRose]

Hey, I'm just glad that Tyrion's made it almost to the end of the book! Or, at least I hope that's what he means. I really don't want him to be the next to die.

I'm actually reassured by this as well, though I do have to laugh that he's basically flicking off the obnoxiously impatient readers.

[Raethul]

Wow, I need to come to the Leaky Cauldron more often.

I ADORE a SoIaF. G. R. R. Martain is definitely up there are one of my three favorite authors. His books are some of the most mature fantasy stories I've ever read, and I'm nearly pulling my hair out in anticipation for the next one.

On to the questions:

Favorite Character? Jon: I adore him and was painting him as the most "noble and honorable" until there was some gray thrown into the mix when he broke his oath; Arya: What can I say, she rocks; Tyrion: He's a riot, and I love how his greatest power is with wit (which also gets him into trouble); Jaime: I started out hating him, but now that we've seen his pov, I'm starting to love him; Ned: I was just drawn to him some how

Favorite Quote? Have to get back to you with that

Favorite moment? Red Wedding :upset: I was horribly upset, and that was one of the most disturbing scenes I've ever read

Favorite book? Storm of Swords

Who is/are your least favorite character(s)? Cersei :td: I can't wait for her to get hers; Tywin: I was cheering Tyrion on; Joffrey: I would never have imagined a kid could be so sadistic and evil; Melisandre: She freaks me out

What is your favorite theory? Jon as Rhaegar and Lyanna's son

Favorite Minor Character? Osha, Brienne, and Gendry

How do you pronounce 'Jaime'? JAY-me

On Theon, I actually do like him. He strikes me as someone who is not sure what he wants becuase he doesn't know where he belongs. His father was a b****** to him, he was hitting on his SISTER (though he didn't reconize her), and he betrayed the family who raised him. Very interesting.... Also, I like Dany, but I don't find her chapters as interesting as the others most of the time. I was, however, very pleased in the manner of her brother's death.

[EmilyRose]

Dany's chapters, while no worse than any others, just seemed to throw the story a little for me too. It's her distance from the others, I know. Everyone else's sort of lock together to give the full view of what's going on, but with her being the only character on the other side of the sea, it just seems an interruption at times.

[Hagrid442]

I'm growing impatient. lol

But according to amazon.com, Feast comes out December 30, 2004. I hope that is the case since it has been pushed back several times! I can't find the release date on his official website. But he did have a pro-Kerry web-counter on his page, so I'm not too upset.

[Ranador]

I've been wanting to check out his books for sometime, but right now I'm preoccuppied with catching up in the Wheel of Time series, and that's taking all my effort.

[Raethul]

But according to amazon.com, Feast comes out December 30, 2004. I hope that is the case since it has been pushed back several times!
I wouldn't trust that date at all. Amazon has had a different date up for the past two years now, and it continuously pushes it forward after that date passes and still we have no book. Martin said he would go on his website and post that the book was finished the SECOND he had completed it. Until that time I'm not trusting any date anyone puts up.

But he did have a pro-Kerry web-counter on his page, so I'm not too upset.
!!!!COOL!!!!

[Hagrid442]

Yeah. I remember reading that too. There's nothing on his site indicating that he's done with the book so I figure the date on amazon.com is to be disregarded.

Tool is cool. :)

[Lady Greyjoy]

Martin's put up another chapter on his website...while it's not exactly new (the same chapter was posted earlier) he's done some tweaking to it and it's better than before.

Click here (http://www.georgerrmartin.com/), then click on the Tyrell Rose (Samples).

It's a Dany chapter by the way...looks like ruling Mereen won't be easy.

[Yurika Star]

I still can't bring my self to read the spoiler chapters, I know it'll just fuel my need for more ASoIaF.

*off to stare blankly and more Riftwar stuff*

[EmilyRose]

Interesting to note that GRRM has also illustrated that sample chapter with fan art from Amok. Good for him! I need to kick my art into high gear. It'd be neat to be recognized that way by the author, wouldn't it?