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More news from Martin:
As I write, six days have passed since the election.
Since I posted my "Mourning for America" update last Wednesday, I have been absolutely deluged with emails. As of this writing I have received more than six hundred letters. Short letters, long letters, funny letters, sad letters, heartfelt letters, angry letters, and everything in between. I am pleased to say that the vast majority of those emails have been very supportive.
Yes, there have been a few dozen abusive letters full of semi-literate namecalling, but actually fewer than I anticipated. No surprise there. Like Superchicken, I knew the job was dangerous when I took it. To those who say they will never read a book by me again, well, that's your choice. To those who suggested I get out of "your" country and move to France, nah, don't think so. I have nothing against France and hope to visit there again one day, but this is my country, and I believe I will stay and fight for it.
I have also received some thoughtful and considered missives from Bush voters, expressing their disagreement with the views I expressed in my last update. I wish I had time to answer those, since I do believe that the only way America is ever going to heal is if people of good will on both sides talk to one another and find some common ground. However, the last thing I need right now is to engage in twenty or thirty protracted political discussions via email. I do appreciate those letters and respect those who took the time to write them, as much as we may disagree on Bush, Kerry, and the issues.
Hundreds of you wrote to echo my sentiments about the election and the future that we face. Some of you have said that my words helped you in dealing with your own rage, depression, and despair. If so, I am very pleased. Your own emails had the same effect on me. I wish I could answer each and every one of those emails personally, but that is obviously impossible... especialIy since the flood continues even as I write.
I have, however, read every letter that I received. We all need to be reminded from time to time that we do not stand alone. It was good of so many of you to take the time to console me, commiserate, share your outrage, and generally help me try and recover from the aftermath of the vote.
So where am I now?
Back at work on A FEAST FOR CROWS, mostly. Revised and rewrote one of Arya's chapters yesterday. Today I mostly worked with Sam, and a little bit with Cersei. I still hope to finish by year's end, but of course I have said that before. We will see how it goes.
As for the election, our fight (like Tolkien's road) goes ever on and on, and we must follow where we can. There will be other battles, other elections, and we are legion. The Boss says it best: NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER.
Keep reading, keep thinking, and keep voting.
—George R.R. Martin, November 8, 2004
At least he's not answering the emails, small consolation I guess.
George RR Martin
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MultiQuote#102 Guest_allwilldie_*
Posted 12 June 2004 - 02:44 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Warhammer:
I can only speak for myself. But as much as I am annoyed by GRRM the author for taking so much time with AFfC, I respect and like GRRM the man. He took time to answer a couple of my mails, he is great to speak with irl, he cares for his fans and enjoys meeting them more than any other author.
I can understand what you're saying, I always appreciate it when author's take time to reply to their mail. But GRRM is hardly the only one todo it. I send regular emails to a number of emails and recieve regualar replies. To say he cares about his fabs more than any other author is, in my opinion, very unfair.
#103 Guest_Lady Vorcan_*
Posted 02 December 2004 - 05:44 PM
I've only a few pages here on this mammoth thread and so far i've come up with this. I like the series for some of the reasons people here say they hate it-(not because GRRM plays with dolls or the fact that he's overweight)I like the political intrigue and the pure viciousness of some of the characters...i also find his ideas of magic pretty appealing as well.
#104 Guest_Fool_*
Posted 01 December 2004 - 01:55 AM
And thats more important than posting on this glorious board?
Anyway, watcha all think of this review, which i came across at amazon.
(note: i dont agree with much of it, i just thought it was interesting)
Anyway, watcha all think of this review, which i came across at amazon.
(note: i dont agree with much of it, i just thought it was interesting)
quote:
George R.R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" series, of which the Game of Thrones is the first of a projected seven volumes (the fourth of which is due to be published in mid-2004), is the most overrated fantasy series of the day. The poor writing and the lack of likeable or believable characters combine to create an unworkable mess.
Martin's show-biz mind comes up with numerous ludicrous moments. His "heroes" are impossible to take seriously because they keep doing impossibly dumb things such as putting themselves and their families into the hands of their enemies. His "villains" are impossible to take seriously because they are incapable of successfully assassinating a middle aged woman, or, for that matter, a young child.
