A Song Of Ice and Fire (Spoilers for all Published Books)

[Mecca]

Here's a fun thought: the show runners are saying the show could surpass the books, yet they cut out material to get to that end even quicker

[bune]

So what's the point of the books? Is there a point? I mean, if anyone can die, what's the end game? He says that there's one, maybe two more books left so what's it all building up to? The wall coming down? War between factions? Finding out who sired John Snow? I want to start reading the series but I'm hesitant because I want to know there's something to it.

When I read a single book I know it has an ending. When I start a series I want to be sure of the same.

I have two different series I am looking at starting, this and Wheel of Time, and I'm just looking for a reason to start one over the other.

[bada]

You should wait and see if he even finishes it.

[kahli sana]

Start with Wheel of Time. Despite some lulls 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through the series, it finishes in a very satisfying way (for me at least - I wasn't let down at all). ASoIaF is really good, but if you're wanting to make sure there's a coherent ending, I'd wait.

[McParadigm]

The Wheel of Time burns excruciating amounts of paper on the idea that men and women don't always get each other. As it goes along, characters often get reduced to a series of three or four ideas and behaviors (ie: female character x will unquestionably tug on her braid in agitation at least once every three pages. Isn't that fun to read? Gosh, it's fun to read).

It's still light years better than many of its peers, but it's a great example of a series that was stretched and elongated for reasons other than "I had so much story in my head that was worth telling, I just couldn't say no!"

[kahli sana]

The Wheel of Time burns excruciating amounts of paper on the idea that men and women don't always get each other. As it goes along, characters often get reduced to a series of three or four ideas and behaviors (ie: female character x will unquestionably tug on her braid in agitation at least once every three pages. Isn't that fun to read? Gosh, it's fun to read).

It's still light years better than many of its peers, but it's a great example of a series that was stretched and elongated for reasons other than "I had so much story in my head that was worth telling, I just couldn't say no!"

I don't disagree with you. I kind of wish Brandon Sanderson could have written the last 6. They might have ended up as 4 instead.

[McParadigm]

The Wheel of Time burns excruciating amounts of paper on the idea that men and women don't always get each other. As it goes along, characters often get reduced to a series of three or four ideas and behaviors (ie: female character x will unquestionably tug on her braid in agitation at least once every three pages. Isn't that fun to read? Gosh, it's fun to read).

It's still light years better than many of its peers, but it's a great example of a series that was stretched and elongated for reasons other than "I had so much story in my head that was worth telling, I just couldn't say no!"

I don't disagree with you. I kind of wish Brandon Sanderson could have written the last 6. They might have ended up as 4 instead.

[bune]

The Wheel of Time burns excruciating amounts of paper on the idea that men and women don't always get each other. As it goes along, characters often get reduced to a series of three or four ideas and behaviors (ie: female character x will unquestionably tug on her braid in agitation at least once every three pages. Isn't that fun to read? Gosh, it's fun to read).

It's still light years better than many of its peers, but it's a great example of a series that was stretched and elongated for reasons other than "I had so much story in my head that was worth telling, I just couldn't say no!"

As someone who had* to read the entire Sword of Truth series, I have an idea of what you're talking about. :/

*Wife kept insisting I read it because I'd 'love' it. Get 1/4 of the way through her favorite book and tell her she should read Atlas Shrugged if this is indeed her favorite.

You should wait and see if he even finishes it.

Hmm. Maybe by the time I finish WoT it'll be out.

[broken iris]

regarding tyrion and tywin..

Spoiler: show

weren't we suppose to learn a bit about Tywin's real son in that scene?

Also, I feel like they are implying Bran will

Spoiler: show

wharg the dragons to defeat kings frosty

(guess for future)

hopefully a red herring.

and:

Spoiler: show

when does stoneheart appear?

[Mecca]

your spoilers contain book material so I moved them to this thread

also, LOL @ people counting the Hound among last nights deaths

[Simple Torture]

To be fair, most people have said, "I'll miss the Hound." And yeah, he's going to be off screen for a while, and even if he does come back, he won't be the same. So they will probably still miss him when he comes back.

I guess that means Jojen's days in the books are numbered.

Have you guys heard about the theory that the new High Septon is Howland Reed? Jesus.

[Mecca]

To be fair, most people have said, "I'll miss the Hound." And yeah, he's going to be off screen for a while, and even if he does come back, he won't be the same. So they will probably still miss him when he comes back.

I guess that means Jojen's days in the books are numbered.

Have you guys heard about the theory that the new High Septon is Howland Reed? Jesus.

I've read a lot of those theories.

I doubt Sandor Clegane plays any part in the story, but the devil is in the details that he still lives.

[doone]

No link, saw it on another board without a link

George RR will kill you for $20K

Two lucky "Game Of Thrones" fans with $20,000 to spare are going to get the ultimate honor: author George R.R. Martin will name a character for each of them in the next book in the "Song of Ice and Fire" series.
The prizes are among the honors and awards Martin is giving to donors who pitch in and help two of his favorite causes: the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in New Mexico and the The Food Depot of Santa Fe.

