A Song of Ice and Fire: Discussion

[Kelvrick]

Ok, this thread is for those of you who have finished three of the books. Don't come in here if you don't want it spoiled for you. So, I included the needed spoiler warnings.



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Ok, so to sate our hunger, Martin posted two teaser chapters on his website. The first one had to do with Danyeres (spelling) and the second Arya.

What do you make of Hagar? I don't remember his full name, but it appears he's a faceless man. One of those assassins? What do you think he was in the Kingdoms for? I coudln't remember any unexplained deaths of high officials so I don't know.

Also, to my favorite character. What do you think Jon is going to choose? What is going to happen to winterfell? Nobody knows that bran and Ricken are still alive.

EDIT: Also, what do you think of all the magic thats turning up in the third book? I don't think it should detract from the general quality of the books, but it takes away from the whole aspect that this is a real world and all of the things that happen are human and explainable.

 

[wyvrn]

Two new chapters. Woot I'm there, I'll post my impressions later.

As far as the magic and dragons, I heard Martin's editor wanted them included since these are supposed to be fantasy novels and fans like myself enjoy that sort of stuff. But, I had gotten used to the realistic nature of these books, and I'm not sure how I feel about introducing the more fantasy stuff. Martin's writing is absolutely superb, though.

 

[Kelvrick]

Finally a reply. Actually there was a new chapter added twoards the end of december, and he put up a new on in february in place of the one in december. Iono if you can still find the deanyres one somewhere, but the arya one is there now.

 

[Martin]

I'll give you a bump, since I haven't read the new chapters.

At this point, its been 3years since I read the books, so I am waiting for the 4th one to come out so I can reread the first 3

I've forgotten so much of what's happened, that I'll be almost like reading them for the first time

 

[abaez]

I've reread all three a few times over the past few years so I can remember pretty much the entire story. I do not want to read the new chapters I'd rather save them. If you guys haven't snagged the comics yet The Hedge Knight series is awesome.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: abaez
I've reread all three a few times over the past few years so I can remember pretty much the entire story. I do not want to read the new chapters I'd rather save them. If you guys haven't snagged the comics yet The Hedge Knight series is awesome.

I haven't grabbed those yet, but just finished the Legends 2 anthology. I love the hedgeknight too. In fact, almost anything that has to do with ASIF.

 

[Ameesh]

what the hell happened to ricken?

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
what the hell happened to ricken?

I really don't know. There isn't that much of him mentioned after he split off from bran.

 

[wyvrn]

Nice chapter on Arya. Anyone know when the next book is due out?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: wyvrn
Nice chapter on Arya. Anyone know when the next book is due out?

Supposedly April...but with George, who knows.

 

[Ameesh]

I hope the april 27th date sticks, i cant wait for the next book. I hope there is some sort of synopsis as i read the books over a year ago now, i probably should reread them

 

[RabidMongoose]

I hope that he kills off a few more main characters in the next book.

 

[Kelvrick]

When is the bastard going to update us. He hasn't updated in more hten a month. Maybe this means its almost done?!

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: wyvrn
Nice chapter on Arya. Anyone know when the next book is due out?

Supposedly April...but with George, who knows.

Amazon's listing says April 27th. I've got the first 3 in paperback and will have to re-read them to get ready for it if that's true.

 

[Farfrael]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
EDIT: Also, what do you think of all the magic thats turning up in the third book? I don't think it should detract from the general quality of the books, but it takes away from the whole aspect that this is a real world and all of the things that happen are human and explainable.

He never said/wrote that the world was "real" and everything could be explained by human actions.
There IS magic in all three books (the very first chapter (dead man going back to "life"), the Wall is magic, the dreams, the old gods, giants, the killer (faceless man), resurrections of that guy etc etc.). though one of the thing i really like about it is that he makes it seem real.

You don't have wizzards blasting fireballs for the tip of their fingers left and right. It feels balanced, almost working according to an an action=>reaction principle.

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
I hope that he kills off a few more main characters in the next book.

That's one thing that definitely keeps his stuff fresh: the unexpected deaths of major players in the story like Robb. I just hope he can wrap the story up with a couple more books and doesn't succumb to the Robert Jordan syndrome.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Encryptic

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
I hope that he kills off a few more main characters in the next book.

That's one thing that definitely keeps his stuff fresh: the unexpected deaths of major players in the story like Robb. I just hope he can wrap the story up with a couple more books and doesn't succumb to the Robert Jordan syndrome.

Supposedly going to be 7 books long. At least thats what I remember reading.

Plus, I was gonna say don't ruin it for other people when you said Robb died, then I remembered which thread I was in.

 

[Wag]

I know I read all these but I've read so many books inbetween I barely remember it.