(The fact that Martin's characters are generally trying to commit such deeds makes for extremely unpleasant as well as frustrating reading).
The scare quotes two paragraphs above indicate the moral ambiguity of Martin's universe. He does not really believe in heroism or villainy, which makes for an extremely blah story. Granted that two-shaded, black or white storytelling is _almost_ as mindless as writing gets, Martin still does not improve on this. He actually falls short of even that low standard. His one shade of gray in the middle for everybody is even more mindless. It also creates a story that is inherently uninteresting - why should the reader care who "wins" when one character is as good/bad as another?
Like horror movie protagonists, Martin's characters are often defenestrated, throat-slashed, thrown into the river, or set on fire - yet they just keep coming. The extremely graphic violence would be less unbearable if it weren't all so ineffective.
The motivations and actions of the characters are completely unbelievable. How much familial loyalty would a real man have left if his father had the young man's girlfriend raped by an entire company of soldiers (including the young man's brother) because she was unworthy of their family? That Martin revels in such moments is bad enough. That his characters' responses to them are so flat goes far beyond the bounds of credibility. Fantasy setting or not, people are simply not like this. No author who understands human nature so little can have much of interest to say.
Martin believes that he has single-handedly discovered a major flaw common to almost all other writers: that their major characters inevitably survive to the end (or close to the end) of the production. He does not understand that he is putting the cart before the horse, and so missing the point entirely. Of course other authors have "mortal" characters. However, other authors are simply intelligent enough to realize that the major characters of a work (or a real-life episode) are generally to be found among those who are alive for a significant part of it, and to construct their storytelling accordingly. By repeatedly focusing on characters who shortly thereafter meet their demises, Martin succeeds only in punishing his readers with a series of unproductive false starts.
Martin's writing is similar in many ways to that of another very flawed writer, one whose many faults are more widely recognized: Terry Goodkind. Martin shares Goodkind's penchant for violence and sex, though Martin's versions are even more graphic and unappealing (he does, fortunately, lack Goodkind's particular brand of sappy smarminess). Nevertheless, the comparison ultimately favors Goodkind because he can at least wrap a story up, something Martin, like Robert Jordan, is incapable of doing. Goodkind is under the disadvantage of having published eight books with which to annoy readers, as opposed to Martin's three (in this series).
#107
Mort 
- Captain
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- Group: Malaz Regular
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- Joined: 23-January 03
Posted 28 April 2004 - 05:35 PM
Uhh, Jon_Snow - ok, so for the devoted fans, including those who go to cons, then yes, THEY know what happens to Tyrion. 
For the majority (including the many who don't really feel the need to chase up on theories and cruise the internet for the next throw away chapter summary) it has been over four years since we left Tyrion leaving Tywin indisposed... (So, no, we don't actually know what happens to him - you are using insider information)
None of this is meant to be offensive or an attack on you - I know there have been chapters posted and all from AFFC - just explaining the reasons I don't read them
Just a personal opinion dude, I love the feel of opening a new book and starting to read with no idea what is going to happen in the next couple of thousand pages (I usually don't evenread the back of a book if it is in a series that I MUST read)
For the majority (including the many who don't really feel the need to chase up on theories and cruise the internet for the next throw away chapter summary) it has been over four years since we left Tyrion leaving Tywin indisposed... (So, no, we don't actually know what happens to him - you are using insider information)
None of this is meant to be offensive or an attack on you - I know there have been chapters posted and all from AFFC - just explaining the reasons I don't read them
Just a personal opinion dude, I love the feel of opening a new book and starting to read with no idea what is going to happen in the next couple of thousand pages (I usually don't evenread the back of a book if it is in a series that I MUST read)
#108 Guest__*
Posted 26 January 2005 - 03:24 PM
I was all confused, and I was almost, but not yet out of paid prison, so excuse me for taking it almost seriously. I could so do my job at home, in a bath robe with a bottle of vodka at my side 
But he has definitely said "at the latest" before, isnt that a promise? Or was someone paraphrasing him stupid like?
