Dance with Dragons release date?

[Boaz]

I got the impression that George and Parris were not married.

 

[Culhwch]

Using abbreviations is against forum policy?

Not abbreviations like 'ASOIAF', no, but text speak, yes. When you joined you agreed to the Forum Rules, which state:

5. The chronicles network forum is a discussion forum, not a text messaging service. Please endeavour to write words intstead of text messages, as txt mssgs are liable to be removed.

Brian made it ever clearer a few posts later:

Bt ple who cum hr 2 txt cn fck ff

Brian owns the site and runs it at a financial loss (and these days doesn't even get a chance to hang out here much), so we're happy to oblige him his rules. Besides which, the vast majority agree with him.

I'm not posting this to attack, intimidate or otherwise threaten anyone - just wanted to clear it all up.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

Txt spk PWNED!

 

[Culhwch]

And they never saw HJ again....

 

[Werthead]

Parris doesn't know much more than what GRRM tells the fans, although she does like to point out - at length - how annoying it is that people say he isn't working on the book when she's waiting for him to come in at 3am and his only excuse is that he got carried away writing about <censored> doing <censored> and lost track of the time.

The only guarantee we have is that GRRM will probably not kill off Arya, because if he does he is sleeping on the couch for a month and doing without the magic coffee.

I got the impression that George and Parris were not married.

No, but they've been together for about thirty years, so as near as.

 

[soulsinging]

Not abbreviations like 'ASOIAF', no, but text speak, yes. When you joined you agreed to the Forum Rules, which state:

Brian made it ever clearer a few posts later:

Brian owns the site and runs it at a financial loss (and these days doesn't even get a chance to hang out here much), so we're happy to oblige him his rules. Besides which, the vast majority agree with him.

I'm not posting this to attack, intimidate or otherwise threaten anyone - just wanted to clear it all up.

Gotcha. I never type that way anyhow, it just seemed curious to me. That makes some sense though.

And does anyone read Terms of Use? I'm almost done with law school and I still don't bother to read that sort of thing!

 

[Culhwch]

No, you're right, no one reads them, but that doesn't make them any less valid - just like real laws, in that way...

 

[Ursa major]

Ignorance of the law is no defence (at least on this side of the Pond).


* Imagines evidence of a poor fail in a Law exam being used in mitigation at trial. *

 

[murphy]

I don't read the rules either. I use my own rules, Courtesy, Common Sense and writing as clear as I can.

 

[Wiggum]

Then perhaps we need to have less of Wiggum flogging that horse and more of Mrs Martin nagging GRRM.

Sir, I am as James Herriot to that horse, and I throw a gauntlet in your general direction.

Not that I want to duel, I've just always wanted to declare one.

 

[Overread]

people (and others ) please - think of the Starks!

 

[Ursa major]

A stark choice? How appropriate.


* Observes Wiggum's request and leaves gauntlet where it fell. *

 

[murphy]

people (and others ) please - think of the starks!

rotfl :d

 

[Corn! Corn! Corn!]

^ You can't do that.

Or so I was informed.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

Did someone say Corn! ?

 

[Boaz]

Since this seems to be the ADWD thread with the most posts, I'll post my thoughts here.

First, one caveat... you guys know my ramblings, I tend to type how I talk. Obviously, I'm verbose and never succinct.

This past November, I read J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Naturally, I went over to the Rowling forum and posted regarding Harry, Ron, and Snape. After doing so, I discovered something. Everyone who has read Harry Potter and has something to say about it has already done so. Harry Potter is old news.

Since the first anniversary of the release of the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (July 21, 2007), and the Rowling forum has seen action in all of thirteen threads... bear in mind that this includes the recent release of The Tales of Beedle the Bard (December 4, 2008).

I'm not trying to disparrage Rowling or Potter. In fact, I enjoyed the series very much. But compare the action on the Rowling forums since July 21... there has been action on 74 threads. Remember, I'm not comparing the virtues of the story nor the abilities of the authors... just the action on these forums. For example, take a look at the master, JRR Tolkien. His forum has seen posts on only eleven threads since July 21.

What I'm saying is this... When this series is done, when we find out how A Dream of Spring ends, when we learn who is dead and who lives, then this forum will mirror the Rowling and Tolkien forums. I urge you all to appreciate the community, our interaction, our silly theories, and our presentation of our hopes and fears. Yes, we want A Dance with Dragons. Yes, we want The Winds of Winter. Yes, we want A Dream of Spring. But when it's done, then so is this forum.

Honestly, what do you think the percentage is, of the exactly 600 threads regarding the works of GRRM, that deal with writings such as Fevre Dream, Nightflyers, Wild Cards, Dying of the Light, Windhaven, and the rest? Three percent? Five?

Personally, I've read Fevre Dream and the first six chapters of the first Wild Cards book, but nothing else. I'd love for GRRM to go on and write something else grandiose, something comparable to ASOIAF... but with all the grief he's getting, I doubt he'd be up for it. Nobody willingly puts themselves through that kind of abuse.