For $10, you can win a helicopter ride -- with Martin -- to see the wolves.
"In addition to touring the Sanctuary together, we'll also have plenty of time to discuss the show, 'A Song of Ice and Fire,' direwolves -- and if there's anything you have ever wanted to ask me, here's your chance!" Martin writes on the website.

Pitch in a little more and you can win other prizes.

For $25, you can receive an e-card. For $50, you can win a T-shirt. Other prize levels include a signed map of Westeros for $350, a signed cookbook for $600 and a handwritten thank-you card for $1,200.

But the big bucks net you the top prizes, like Martin's hat ($7,500) or breakfast with the man himself ($15,000).

For $20,000, you can be immortalized in the next "Song of Fire and Ice" book.
"You can
choose your character's station in the world (lordling, knight, peasant, whore, lady, maester, septon, anything)," the offer reads.
But, no matter what station you choose, your character probably won't enjoy a happy ending. In fact, it's pretty much a guarantee that you won't.
This is a George R.R. Martin novel after all. Just in case you're holding out hope, the website warns: "You will certainly meet a grisly death!"
Only two people will win the full character treatment, and both $20,000 prizes were quickly snapped up, but many of the other prizes still remain.
Get all the details on the official Prizeo website.

This contest's existence upsets me greatly because it would mean that the next book is still not being written. Unless it is old and over and done with, then I'm okay (hard to know without a link).

[Brett]

http://mashable.com/2014/06/12/george-r ... -employee/

Somebody made that $20,000 donation.

Anyway, from all I've heard, George is working on The Winds of Winter, just not at a pace that any of us fans are pleased about. He turned in 160-some-odd pages for a contracted payment last year, and he keeps telling his editor about parts that he's written, but not turned in yet. It's anybody's guess, though, as to how far along he really is, and how much closer we are to having the story build to a conclusion in a reasonable timeframe.

[epilogue]

regarding tyrion and tywin..

Spoiler: show

weren't we suppose to learn a bit about Tywin's real son in that scene?

Also, I feel like they are implying Bran will

Spoiler: show

wharg the dragons to defeat kings frosty

(guess for future)

hopefully a red herring.

and:

Spoiler: show

when does stoneheart appear?

I don't recall what you're talking about in that first spoiler. I don't remember anything about Tywin's real son. But we were definitely supposed to learn the truth about Tyrion's first wife. And I'm really bummed that they cut that. Perhaps even more bummed at that cut than Stoneheart. Because I still very much believe she'll be in next season.

[broken iris]

regarding tyrion and tywin..

Spoiler: show

weren't we suppose to learn a bit about Tywin's real son in that scene?

Also, I feel like they are implying Bran will

Spoiler: show

wharg the dragons to defeat kings frosty

(guess for future)

hopefully a red herring.

and:

Spoiler: show

when does stoneheart appear?

I don't recall what you're talking about in that first spoiler. I don't remember anything about Tywin's real son. But we were definitely supposed to learn the truth about Tyrion's first wife. And I'm really bummed that they cut that. Perhaps even more bummed at that cut than Stoneheart. Because I still very much believe she'll be in next season.

So, I havent read the 5th book and I read the first four years and years ago, but isn't:

Spoiler: show

Tyrion the only true son of Tywin?

[Simple Torture]

Oh, I've heard fan theories about different parental lineages in the Lannister house (mostly that it's Tyrion who isn't a Lannister, that he's actually a Targaryan), but I don't think any theories about Jamie and Cersi not being Lannisters is supported by the text, really.

[epilogue]

regarding tyrion and tywin..

Spoiler: show

weren't we suppose to learn a bit about Tywin's real son in that scene?

Also, I feel like they are implying Bran will

Spoiler: show

wharg the dragons to defeat kings frosty

(guess for future)

hopefully a red herring.

and:

Spoiler: show

when does stoneheart appear?

I don't recall what you're talking about in that first spoiler. I don't remember anything about Tywin's real son. But we were definitely supposed to learn the truth about Tyrion's first wife. And I'm really bummed that they cut that. Perhaps even more bummed at that cut than Stoneheart. Because I still very much believe she'll be in next season.

So, I havent read the 5th book and I read the first four years and years ago, but isn't:

Spoiler: show

Tyrion the only true son of Tywin?

There is some speculation about that. Some clever readers have clever theories. There are clues that support both sides. Martin has never said for sure one way or the other. For now, I think, we are all supposed to assume that all three are his but it's possible one or more are not.

[epilogue]

Or, what Simple Torture said.

[Brett]

There's a point in the fourth book where Jaime's aunt remarks to him that Tyrion is Tywin's only true son, which I think is where people got the suspicion that Jaime was someone else's son. I took it to be more indicative of Jaime's loss of "manliness" because of his amputation and his disinterest in power. It probably goes back even further than that, to the "kingslayer" incident; there are probably a lot of people who view Jaime as more of a conniving rat than a man.