Is it still worth it?

[xLORDSNOWx]

That isn't right. My understanding is that ASoIaF was intended to be a trilogy, but the first book (which was to be called A Game of Thrones) became far too big during its writing. To resolve this, GRRM agreed to publish the earlier part of the planned novel as AGoT and kept writing, putting the rest of the original Volume One in ACoK and ASoS. Before this splitting up of Volume One, the second book was to have been A Dance with Dragons and the third, The Winds of Winter.)

Ursa, you are correct with this. I meant the series ending with ASOS more in a sense that TWOW and ADOS would be wrapped up in three books without alot of the fluff and change of directions. However, like i said previously, i'm being a hypocrite because i'm truly enjoying the journey but find myself scratching my head as to some of the things happening at this present time in the series. I believe if AFFC & ADWD was released as one gigantic book, i would still feel the same about the current state of affairs.

My questions are, can he top ASOS with any of the last couple of books? Or does he have to, in order to have a satisfying ending, even if its bitter/sweet?

GRRM gave us all a drug and we are all still trying to chase that first high that we experienced with the first three books. We all know how that story usually ends. However, i think he has something else for us up his sleave, at least i'm hoping so. If anyone can rite the ship, it is GRRM!

 

[Ursa major]

Ursa, you are correct with this. I meant the series ending with ASOS more in a sense that TWOW and ADOS would be wrapped up in three books without alot of the fluff and change of directions. However, like i said previously, i'm being a hypocrite because i'm truly enjoying the journey but find myself scratching my head as to some of the things happening at this present time in the series. I believe if AFFC & ADWD was released as one gigantic book, i would still feel the same about the current state of affairs.

Sorry for misunderstanding what you meant.

Yes, there is a dilemma here: as with many good books/series, we want to know how it all turns out (and as soon as possible), yet at the same time want the pleasure of reading the book/series not to end. (For me the dread of reaching the end of a good book tends to set in when there's about 50 pages to go, irrespective of the author or genre.)

My questions are, can he top ASOS with any of the last couple of books? Or does he have to, in order to have a satisfying ending, even if its bitter/sweet?

I think he may be able to top ASoS, but it'll be very hard to do (and he may not achieve it). One tightrope GRRM has to walk is delivering those big shock moments without it looking too forced or bolted on. I would like to think that those POVs, the ones which some people think should not have been in ADwD (and AFfC), because they don't seem to contain enough of the major story lines, contain the seeds for some of these shocks. (I'm hopeful on this at least: GRRM is so good at producing something out of the blue that, when you look back, seems somehow the most likely outcome.)

GRRM gave us all a drug and we are all still trying to chase that first high that we experienced with the first three books. We all know how that story usually ends. However, i think he has something else for us up his sleave, at least i'm hoping so. If anyone can rite the ship, it is GRRM!

I agree.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

I don't know how he'll top ASOS, but if anyone can it will be GRRM. I am almost expecting the unexpected deaths at this point, so they won't ever have the shock value they once did (Ned, RW, etc). I think Ursa is right, he has his work cut out for him to not make them seem 'forced or bolted on' at this point.

 

[Ursa major]

* Pun removed *



Though my pun was not, strictly, any sort of spoiler, careless talk can cost enjoyment. (Sorry, but I forgot, for a moment, that this thread revolved around the reading of A Game of Thrones.)

.

 

[biodroid]

Ii would like to know if the story picks up as I am feeling bogged down and bored with the book (AGOT). I am currently at:
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!



Ned is sitting under a tree with a broken leg discussing some things with Cersei about Robert being abusive and she is committing incest with her brother. Ned has also sent his 2 daughters back to Winterfell much to their protests.

SPOILER FINISHED

Must I hang in there? I really like the writing as I mentioned before, the story is interesting enough so far but I feel it's dragging. Put me out of my fears that I will be shocked/surprised by whats to come and will enjoy it too.

 

[Mesanna]

To be honest, I'm a little confused why you're asking again in a GRRM forum if you should continue. Never mind the reviews, the comments, or other people's opinions right now. What is YOUR gut feeling? Do YOU feel you're enjoying it?

Not everyone loves these books, though I believe there are many more fans than haters, but only you can decide whether or not you should continue. If you feel it's dragging as it gets toward the end of Game of Thrones, then possibly these books aren't for you, but no-one else can give you a definitive answer to a question as subjective as "Will I enjoy this series?" Only you can answer that.

 

[Wiggum]

Yes, you should continue

But what Mesanna says is spot on. If it ain't your gig, it just ain't your gig.

Nothing that he writes will ever top A Storm of Swords.

I went to the Musee Rodin in Paris when I was a teenager.

While walking through I saw The Lovers, The Thinker, and the The Gates of Hell, in that order.

I was astounded by all, but once you see The Gates of Hell, seeing another sculpture on the level of The Lovers will leave you feeling flat.

As brilliant as it might be in and of itself.

It happened to me with Erikson and Memories of Ice out of his Malazan series.

