Song of Ice & Fire new book has a release date??

[Fretty]

No seriously:

Link: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ology.com/technology/george-rr-martin-confirms-dance-dragons-coming-july-12">http://www.ology.com/technology/george- ... ng-july-12</a><!-- m -->

Hooo boy. The six-year wait for A Dance With Dragons, the next book in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, will reach its merciful end on July 12. (Edited: Preorders are now up on Amazon for $23.10. The listed price is $35). Calling its release long awaited is like calling the Hindenburg disaster a "mishap," so I understand if you're hesitant to believe the date announced by Entertainment Weekly. But no less than Martin himself has confirmed the news on his website, saying:

"You've all seen publication dates before: dates in 2007, 2008, 2009. None of those were ever hard dates, however. Most of them... well, call it wishful thinking, boundless optimism, cockeyed dreams, honest mistakes, whatever you like. This date is different. This date is real."

Martin calls the book a "monster" and EW says it'll rival the 900 pages of previous entry A Storm of Swords. As to what'll be inside those pages, Martin gives us this mini preview: "I can say all the characters people have been waiting for are there: Daenerys, Jon Snow, and Tyrion. There’s also new characters, and viewpoints from characters who did not have viewpoints before."

The mind boggles at the possibilities, though I'm personally hoping to see more of Arya Stark's adventures.

Martin has an even vaguer answer as to why the sixth book in ASoIaF series took so damn long to complete: "It’s very complicated. I have a lot of characters and points of view. And I’ve been doing a ton of rewriting, trying to get it where I wanted it to be. Some of these chapters I’ve rewritten more times than I can count before I’m satisfied with them." EW promises more and lengthier response in their print edition.

The first book in the series, A Game of Thrones, is of course coming to HBO on April 17 in the form of a ten-episode season with subsequent seasons to follow later book plots, and, how can I put this without landing me in jail: I will murder somebody with my big toe if that's the only way I can see it.

Here's the latest trailer, a discussion on whether you should read the book before watching the TV show, and the rest of Ology's Game of Thrones coverage. It's kind of a big deal.

So are you guys as excited as I am?

[Skelas]

shut up!

He's a fucking liar!

"Oh the whole things written we just couldnt publish it all at once because it would be too big"

6 years later........

PLUS! A feast of crows was crap.

Ok, the first three books are my favorite novels of all time, but he's a dick.

Seriously.

He's right up there with Jordan, Now excuse me while I pull on my fucking ponytail. Fucking Jordan.

[Jakensama]

How about instead of new charcters we concentrate on the ones we like.. I dont need another Brienne who gets 11 chapters of bullshit.

[Vanraw]

Now excuse me while I pull on my fucking ponytail. Fucking Jordan.

Lol

[Riz]

I'll believe it when I see it. I'll believe it's not going to be another total lump of shit like Crows when I see it. Until then, Fuck Martin.

That said, I'm finishing Malazan Books of the Fallen and THAT is a great series. Better still, the FUCKING AUTHOR CAN KEEP TO A GODDAMN DEADLINE.

[Breand]

I'm with you all, however I do have insider info that the manuscript is actually in the publisher's hands and they are editing it now. Of course, he could always decide to change shit up, delaying it...but he has at least handed in something that represents the book.

[Zouji]

I'll believe the book when I see it. Even if it does get released this author is gonna die before he puts out another book. So I doubt he will ever finish the damned series. Unless someone resurrects him after he dies and forces him to write rather than blog about god damned football.

In other news, Steven Erikson's last book of the ten book series of the "Malazan Book of the Fallen" is out. This guy has written a 800+ page book about every 11-13 months. In each book stuff actually happens. The name of the last book is The Crippled God. I'm reading it right now and it actually seems to wrap up all of the stuff that has happened over the past 10 books. Well except for the stuff that will be released by the co-creator of the Malazan world Ian C. Esslemont.

[Jakensama]

I'll believe the book when I see it. Even if it does get released this author is gonna die before he puts out another book. So I doubt he will ever finish the damned series. Unless someone resurrects him after he dies and forces him to write rather than blog about god damned football. .

Maybe they can get Sanderson to finish the series if he dies, he did better with the WOT sequals than any of the previous 5 or 6 books that Jordan wrote.

[Fretty]

What the what??? I forgot to pick this up!
Picking it up today.

Has anyone started it yet?
Impressions? (without spoilers)

[Jakensama]

I'm finished the first 3rd of it, so far so good - I mean he still has his problems with writing style but thats just a pill I swallow when reading fantasy, but things are definately an improvement from the last book. The first half of the book is taking place concurrently with the last book and telling you whats going on at that time with the people in the North and across the sea, he says in the forwards that about halfway through or so though it converges and we get some of the characters from the last book.

Get an ebook version if you can, the hardbacks quite large and unwieldly.

[Zouji]

Meh, if you have read any of Steven Erickson's Malazan books in the hardcover form, then you will be fine with GRRM's latest book in hardcover form.

[Jakensama]

No clue who that is.

Kindles nice too since you can read fantasy in public without being embaressed.

[Fretty]

No clue who that is.

Kindles nice too since you can read fantasy in public without being embaressed.

Actually now, if you read any Song of Ice & Fire books in public you will be considered a "follower" or "wannabe", you know, since HBO created the show and all. =P

[Slamz]

You can always print out fake book covers!

[Jakensama]

Okay, done, I'll give the rest of you 4 more hours to finish it before I start spamming spoilers.

/jon snow is kaizer soze

[Maren]

Is GRRM physically unable to complete a book without killing off 2-3 main characters?

[Jakensama]

Dont worry they will all come back as zombies anyway.

[Maren]

Yea, thats pretty much a given due to all of the foreshadowing throughout the book