Winds of Winter news -- WARNING: SPOILERS

[NenadBulaja]

Unfortunately, it is going to be more than one year Timba. If anything is certain about Martin, it is that he will NOT finish in one year.

 

[The Imp]

Speculation as to how long until TWoW is done is really prmature, at least until we get the first staus update from GRRM. We know that he writes slowly, and that a lot of the book is unwritten. The sample chapter might be indicative of the lack of a time jump, which I thought GRRM might use to accelerate certain plot lines.

 

[Ursa major]

I think it unlikely that there'll be much of a time jump, although not because of the presence of AFfC and ADwD orphans (which will make up a significant part of the book).

While Dany could roam the wide open spaces of Essos for quite a while (though I'm sure we all hope she doesn't), there's too much going on in Westeros to allow space for a break: the fallout from the Jon incident; the perhaps-Targ in the south; the forthcoming conflict between Stannis and Roose and its fallout; Davos on Skagos; superBran; Tyrion the sellsword's companion; Arya's continued development, heightened by her new-found talent....

Once all those (and Dany) are dealt with, that'll be a third of TWoW at least, in terms of pages. There's unlikely to be a hiatus in the middle of the book, so unless we expect one between TWoW and ADoS - which, I would argue - would suggest another book in the offing (because whatever comes after the hiatus would have to include things that lets the reader know what happened in the intervening period, and it would be crowding out the final conflicts and denouements). So, we must hope, there won't be one**.



** - And perhaps the biggest danger of a hiatus is that GRRM will be able to make things more complex, because 'they can be dealt with in a paragraph or so in flashback or "history-telling" ', but then he'll want to deal with them "properly", as happened with AFfC and ADwD. Good for those of us who want to read about Westeros (and Essos); bad for those of us who want to know how it all ends.

 

[Yog-Sothoth]

Loved it, now I'm suffering serious withdrawal syndrome, normally I continue reading a few chapters, but now there is nothing else lol. I guess GRRM is creating more buzz for this greatly anticipated book.

In the News:

George R. R. Martin is such a tease.

Kit Harington as Jon Snow in the HBO series based on George R.R. Martin's fantasy novels. (HBO Canada)



What author could be so excited about his new book that he releases a brand new chapter online - with no clear answer on when the whole book will come out? Who does this? Apparently, fantasy god George R. R. Martin does. Something you can do when millions of fans are salivating over any new scrap from the vast world you have created from scratch. Pretty badass if you ask me.

Check out the new chapter from The Winds of Winter - book six of Martin's masterful A Song of Ice and Fire series. And don't be put off by Martin's terrible website - just print it off in Word like all the other tech snobs like me.

Now read on if you are already one of the converted. Because I'm pretty sure the world is divided between those who have read (and therefore love) Martin's series, and those who haven't. There's no real grey area. Just read the tumblr Winter is Coming, Bitches.
If you are a true fan, you will die laughing. If you aren't, you'll be terribly confused. So if you are as deeply immersed in and obsessed by this world as I am, read on!


I love that this new excerpt is about Theon Greyjoy, one of Martin's best characters. I say that not because I like the man, but because he is one of the most complex citizens of Westeros. You've rooted for him. You've rooted against him. You've been shocked by him. You've hated him with a passion. You've pitied him. And then you rooted for him once more. Only a truly gifted writer can pull that off.

Theon is the kind of thorny character that moves the story forward by equal parts action and psychosis - and that's what makes him so fascinating. And even more fascinating now that he remembers his name and is not afraid to die for the crimes and secrets that will most likely die with him.

Although I was hoping for a bit of news on Jon Snow, or fan fave Tyrion (apparently Martin's proxy in the story), I will gladly take Stannis being smart for a change, Asha going back to her gangster self and the Karstarks getting their just desserts. As for Theon, he does indeed deserve to die. But I'd much rather see the ******* of Bolton (don't call him that to his face) dead first.

Who knows how long we'll have to wait though. With Martin, release dates are nebulous at best, untrustworthy at worst. He took five years to release book five A Dance with Dragons. Not that I'm complaining! I refuse to be one of those ungrateful fans who gripe and moan about waiting. When something is this good, it's worth the wait.

And that's why Martin is such a tease. A brilliant, brilliant tease. How excited are you for The Winds of Winter? Then again, I actually wouldn't mind if Martin took his sweet time. After all, book six will be inevitably followed by book seven, which means the end of the series. And potentially the end of life as we know it. Overstatement? Maybe. BUT MAYBE NOT.

Fellow geeks, please share your thoughts on the new material!
And while we're at it, any thoughts on the new casting news for HBO's season two of Game of Thrones? I'm AMPED.


