New GRRM Update on ADWD

[The Imp]

I really wish that he's put up a BIG "the KNOT is cut, or untied or no more, or whatever (choose one)" If he's willing to tell random people he should at least tell his loyal fans, some of which check Not A blog at least a few times daily to see how he's doing, look for updates, talk football, etc. In any case this is great news. Now I have to finish that re-read, but at least I will be able to time it properly.

 

[Ursa major]

It wasn't entirely random: he said it in an interview.

But has the knot been vanquished? What if the really difficult, possibly insurmountable, part of it is scheduled for sorting out in the next book (giving him another half-decade to tell ASoIaF, and perhaps us, to get knotted...).

 

[The Imp]

It wasn't entirely random: he said it in an interview.

But has the knot been vanquished? What if the really difficult, possibly insurmountable, part of it is scheduled for sorting out in the next book (giving him another half-decade to tell ASoIaF, and perhaps us, to get knotted...).

Well, I was using hperbole i guess, but I stand by what I said

As for the knot itself, my understanding of it, based on what GRRM has said in a couple of podcasts, is that it's been more minor tweaking thananything else, and it's about the timing of various people on their way to Meereen. I've also assumed that if he could have just put that problem on the back burner, finish the book, and deal with it in the next book he would have done so a long time ago.

In any case, it SOUNDS as if he just has some tidying up to do, maybe small edits and revisions, before saying that it's done. I'll now go out on a very small limb and pick February 9th. It would make a great birthday present

 

[Ursa major]

I wasn't being entirely serious. This unusual occurence rolleyes was probably a side-effect of the giddiness of being so very close to an anouncement of the book's completion.

 

[No One]

Thanks for the update Wert!

At the perpetual risk of being optimistic, February is looking good...

 

[TK-421]

2011 is shaping up to be a very good year indeed!

 

[viZion]

Cool, now I can load up my new Kindle with the previous four books and start rereading. I've forgotten so much that I haven't been able to get involved in any threads here for awhile because I simply can't follow them well enough. I've been reading the Monarchies of God series by Paul Kearney and it's not that great. Well, it's ok. Or just fine. Meh. Can't wait to get back into ASOIAF!

 

[Lofwyr]

Cool, now I can load up my new Kindle with the previous four books and start rereading. I've forgotten so much that I haven't been able to get involved in any threads here for awhile because I simply can't follow them well enough. I've been reading the Monarchies of God series by Paul Kearney and it's not that great. Well, it's ok. Or just fine. Meh. Can't wait to get back into ASOIAF!

I just started a reread myself. Took a bite into AGoT...Bran just woke up. I had forgotten how excellent the writing quality was, good times.

 

[Boaz]

Go, go, go, Lofwyr!!!

 

[The Imp]

I just started a reread myself. Took a bite into AGoT...Bran just woke up. I had forgotten how excellent the writing quality was, good times.

I think it's not until a re-read that you can gain a full appreciation of just how good the writing is.

 

[the smiling weirwood]

Once you read all the books through three or four times the man's genius really stands out.

 

[Lofwyr]

I think it's not until a re-read that you can gain a full appreciation of just how good the writing is.

Heh...the re-read has stalled somewhat (Eddard has arrived in KL). Amusingly enough, my first attempt at a re-read is what brought me to these boards. I got to the first Eddard chapter on the way to KL where he talks with Robert and thinks of Lyanna...and then had the Jon = Rhaegar + Lyanna epiphany. Rushed to an online forum to discuss/see if the theory held water and somehow stopped my re-read in the process

 

[Xoanon]

Couldn't agree more. It's standard practise for heroes to win the day and the villains to get their just deserts, but it's clear (maybe from the moment that Lady is killed) that GRRM is not telling that sort of story.

GRRM just replaced one set of fantasy clichés with his own versions. After reading the previous four books I like to think that I can predict with some confidence that ADwD will feature at least one main character dying in a shocking and completely unexpected way that will change the direction of the story, and another character who I had previously had marked down as being good/evil will have a change of heart and start going in the opposite direction.

 

[Boaz]

Xoanon, Welcome. Now do you want to predict a death and a change of heart for ADWD? I'm all ears... err, eyes I guess, since I'm reading this....

 

[Xoanon]

Xoanon, Welcome. Now do you want to predict a death and a change of heart for ADWD? I'm all ears... err, eyes I guess, since I'm reading this....

Does it matter who it is? I was just trying to point out with tongue-in-cheek that using the same plot-twist all the time is standard practice for GRRM and becoming just as clichéd 'the mighty hero who kills the villain and rescues the princess'.

 

[Clansman]

Does it matter who it is? I was just trying to point out with tongue-in-cheek that using the same plot-twist all the time is standard practice for GRRM and becoming just as clichéd 'the mighty hero who kills the villain and rescues the princess'.

The thing with the hero and princess cliche is that we know exactly what will happen (just go read an Eddings book). We have no idea who GRRM is going to twist into oblivion, nor who will be redeemed. Yes, we know he will be tricksy, but that's the point of reading GRRM. We DON'T know how it is going to end, just that he will be tricksy in getting there.

 

[TK-421]

GRRM has posted a short bit of an interview he did for MTV on his blog where he speaks of the "journey" and how he the end is shaping out.

 

[The Imp]

GRRM has posted a short bit of an interview he did for MTV on his blog where he speaks of the "journey" and how he the end is shaping out.

I watched that. I thought he was referring to the end of the entire series, much as he did in that podcast a couple of months back, where he talked about taking a car trip, knowing the final destination, knowing the route, but not knowing all the stops along the way, or the little sidetrips and possible detours that would affect individual parts of the trip. The MTV thing didn't sound as if he was talking about ADWD, but I suppose I can go listen to it again to be sure.

sorry about the confusion. For some reason i thought there was a reference to the end of ADWD being near. Maybe because of Corn Corn Corn's vexing post in the other thread

 

[TK-421]

We was talking about the end of the series. At the beginning he says he knows how it will end and has it all in his head but doesn't know the details yet of the "journey".

 

[Ursa major]

GRRM has just confirmed the nature of one of those Two Big Announcements:

Not A Blog - Ice & Fire Comes to Comics
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