I liked, and even loved a couple books out of the rest of the series, but it was like replacing crack with coffee.

 

[biodroid]

Mesanna - I did carry on but I am just not getting the whole "it's the best fantasy ever written" feeling about this book. I did mention where I was in the book and did not mention in my previous post about reviews did I? I think I must just read greater chunks and not fall asleep (not because of the book, but just working long hours lately). I admit I am very intrigued as to what is going to happen, the characters are quite likeable/despicable (depends on who you love and hate in the book), the problem is GRRM seems to dwell on things that just don't seem to belong in the plot, unless they actually are supposed to be there. I will read more than usual tonight just to get the momentum going. I am so far in might as well see how it pans out. I get that this book is an intro setting things up for the rest of the series. Forgive for my rants, I get in moods like this sometimes and it really irritates me.

 

[biodroid]

Thanks Wiggum, I like the book so far I am probably expecting too much from the hype over the internet. I must just read and make up my own mind.

 

[soulsinging]

Ii would like to know if the story picks up as I am feeling bogged down and bored with the book (AGOT). I am currently at:

Must I hang in there? I really like the writing as I mentioned before, the story is interesting enough so far but I feel it's dragging. Put me out of my fears that I will be shocked/surprised by whats to come and will enjoy it too.

You sound a lot like I did when I read this series. Constantly wondering if it was all worth the time and effort it took. Didn't you already almost give up only to wind up hooked? This might be as recurring an issue for you as it was for me.

My advice stands though. You're actually pretty close to some interesting developments and it does pick up a bit from where you're at. But the first half of the second book is even slower.

After that though, it's pretty great through the end of book 3... if you're willing to fight through.

I wouldn't read past that until the series is finished.

You mentioned the hype though and I would agree with that. The ridiculous high praise it gets creates some pretty lofty expectations that are hard to meet. I think the series has moments to rival anything I've ever read from any fantasy. But it does occasionally have pacing issues, even if the plot is addictive. I wouldn't call it the greatest ever, but I think (at least for the first 3 books) its merits outweigh the flaws if you can get past them.

 

[biodroid]

Thanks Soulsinging, at least I'm not alone in this. I will persevere!!! \m/

 

[soulsinging]

That isn't right. My understanding is that ASoIaF was intended to be a trilogy, but the first book (which was to be called A Game of Thrones) became far too big during its writing. To resolve this, GRRM agreed to publish the earlier part of the planned novel as AGoT and kept writing, putting the rest of the original Volume One in ACoK and ASoS. Before this splitting up of Volume One, the second book was to have been A Dance with Dragons and the third, The Winds of Winter.)

Just curious, wasn't there supposed to be a 5-year gap between the events of ASOS and what came next, which he decided to fill-in? Because the way I see it, if that was part of the original plan for the trilogy, then the last 2 books were entirely unplanned. That would mean that even though ADWD was supposed to be the second book in the trilogy, he really just moved the name up and has only now, after 5 books, gotten to where book 2 of the original trilogy was supposed to begin. I ask this becos...

Or, if one is a true optimist (and also takes on board the originally-planned three-book structure): after a first book that became three (AGoT, ACoK, ASoS), his second only became two (AFfC, ADwD) and the third is only supposed to be two as well (TWoW, ADoS). Obviously GRRM has been tightening up his story telling....

the pessimistic view is:
original trilogy book 1 became 3 books
+ unplanned 2-book fill-in of 5-year gap makes 5 books
+ if each of the 2 remaining original trilogy books becomes 3 as the first did
= 11 books in this series, 6 still to go.

 

[The Imp]

Mesanna - I did carry on but I am just not getting the whole "it's the best fantasy ever written" feeling about this book. I did mention where I was in the book and did not mention in my previous post about reviews did I? I think I must just read greater chunks and not fall asleep (not because of the book, but just working long hours lately). I admit I am very intrigued as to what is going to happen, the characters are quite likeable/despicable (depends on who you love and hate in the book), the problem is GRRM seems to dwell on things that just don't seem to belong in the plot, unless they actually are supposed to be there. I will read more than usual tonight just to get the momentum going. I am so far in might as well see how it pans out. I get that this book is an intro setting things up for the rest of the series. Forgive for my rants, I get in moods like this sometimes and it really irritates me.

My advice would be to read the book and enjoy (if you actually are) without worrying about "when does this become the greatest book/series that everyone is talking about"? Don't worry about what anyone says or thinks, as it's you who has to ultimately decide if it's for you.

Most of the people who post regularly here really like the books, or else they would move on to something else. It's kind of analagous to going to a State prison somewhere and asking inmates if it would be a good idea to join a street gang.

Back in the day, before everyone was a critic and the internet and social media ruled everyone's lives, we used to read books because subject matter appealed to us, or maybe the blurb on the dust jacket sounded good. Maybe the author was someone we heard of. Maybe a friend lent us a copy. If we ddidn't like it we stopped reading.

