I think I finally get it...

[soulsinging]

I just finished 'Clash of Kings.' I almost gave up at about 300 pages, but I pushed through and I'm glad I did. Talk about an ending! It took a while for things to pick up, but I finally get why people rave about the series. I'm still not ready to crown it the best series out there, but it definitely is a worthwhile read. It helped that I was on break and could make real progress.

I think I'm going to save 'Storm of Swords.' Over Christmas, I want to read Tad Williams' MS&T, then I'll take SoS on my 2-week spring break so I only have to pack one book.

Is it true that SoS in some sense wraps up a trilogy, and the next book is kind of a bridge from the first 3 books to the next? I've heard that AFFC is somewhat frustrating, so I'm thinking of waiting on that one and just reading it with Dance with Dragons once that comes out. It would seem to make sense since they were initially supposed to be one book, right?

 

[Charming Serpent]

FFC and AdwD were to be one book, but it became so big he split the characters up based upon their locations. Kings Landing, Riverrun, Iron Islands and Dorne are in FFC. The Wall and Dany, Bran etc etc ... are in ADwD.

Before it was split, GRRM wanted to have the book be 5 years after SoS, but abandoned that idea.

So, in answer to your last question ...... yes.

 

[The Imp]

Without getting into spoilers, AFFC doesn't seem separate from the other 3, I just didn't enjoy it as much. My preference would have been for him to find a good stopping point halfway through the old manuscript, publishing the new book with all of the characters (Bran, Dany, Jon, etc) and then releasing the fifth book.

 

[Boaz]

AFFC forced me to read characters that I'd have preferred to gloss over. For example, I've never cared for Bran, Catelyn, Sansa, nor Jon. But in Jon's, Catelyn's, and Sansa's chapters there are multiple plot lines running so I enjoy the chapters while disliking the main character. Now in Bran's case, I find his chapters advancing little in the way of the game of thrones that I like so much. So I tend to read fairly carelessly... Returning to AFFC, I was thrilled to have so many Jaime chapters, but I did not look forward to the Brienne, Arianne-Arys-Areo, Aemon-Asha-Victarion, nor the Sansa chapters... By receiving so few POV's of my favorites, I was forced to read the other POVs more carefully. And you know what? I found that I ended up liking the Brienne storyline. Brienne's POV filled the void left by Arya shipping off to Bravos... Arya's POV told the tale of the effects of war upon the common people.

I enjoyed getting to know Dorne and the Iron Islands, although none of the main characters thrill me. I don't know if I'd have enjoyed these POVs if I'd been able to just bounce between Jaime's, Tyrion's, Jon's, and Dany's POVs. I admit I was drawn into the Cersei POV... I've not changed my feelings regarding her like I did with her siblings, but I'm very interested in the political dealings of KL.

Now on the plus side, ADWD should be a powerhouse due to the fact that most of the favorite POVs are in there. I believe Arya will return with POVs at the end of ADWD.

 

[HareBrain]

While we're talking about AFFC, I've just finished it, and in the end-note, dated 2005, Martin seems to say that the rest of the book (DWD) is practically written and should be published in 2006. So why the delay till 2009? (I know this must have been discussed elsewhere, but meh, I'm lazy.)

 

[The Imp]

While we're talking about AFFC, I've just finished it, and in the end-note, dated 2005, Martin seems to say that the rest of the book (DWD) is practically written and should be published in 2006. So why the delay till 2009? (I know this must have been discussed elsewhere, but meh, I'm lazy.)

I know the answer but I'm too lazy to type it

The short answer is GRRM has been revising and adding to what was originally half of a book. He's probably at the point now where he's going to have to split ADWD into two books.

What a terrible thought

 

[soulsinging]

I know the answer but I'm too lazy to type it

The short answer is GRRM has been revising and adding to what was originally half of a book. He's probably at the point now where he's going to have to split ADWD into two books.

What a terrible thought

Things like this really make me want to stop after SoS, if there is some sense of closure as some people have told me. I don't like the thought of being sucked into another never-ending series like WoT.

 

[The Imp]

Things like this really make me want to stop after SoS, if there is some sense of closure as some people have told me. I don't like the thought of being sucked into another never-ending series like WoT.

There was no sense of closure after ASOS, at least not for me. As far as getting sucked in, comment about ADWD splitting was more in jwst that anything else. We're hopin it gets published this spring.

 

[Boaz]

There has not been closure after any of the books... If you want to read the spoilers than just highlight the boxes...

AGOT had Eddard's murder, Robb being hailed as King, and Dany hatching dragons.

ACOK had

Tyrion horribly disfigured, Jon joining the Wildlings, and Winterfell in flames.

ASOS had

the Red Wedding, the Viper losing to the Mountain, Jaime losing his sword hand, Joffrey's death, Jaime freeing Tyrion, Tyrion murdering Shae and Tywin, Littlefinger murdering Lysa, Stannis at The Wall, and Jon succeeding the Old Bear.

AFFC had

Arya blinded, Brienne strung up, the Blackfish on the run, Jaime turning his back on Cersei, Cersei in prison, Loras on his deathbed, Myrcella disfigured, and the Maesters, Martells, and the Greyjoys all racing to find Dany.

There has been zero closure regarding the divine battle, the game of thrones, or the lives of any of the POV characters. I love it.

 

[the smiling weirwood]

I think all the whining is because most people had immediate access to the first three books in succession and only had to wait for the fourth and now the fifth one.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

The short answer is GRRM has been revising and adding to what was originally half of a book. He's probably at the point now where he's going to have to split ADWD into two books.

What a terrible thought

Oh don't say that, you might give him ideas.

 

[Ursa major]

If it were simply done by time (like ASOS was split here in the UK), that would be fine by me (apart from having to pay for an "extra" book). And if it meant that the first part might arrive that bit earlier....


But as you say, LoW, we shouldn't be giving him ideas.

 

[soulsinging]

I think all the whining is because most people had immediate access to the first three books in succession and only had to wait for the fourth and now the fifth one.

I'm not whining about the wait. He can take as long as he wants and I'll wait patiently as long as I know it's actually going to end someday. I like to read for a story... beginning, middle, end. I recalled reading in various places that the series was initially intended to be a trilogy and that some said SoS in some sense was an "ending" of the first trilogy, with AFFC and ADWD being the bridge to another trilogy. Apparently, that's not the case.

Either way, I'm going to wait to read AFFC until ADWD comes out. If they were written together, I'd just as soon read them together.

 

[the smiling weirwood]

Oh, no, I wasn't saying you were whining, but there has been an endless discussion about the faults (perceived or otherwise) of AFFC as opposed to the general acceptance of the greatness of the first three books.