But he has definitely said "at the latest" before, isnt that a promise? Or was someone paraphrasing him stupid like?
#109
drinksinbars
- Soletaken
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- Group: High House Mafia
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Posted 08 April 2004 - 12:47 AM
has anyone seen the graphic novel version of hedgeknight? where do you get these things anyhows? i just mention it because i was reading about the new spring graphic novel and they were talking about hte good reception their version of hedge knight got.
judging by the art for new spring i think it would look good. Anyone know any details??
judging by the art for new spring i think it would look good. Anyone know any details??
#110 Guest_Dark Daze_*
Posted 17 December 2004 - 10:09 AM
Hmm...Maybe the reason I like Martin is because I'm Jewish. We are trying to take over the world you know.
#111 Guest_Dark Daze_*
Posted 16 June 2004 - 11:28 PM
A Game of Thrones: 73
A Clash of Kings: 70
A Storm of Swords: 82
A Clash of Kings: 70
A Storm of Swords: 82
#112 Guest_Caldazar_*
Posted 03 December 2004 - 01:52 AM
DD is that you writing or is it a review of his?
How does liking Jordan mean your opinions are worthless? Also you are putting words in his mouth.
How does liking Jordan mean your opinions are worthless? Also you are putting words in his mouth.
#113
Dave
- Sergeant
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- Group: Malaz Regular
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- Location:Brisbane, Australia
- Interests:Fantasy and sci-fi novels, TV shows, movies.<br />Writing, drawing and reading comic books and graphic novels.<br />Chess.<br />Doctor Who - especially the original series.
Posted 16 June 2004 - 10:26 PM
Martin's site has a new note about progress on AFFC and a new sample chapter up.
http://www.georgerrmartin.com/
http://www.georgerrmartin.com/
'This is my timey-wimey detector. Goes 'ding' when there's stuff. Also, it can boil an egg at 30 paces - whether you want it to or not, actually, so I've had to keep away from chickens. It's not good when they blow.'
#114 Guest_Caldazar_*
Posted 04 May 2004 - 03:33 PM
#115 Guest_Mithfânion_*
Posted 19 February 2005 - 12:55 PM
Superb news from the GRRM front people....
Feast will be released this Summer according to GRRM at the Boskone convention. I can't express how happy this makes me.
Feast will be released this Summer according to GRRM at the Boskone convention. I can't express how happy this makes me.
#116 Guest_Rallick Nom_*
Posted 03 May 2004 - 06:28 AM
*pulls out enormous flame thrower*
Okay...
Okay...
#117 Guest_Dark Daze_*
Posted 06 December 2004 - 03:32 AM
Zollo:
Nice try, but the council of elders have already made our decision about your continued access to this forum.
If you feel that our decision is unfair, you may file a petition with the forum moderator.
Nice try, but the council of elders have already made our decision about your continued access to this forum.
If you feel that our decision is unfair, you may file a petition with the forum moderator.
#118
RodeoRanch
- The Midnight Special
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- Group: Administrators
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- Location:Alberta, Canada
Posted 26 January 2005 - 03:14 PM
It must drive his business managers crazy.
#119 Guest_Mithfânion_*
Posted 22 February 2005 - 02:18 PM
Patch,
The 1,300 pages is manuscript pages. We're likely to see a book the size of Storm of Swords.
He appears to be nearly done, probably within a month. Since the publishers have reserved a slot for him, a Summer release date is not unrealistic.
The 1,300 pages is manuscript pages. We're likely to see a book the size of Storm of Swords.
He appears to be nearly done, probably within a month. Since the publishers have reserved a slot for him, a Summer release date is not unrealistic.
#120 Guest_mangry_*
Posted 17 November 2004 - 12:42 PM
ill take dec 31st as long as its not this 1 coming up eeek 
politics (sighs)(yawns)
dont matter who ya get same lies different face
personly dont give a monkeys fiddle for it
politics (sighs)(yawns)
dont matter who ya get same lies different face
personly dont give a monkeys fiddle for it