 

[Farfrael]

Originally posted by: EncrypticThat's one thing that definitely keeps his stuff fresh: the unexpected deaths of major players in the story like Robb. I just hope he can wrap the story up with a couple more books and doesn't succumb to the Robert Jordan syndrome.

If i am not mistaken, he said that he was planning to write 7 books.
He actually did NOT plan to write "A feast for crows" and wanted to fast forward directly 5 years after in his next book. However, he felt that there was too many loose ends and that he needed to clarify a little bit the situation before getting into the next "cycle".

Contrary to other fantasy books, the lengh doesn't really disturb me since he is managing his characters in a "realistic" way : a hero makes a misake => he dies. Simple as that.
For once there is no "for the 100th time our valiant hero barely survives a situation where he should have died". I got really pissed at Eddings for that. After some time he repeats himself and there is a constant "deja-vu" feeling with the hero going from one hopeless situation to the other but always getting on top of it in the end :disgust:

 

[Kelvrick]

I completly agree with you Farfrael. Although if he ever kills off Jon or Arya, I'll be very very angry.

 

[Farfrael]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
I completly agree with you Farfrael. Although if he ever kills off Jon or Arya, I'll be very very angry.

Hehe ... the first time he killed a major character i thought it was going to be like in any other fantasy novel ... you know ...the guy is never really dead ..he just pops back after a few pages through a lame plot device.
But, i kept turning the pages ...and nothing ..the guy stayed dead. Couldn't believe it at first
And then a lot of bad things happen to the main characters .. took me a while to get used to it. At the beginning i was thinking "no way this is happening to the HERO" ... WTF is he doing. Almost shouted when some of the dirtiest tricks happened (Winterfell burned ...damn him !).

Agree with you though, i would be pretty pissed he was to kill John or Arya ... i do like the dwarf too (reminds me of that almost last paragraph whith the scene in the privy or the hanging ...damn makes me want to read it again )

Damn, i just love his style and this series

 

[Kelvrick]

He brought back the mom, Caitlyn (sp?). Hope he doesn't start bringing back a lot of people. I want them to stay dead.

It'll be interesting how they do this.

Have you thought about what might happen in the fourth book? I don't think Deanyres (sp?) will get back to Westeroes yet. Maybe in the 5th book, and then it'll start the conquest of the kingdoms. A lot of people are thinking that Jon and her will get together.

Plus, wanna talk about what i asked in my first post?

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Farfrael

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
I completly agree with you Farfrael. Although if he ever kills off Jon or Arya, I'll be very very angry.

Hehe ... the first time he killed a major character i thought it was going to be like in any other fantasy novel ... you know ...the guy is never really dead ..he just pops back after a few pages through a lame plot device.
But, i kept turning the pages ...and nothing ..the guy stayed dead. Couldn't believe it at first
And then a lot of bad things happen to the main characters .. took me a while to get used to it. At the beginning i was thinking "no way this is happening to the HERO" ... WTF is he doing. Almost shouted when some of the dirtiest tricks happened (Winterfell burned ...damn him !).

Agree with you though, i would be pretty pissed he was to kill John or Arya ... i do like the dwarf too (reminds me of that almost last paragraph whith the scene in the privy or the hanging ...damn makes me want to read it again )

Damn, i just love his style and this series

well the mom is alive, i forget her name (catlien maybe?) but isnt she a zombie or some such thing at the castle where all of the assains came?

 

[Farfrael]

Regarding the magic i answered in my first post in this thread

Regarding the assassin who gave the coin to Arya, he "obviously" was one of the "faceless ones" (don't remember in which book he introduces them through a short paragraph about their legendary efficiency). I don't remember hearing something about whom he killed to be put in jail (remember the part when Arya escapes with the Night watch "recruts" ... he gives some hints there - there might be something)

Regarding John, he makes it clear that, as far as John is concerned he will stay in the night watch. Now, will he be able to do what he wants to do is another matter . Something to think about : it seems that Stannis is NOT the reincarnation of the legendary hero (his sword doesn't burn, no heat, just an optical illusion). I wonder if the real one is John .. Maybe Daeneris + John .... we'll see ..

Regarding Cathelyn, he does bring her back ...true ...but in such a shape that she will probably just be used as an accessory in the rest of the book . She doesn't come back from the dead as if nothing happened. (and yes she was killed during the bloody wedding and was thrown in the river. Then Arya's wolf brings her corpse to the shore of the river and the Red Priest (Thoros) revives her)

Same thing for the Lightning lord (guy who keeps resurrecting) : they both live but they had/have to pay a price ... makes it more ... fair/balanced.
Not the usual : oh, my hero was dead but now he is back as if he never died

 

[Kelvrick]

No, i never said actually "real," but more real then most fantasy books. The magic was always there in the wolves, the other and such, but just the general arrival of widespread magic, such as the red mage and such. I see what you're saying though.

I'm going to reread the Arya chapters this weekend to see if the guy who took her out said anything.