-Arisa Cox: http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/things-that-go-pop-blog/2012/01/george-r-r-martin-is-such-a-tease.html

George R.R. Martin surprises "Song of Ice and Fire" fans with free chapter of next book

BY ETHAN SACKS

“Winter Is Coming,” as any fan of George R.R. Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire” saga – the basis for the hit HBO series, “Game of Thrones” -- knows, is the motto of the beleaguered House of Stark.

Well, “Winds of Winter” is now actually here - or at least the first chapter of the eagerly-awaited sixth installment.

The author released the chapter -- centering around poor Theon Greyjoy's continuing tour of every torture chamber in Westeros - as a belated holiday present for his fans, whose copies of "A Dance with Dragons," the most recent book which came out in July, are already heavily worn down after repeated thumbing through.
"As a Christmas gift to all my loyal fans and readers, I've just replaced the (long published) sample chapters from A DANCE WITH DRAGONS on my website with an unpublished sample chapter from THE WINDS OF WINTER,” Martin wrote on his Live Journal blog. “Happy holidays all, keep reading.”

He also promised a second chapter would be included in the back of the paper-back edition of "A Dance of Dragons," expected to hit bookstores in July 2012.

The series, which focuses more on Machiavellian political intrigue than Tolkein-esque sword and sorcery, has turned Martin into a darling of literary critics as well as mainstream readers - rare for a fantasy genre that's often dismissed as garbage not fit to line the bottom of a dragon's cage.

It's also a good sign for fans that it's full speed ahead on the penultimate chapter of the seven-book "Song of Ice and Fire" saga after the long six years they waited between "A Feast of Crows" and "A Dance of Dragons."

"I've talked about ["A Dance With Dragons"] as being a monkey on my back," Martin told the Daily News in July. "I've particularly talked about the book as being King Kong on my back. It's a very big monkey. Kong was finally off my back. It felt good.

"Now, of course, Son of Kong is on my back and he's going to be growing over the years."


Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/pa...e-and-fire-fans-with-free-chapter-of-next-boo

 

[Yog-Sothoth]

He also promised a second chapter would be included in the back of the paper-back edition of "A Dance of Dragons," expected to hit bookstores in July 2012.

A new TWOW chapter in "A Dance with Dragons"? I'm pretty sure now that TWOW will not have a 2012 release.

 

[Timba]

I have not seen the HBO series yet, I will be getting it in March, I am psyched. I took a look at the link for new characters being added for season 2 and I am reminded that characters seldom appear as I see them in my minds eye. No great surprise there but always something I have to make an adjustment for.

I am not going to worry about the date TWOW comes out. Nothing I can do to make a difference so I just cannot get emotionally invested in it but I have an ongoing niggling worry about the author not living long enough to finish the series. If I die first, hey, all the worrying is over but if he dies, damn.

 

[Needle]

I have not seen the HBO series yet, I will be getting it in March, I am psyched. I took a look at the link for new characters being added for season 2 and I am reminded that characters seldom appear as I see them in my minds eye. No great surprise there but always something I have to make an adjustment for.

I am not going to worry about the date TWOW comes out. Nothing I can do to make a difference so I just cannot get emotionally invested in it but I have an ongoing niggling worry about the author not living long enough to finish the series. If I die first, hey, all the worrying is over but if he dies, damn.

Yea for finally getting the series! I have no doubt you will enjoy it.

As one who spends my days surrounded by 80-90 year olds, I chose to hope for the best on GRRM's lifespan!

 

[Ursa major]

Various threads are going to be missing some of us in early March 2012, I suspect, Timba.


(Well, they probably won't be missing us as much as we'd like; nor as much as we'll be missing them.)

 

[Timba]

Various threads are going to be missing some of us in early March 2012, I suspect, Timba.


(Well, they probably won't be missing us as much as we'd like; nor as much as we'll be missing them.)

I plan to multi task and try to avoid gulping it all down in one big dose

 

[Needle]

I know myself too well! I will say I'm gonna go slow, just like I did when I got ADWD. Then read it in 2 days! But I will immediately read it again! Peeking in here every couple hours to see if anyone else is done and ready to talk!

 

[Mesanna]

A little bit of news from an appearance GRRM did, where he read from a chapter in Winds of Winter (not the Theon one). If you want to know more, have a look here.

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/63218-grrm-in-toronto/page__p__3051843#entry3051843

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for that, Mesanna.

 

[Rufio]

Yep, thank you, an interesting read.

I wonder if this is the same chapter that will be in ADWD paperbacks?