What the hell is wrong with George RR Martin?

[Bryophyte]

How long has it been for Gerrold now? Something like 16 years?

17. With 3 books left in the series and only book 5 nearing completion, he's just asking for a beating.

 

[phoenix79]

Be hopeful he doesn't pull a Dark Tower on you, he waits 6 years to write the next book, then ruins the series in one flick of the pen..... :rose;

 

[techs]

Based on his pic I'd say he is too busy toking up to write.

 

[coolVariable]

I am very glad, I only started reading his books last year. Plowed through all song of fire and ice books to date within 1-2 months and have been waiting since.
Definitely one of the best fiction series ever (much better than crappy LOTR/Hobbit) and he definitely has me biting my nails waiting for the next book.
I really hope he will finish it soon! I believe he announced that he is essentially done, just needs to polish the last 4 chapters and get it to his editor for review.

 

[Lummex]

I'm lucky that I only got into these books a year ago, and finished the latest one at the begginning of this summer. I haven't had to experience the annoyance of his trouble with ADWD yet. I'm sure it'll start to piss me off soon, though.

 

[dainthomas]

What I can't believe is someone like Erikson pumping out 9 books in 10 years with the Malazan series. Though I enjoy them, I don't see how on earth everything will be wrapped up, but at least I only have to wait a couple more months for that.

There is definitely some meat to those books. I had to take a break after book five because my brain was full. Probably going to start up again after I finish the Dune series (which are practically kids books compared to Erikson).

 

[ElFenix]

Martin's been tackling what he assumed he could get away with at the series start... a planned 5 year gap that fell apart (plus his myriad of viewpoints to get into the timeline). This lead to two years of futility. After splitting AFFC/ADWD (mainly to avoid a knotty problem in the DWD POV's), he had to scrap his previously written DWD material, leading to 18 months of wasted work. Reportedly, he is 5 chapters from completion on DWD. Reportedly, this is the last major thematic knot he has to work through. Note that ASOS had 9 months of writing time, 3 months of editing time. If he stays motivated, he might be able to finish the final 2 books in 2 - 4 years total...

hopefully if he doesn't have any more knots and if the jets to well he'll get excited and write a lot well and quickly

Spoiler

considering we've not really seen the wights yet there is a lot of major plot to still work out. what's her name has to come back across the sea (maybe ADWD does that, and she'll have to bring the sword girl with her, forgot her name, arya?), then she has to meet john snow (they'll be interconnected, just you watch) and somehow defeat the wights.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

I've read a ton of Fantasy and ASOFAI is by a pretty large margin my favorite. Is there anything else that comes close?

I tried to read Wheel of Time but it seemed like a rip off of all other LOTR style fantasy. Is that not true? If not, maybe I'll go back and read it.

Really, I'm just looking for suggestions since I know I'll be waiting at least another year for another ASOFAI book...

 

[juiio]

George needs an editor that is willing to stand up to him. AFfC was a jumbled mess during the chapters for the characters that we care about (at least the ones in the book), and had too many chapters for characters that had no business getting their own chapters.

 

[coolVariable]

I've read a ton of Fantasy and ASOFAI is by a pretty large margin my favorite. Is there anything else that comes close?

I tried to read Wheel of Time but it seemed like a rip off of all other LOTR style fantasy. Is that not true? If not, maybe I'll go back and read it.

Really, I'm just looking for suggestions since I know I'll be waiting at least another year for another ASOFAI book...

I also really liked Goodkind's Sword of Truth series (which at this point is completed, so you won't be disappointed in that regard, though be warned: the first 2-3 books were definitely the best.)

Otherwise the original Shannara trilogy (sword, elfstones and wishsong) as well as the Heritage of Shannara tetralogy are pretty good "entertainment" fantasy (not as deep and epic as ASOFAI or Sword of Truth but still fun).

 

[jonks]

Screw him. Hail Erikson.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t68ar0SFX54/TL83UyQQZBI/AAAAAAAAFa8/5Qg5xj5PHtw/s1600/The+Crippled+God.JPG

 

[shadow9d9]

Erikson is amazing and isn't a one hit wonder like Martin. He wrote those books and no longer can write the quality so he just putzes around with editing. The test of a great writer is the ability to KEEP writing quality.

 

[MAKENITO]

It's an impossible task, even for a good writer - he's killed off too many good characters and written too many "mysteries" that can never be adequately explained. Same reason Battlestar Galactica and LOST ended up simply not explaining half of their loose threads.

This.

I have just finished the third book. When I read the fourth, I will read one page a day - and hope that by the time I have finished I have a fifth book to read.

 

[shadow9d9]

It's an impossible task, even for a good writer - he's killed off too many good characters and written too many "mysteries" that can never be adequately explained. Same reason Battlestar Galactica and LOST ended up simply not explaining half of their loose threads.

Lost didn't resolve a SINGLE thing. BSG resolved a huge majority of the storyline. To compare the 2 is ludicrous.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

Well it sounds like I should check out the Malazan series. I still have to read the last released fire and Ice book but since it has been like 8 years since I've read the others in that series....I need to start over and I'll at least wait for the next book to be released before I do that.