The beauty of the length between books is that we get to come here and discuss, rediscuss, posit theories, and inform each other of forgotten themes, characters, and events. In other words, we get to have this community. Let's enjoy it. Drop a line to I, Brian and say thanks for the Chronicles Network. Drop a line to GRRM at georr@aol.com to encourage him in this herculean task.

Let's enjoy the journey, because once it's done, we're done.

 

[Clansman]

Well said, Boaz!

 

[The Imp]

Since this seems to be the ADWD thread with the most posts, I'll post my thoughts here.

First, one caveat... you guys know my ramblings, I tend to type how I talk. Obviously, I'm verbose and never succinct.

This past November, I read J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Naturally, I went over to the Rowling forum and posted regarding Harry, Ron, and Snape. After doing so, I discovered something. Everyone who has read Harry Potter and has something to say about it has already done so. Harry Potter is old news.

Since the first anniversary of the release of the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (July 21, 2007), and the Rowling forum has seen action in all of thirteen threads... bear in mind that this includes the recent release of The Tales of Beedle the Bard (December 4, 2008).

I'm not trying to disparrage Rowling or Potter. In fact, I enjoyed the series very much. But compare the action on the Rowling forums since July 21... there has been action on 74 threads. Remember, I'm not comparing the virtues of the story nor the abilities of the authors... just the action on these forums. For example, take a look at the master, JRR Tolkien. His forum has seen posts on only eleven threads since July 21.

What I'm saying is this... When this series is done, when we find out how A Dream of Spring ends, when we learn who is dead and who lives, then this forum will mirror the Rowling and Tolkien forums. I urge you all to appreciate the community, our interaction, our silly theories, and our presentation of our hopes and fears. Yes, we want A Dance with Dragons. Yes, we want The Winds of Winter. Yes, we want A Dream of Spring. But when it's done, then so is this forum.

Honestly, what do you think the percentage is, of the exactly 600 threads regarding the works of GRRM, that deal with writings such as Fevre Dream, Nightflyers, Wild Cards, Dying of the Light, Windhaven, and the rest? Three percent? Five?

Personally, I've read Fevre Dream and the first six chapters of the first Wild Cards book, but nothing else. I'd love for GRRM to go on and write something else grandiose, something comparable to ASOIAF... but with all the grief he's getting, I doubt he'd be up for it. Nobody willingly puts themselves through that kind of abuse.

The beauty of the length between books is that we get to come here and discuss, rediscuss, posit theories, and inform each other of forgotten themes, characters, and events. In other words, we get to have this community. Let's enjoy it. Drop a line to I, Brian and say thanks for the Chronicles Network. Drop a line to GRRM at georr@aol.com to encourage him in this herculean task.

Let's enjoy the journey, because once it's done, we're done.

I usually agree with you Boaz, but in this case I differ. WHile I wouldn't want to see all 3 of the remaining books published simultaneously, I need to see light at the end of the tunnel. To be blunt, I'm about as old as GRRM. I'm in good health and just came through a series of heart related tests in great shape, but who knows what tomorrow might bring. It seems that even in this time of 75 plus life expectanices people still die younger and we still shake our heads and mourn their passing. An obit having the number 65 (for example) doesn't make anyone say "but he/she was so young". In addition, skils and abilities can (not always of course) diminish over time. GRRM may not be the same writer in 5 years that he is today.

To be even more blunt, I was the series done before GRRM dies and in a timely enough fashion so that I'm alive to read them. I understand, even remember the feeling of an endless life stretching out before you, and having all the time in the world to enjoy the things you love and do everything you dream of doing, but at some point the spectre of mortality creeps into the background and starts being part of the picture. It's hard for me to embrace the premise of your post becase GRRM may not have enough quality time left to finish the series (at the rate he's going) and some readers may not have enough left to finish if he does.

I apologize if this post depressed anyone, but it's a topic that needs to be out in the open. Not all readers are young, although wee may be young at heart.

 

[Clansman]

Had a friend, apparently in good health, die 10 days ago. Age 59, he exercised all the time, had a positive attitude about life, loved his family and his job. Massive heart attack stopped him, literally, dead in his tracks.

Still can't believe it, so I accept Boaz' comments with The Imp's great big fat qualifier.

 

[Boaz]

The Imp, congratulations on the great reports on your health! At age 42, I guess I still view life as eternal. I am still immature enough to be this foolish. Yeah, I know I'm not immortal, but the end does not seem to be in sight. Mayhaps, I'm in denial. I view others fairly realistically, I think. My mother passed away ten years ago and I have concern for my father's health... but I still view myself as seventeen.

Mayhaps I need to change my perspective and get with the program and do stuff. Mayhaps I need to take the Tim McGraw songs My Next Thirty Years and Live Like You Were Dying to heart. Mayhaps I should create a bucket list.

So, would you describe ASOIAF as being on your bucket list? Before the Freedman/Nicholson movie, I'd never heard of a bucket list. My impression is that one does things that are doable, i.e. events that one has a high probability of controlling. Can we actually put ASOIAF on our bucket lists, if the completion of it is beyond our power?