I hope I'm not sounding criitical. It just seems to me that your inner voice is the one that matters, and is the one that will ultimately say "they knew what they were talking about' or those guys are nuts, I don\t see what all the hype is about" If you go to Amazon.com and look at the reviews, the average for the series is probably about 3.5 stars out of 5 Not everyone likes the series, nor should they. Everyone has to decide for themself.

Are you having fun reading aGoT or does it feel like work?

 

[viZion]

I wouldn't call it the greatest ever, but I think (at least for the first 3 books) its merits outweigh the flaws if you can get past them.

What series do you think are in contention for the greatest ever? I only ask because I'm looking for something new to read. I'm looking for a series that's already done. Not Malazan though; I tried that series and hated it (I read through Memories of Ice).

 

[xLORDSNOWx]

It's kind of analagous to going to a State prison somewhere and asking inmates if it would be a good idea to join a street gang.

Too funny!

To be honest, I'm a little confused why you're asking again in a GRRM forum if you should continue. Never mind the reviews, the comments, or other people's opinions right now. What is YOUR gut feeling? Do YOU feel you're enjoying it?

Not everyone loves these books, though I believe there are many more fans than haters, but only you can decide whether or not you should continue. If you feel it's dragging as it gets toward the end of Game of Thrones, then possibly these books aren't for you, but no-one else can give you a definitive answer to a question as subjective as "Will I enjoy this series?" Only you can answer that.

Right on!

@biodroid

I do agree with you on one point in regards to the hype that was created for this series. After reading ADWD i feel this is still the best series i've ever read. However, there will always be some things that i will gripe about, because of the bar that has already been set.

As already suggested, i would continue reading if you're interested or stop if you don't feel it's worth your time. Only you know what you like or don't like.

I personally wouldn't come around too many of these forums or internet discussions, because alot of the things that hooked me were the surprises and the unexpected events that happen all throughout the series, even into ADWD.

The writing alone can go down as some of the best ink to paper stuff i have read. Enjoy the journey and stop listening to the harsh critics and the die hard fans. Most of us fall right in the middle.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

What series do you think are in contention for the greatest ever? I only ask because I'm looking for something new to read. I'm looking for a series that's already done. Not Malazan though; I tried that series and hated it (I read through Memories of Ice).

Thank goodness I'm not the only who didn't get into Malazan! I gave it one more book than you, but I think I'm done with that series.

 

[viZion]

Thank goodness I'm not the only who didn't get into Malazan! I gave it one more book than you, but I think I'm done with that series.

I honestly don't know what people saw about Memories of Ice that was so good. The ninja swordsman characters I guess? They were cool but the Mhybe was pretty much the worst character ever created. The romances in the books were laughably bad and most often came out of left field. Finally, the big, major, shocking death in that book was so heavily foreshadowed that I actually did laugh when it happened. Really? No one saw that coming? Oh well, my opinion is definitely in the minority regarding that series.

Ok, my threadjacking is done. ASOIAF rules!

 

[Koopa]

The worst book (consiodered by most) in the malazan series is my favourite:
namely the one where the marines invade letheras. Loved hellian. Even if you don't like the series you'll love that part.

 

[C Of K]

I'm sot sure what to tell you.
I've never read the Wheel of Time series because i couldn't bother with a series that seemed to go on and on without ending. (And ultimately because of the author's death the series did indeed not manage to get an ending). Though i've read somewhere some other chap is gonna finish it, still that 's not the same thing.)

It is starting to feel that ASOIAF is heading into that same direction. The books are still interesting, better then most out there but the flow (and editing) is stagnating which is frustrating to say the least. I'm still not entirely sure what the song is all about.

I can see how people might believe that what happened to the Wheel of Time series might be happening to ASoIaF. But I believe there are a few things that set GRRM's situation apart from RJ's situation.

Technically, RJ is not nearly as good a writer as GRRM. He developed a lot of really good ideas in the first few Wheel of Time books, and he had a knack for writing long volumes. The problem was, once he exhausted all his good ideas, he still tried to draw the series out. Never a good idea. It's my belief that he did this because it was a cash cow. So there he was, not a technically great writer, with no more good ideas. He wrote 4000 or 5000 lackluster pages where in practically nothing happened. Characters were flat. I didn't even recognize most of them anymore, and I stopped caring about them altogether.

GRRM, on the other hand, actually seems to favor getting the series finished as soon as possible. Unfortunately he's a slow writer, which is good and bad at the same time.

The Wheel of Time is finishing strong, though. Brandon Sanderson is exactly what that series needed to get back on its feet.

 

[Wiggum]

I honestly don't know what people saw about Memories of Ice that was so good.

Thread high jacking resumed!

The defense of Capustan coupled with Gruntle's unwitting transformation.

Itkovian's sacrifice.

Don't want to spoil anything so I won't give a better description of those events, but they were singular in fantasy in the emotive impact they had on me.

Much as parts of SoS did

It's all subjective to when an author hits a home run, or bloops a single into the infield.

SoS was a home run that'll never be duplicated.

As was MoI.

......for me anyway