I've Never Read GRRM

[Zach H.]

Ice and Fire can feel like a traditional work of fantasy that thrives on nontraditional turns, I think. Martin still offers teens separated from their families and thrust out into a world that is threatened by a lurking evil, for instance, although don't expect these characters to spread through the ranks and conquer with the ease of ol' Rand, and don't expect that lurking evil to represent the primary source of conflict.

[Twinner]

I second (third....) Fevre Dream! I read this very long ago and loved it. It was an innovative take on the whole vampire thing (at the time) and a very fun read.

[ElinIsabel]

I was meh on it the first time I read it and quit about 150 pages through, but returned to it in a better mood and couldn't put it down the second time. Keep reading.

Ice and Fire can feel like a traditional work of fantasy that thrives on nontraditional turns, I think.

This is exactly what I thought.

[Michigan]

There's a few things to consider here. ASOIAF is a great series. Nobody who respects fantasy will tell you otherwise. They are simply awesome(minus the last book, it was meh). The problem is that the last book was written FIVE YEARS AGO. And Book1 was written 15years ago! Do you want to wait a few more years for the next book, then possibly NEVER get the final book? THATS the issue to consider.
Another consideration is the TV miniseries is already casted and ready to start in late 2010 if rumors can be believed. This is only based on Book1(A Game of Thrones). So do you want to read this book before watching the series? That's why I read them...but now i regret doing so because I'm afraid the series will never be finished.

Rumors? I think it's alot more then that at this point. They have already started filming and have two teasers and a behind the scenes available.

[Werthead]

Rumors? I think it's alot more then that at this point. They have already started filming and have two teasers and a behind the scenes available.

They're approaching the halfway point of filming and have air-dates: March 2011 for the USA and April for the UK.

[chris777]

Did not know. Awesome. But as I said, the rumors were late 2010...now they seem to be for sure going in early 2011. So the 'rumors' were false to an extent. =)

[Evil Agent]

But as I said, the rumors were late 2010...now they seem to be for sure going in early 2011. So the 'rumors' were false to an extent. =)

There were no rumors. Your information is incorrect.

Check out this thread for updates on the series, or check out the Winter is Coming fan site where every scrap of information about the show is discussed.

[Pvt]

Martin's best work is in his short fiction. Sandkings was probably the best novella I've ever read. I'm almost positive he wishes he can go back to that and attending conventions, etc. Now he has to spend the next 10 years of his life completing those stupid Song of Ice and Fire books.

[hippokrene]

... “what if this is a Prince of Dragons story?”

It's a princess. A princess who's the lost heir to the throne.

See, GRRM is totally innovative.

[chokipokilo]

Martin's best work is in his short fiction. Sandkings was probably the best novella I've ever read. I'm almost positive he wishes he can go back to that and attending conventions, etc. Now he has to spend the next 10 years of his life completing those stupid Song of Ice and Fire books.

He doesn't "have to" by any means. He could finish a lot faster I'm sure if he weren't intent on perfecting each book.

And Sandkings was pretty awesome, all his horror-ish short stories were.

[AzWingsFan]

"I've Never Read GRRM"..... You're not missing much

[mECHsLAVE]

Martin's best work is in his short fiction. Sandkings was probably the best novella I've ever read. I'm almost positive he wishes he can go back to that and attending conventions, etc. Now he has to spend the next 10 years of his life completing those stupid Song of Ice and Fire books.

Sandkings is phenomenal. Fevre Dream is excellent.

ASOIAF overall is extremely good, but well, the first 3 books are great...

It seems the whole thing has fallen apart with A Feast for Crows, which he released as a compromise since the next book at the time had reached 1600 pages. So he pulled certain parts of it out and tells half the story in a 800 page book, and the next book A Dance with Dragons was due the following year, according to him. That was five years ago and counting...

In other words, for three books you are told the story one way, then the fourth book is completely different and frustrating, because he leaves half the characters out. Yeah, sounded dumb to me at the time, and gets worse with each year that passes. The last time he wrote about certain characters was over TEN years ago now.

But on the other hand, he updates his website constantly with the latest on that HBO series and the actors and their filmographies, down to what the extras like to eat in their trailers and the weather at their locations, and how many times he blew his nose that day. So you know, fair compromise for sure!! Oh and yeah, constantly new crap that he has for sale too, figurines, fake swords, calenders, other necessities like that he tries to sell.

I honestly wouldn't start the ASOIAF books if I were you. You'll finish what he's written in a few months and just hit a wall and be left with a cliffhanger for years, upon years, upon years..... with no end in sight. Wait for the full book series to be finished, and then buy them and read them... if that ever happens. If it does, you'll have a great series to read. If it doesn't, you'll be glad you never started. Simple.

[farseer2]

Wait for the full book series to be finished, and then buy them and read them... if that ever happens. If it does, you'll have a great series to read. If it doesn't, you'll be glad you never started. Simple.

I'd agree partially. I've read only the first book, realized it was incredibly good, and since then I'm waiting for the series to be completed, to read the whole thing together. That makes sense to me: why read a portion of the story and then wait years for each new part? You won't remember all the details and will have to read all the previous books every time there's a new one, or miss part of the experience.

However, if GRRM were to die without finishing the story (or less tragically, if he announced that he was abandoning it to write exclusively about football and the TV series) I would still advice you to read the incomplete story. Even if there's no ending, you can still enjoy this outstanding ride.

Or, who knows, maybe they'll hire Sanderson to finish it.

[chris777]

I'd agree partially. I've read only the first book, realized it was incredibly good, and since then I'm waiting for the series to be completed, to read the whole thing together. That makes sense to me: why read a portion of the story and then wait years for each new part? You won't remember all the details and will have to read all the previous books every time there's a new one, or miss part of the experience.

However, if GRRM were to die without finishing the story (or less tragically, if he announced that he was abandoning it to write exclusively about football and the TV series) I would still advice you to read the incomplete story. Even if there's no ending, you can still enjoy this outstanding ride.

Or, who knows, maybe they'll hire Sanderson to finish it.

OMG Yes. I posted that awhile ago on Amazon that if he isn't going to finish it he should hand it off to someone, preferably Sanderson. What a great start to his career, other than his own books which are good, but to finish 2 of the greatest fantasies ever written. Nice resume.

[Evil Agent]

"I've Never Read GRRM"..... You're not missing much

Hahahaha... right.

Out of about 30 fantasy authors I've read, GRRM is the by far the best after Tolkien.