George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire & Ice 4th book: A Feast for Crows

[biostud]

Originally posted by: Yossarian

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Maybe he keeps pushing it back because he forgot the names of half of the characters. I know I'm sure as hell going to have to read the first three again since I can't remember anything about them other than that I loved them and that there were a hell of a lot of characters.

But on the bright side at least half the major characters are dead by now. That's the beauty of Martin, you never know who is going to go from hero to the grave and which beaten contender will suddenly find himself on top again. Every time I think I've got a handle on the series and have figured out who's going to be standing at the end that person dies. I've never seen an author so prone to kill off major characters.

and even death doesn't stop some of them... *cues ghostly music*

hehe

 

[blakeatwork]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: L3p3rM355i4h
have you ever read the Wheel of Time? The series is like 10 books, and a prequel, but he hasn't done anything with the actual story since, like, what, book six or seven? 800 pages or so a book for basically nothing. (the last major thing is when Rand cleansed saidin that was book 8, but that wasn't even that important, yet...)

or what the dude above me said. He's worse than Dickens.

i don't think anything has happened since book 3.

and whatever happened to those guys that used that other power and had the weird eyes?

You mean Moridin? he's still kicking around, though he hasn't done overly much since hitting Lanfear and Moghedien in Soultraps...

I'm hoping that with the self-imposed "limit" of two remaining books, that shyte happens... but Jordan's always left open the possibility of not having final closure on a number of things..

I've meant to actually get into martin, though for whatever reason I haven't. Not like i don't have the material handy, I've just never actually read it. Can anyone give the basic premise?

 

[Lumathix]

This series is one of the best I've read. I'm near the end of Clash of Kings, and I'm guessing Feast of Crows will be worth the wait. This guy rocks.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: blakeatwork

I've meant to actually get into martin, though for whatever reason I haven't. Not like i don't have the material handy, I've just never actually read it. Can anyone give the basic premise?

Highly political. King gets murdered and EVERYONE is vying for the throne. His brothers each raise armies, deposed daughter of a former king raises dragons to lead her army, son of a guy murdered by the king's family raises an army and all are fighting, scheming, fighting, plotting, fighting, dying, backstabbing, fighting and dying some more to see who will take over the kingdom.

Incredibly intense and uniquely unpredictable. Can you imagine Aragorn dying in Lord of the Rings, Rand dying in Jordan's books or Luke Skywalker dying in Star Wars? In Martin's books it's not only possible, but probable. No character is safe, the greatest heroes and the worst villians can all croak at any moment. Things are constantly in flux, you never know what's going to happen next.

 

[imported_KirbsAw]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: blakeatwork

I've meant to actually get into martin, though for whatever reason I haven't. Not like i don't have the material handy, I've just never actually read it. Can anyone give the basic premise?

Highly political. King gets murdered and EVERYONE is vying for the throne. His brothers each raise armies, deposed daughter of a former king raises dragons to lead her army, son of a guy murdered by the king's family raises an army and all are fighting, scheming, fighting, plotting, fighting, dying, backstabbing, fighting and dying some more to see who will take over the kingdom.

Incredibly intense and uniquely unpredictable. Can you imagine Aragorn dying in Lord of the Rings, Rand dying in Jordan's books or Luke Skywalker dying in Star Wars? In Martin's books it's not only possible, but probable. No character is safe, the greatest heroes and the worst villians can all croak at any moment. Things are constantly in flux, you never know what's going to happen next.

Seriously, his books are really the only ones i am completely surprised in nearly every chapter, you rarely ever figure out whats coming ahead of time. They always leave you saying NO WAY!!!

 

[dderidex]

That's the series this game is based on, right?

It is, FWIW, a very, very, VERY fun game.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: dderidex
That's the series this game is based on, right?

It is, FWIW, a very, very, VERY fun game.

Never seen that game before, but yep, it's definitely based on the books. The map and names are the same.

 

[dderidex]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: dderidex
That's the series this game is based on, right?

It is, FWIW, a very, very, VERY fun game.

Never seen that game before, but yep, it's definitely based on the books. The map and names are the same.

Never read the books, myself, but interested in the game strictly from a play mechanic. Unfortunately, it takes a few people to play - this game really NEEDS at least 3 players, and is much better with 5.

It's a more modern style so-called "euro-game". There is virtually no chance in the game at all - no dice are used, position on various tracks is bid for instead of randomized, etc. The only randomness comes from the events that happen during the game that do shape somewhat how each turn progresses (and, of course, the "Wildling Attacks" event which really messes things up).

Interesting game, I suppose fans of the series would find it doubly so.

 

[blakeatwork]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: blakeatwork

I've meant to actually get into martin, though for whatever reason I haven't. Not like i don't have the material handy, I've just never actually read it. Can anyone give the basic premise?

Highly political. King gets murdered and EVERYONE is vying for the throne. His brothers each raise armies, deposed daughter of a former king raises dragons to lead her army, son of a guy murdered by the king's family raises an army and all are fighting, scheming, fighting, plotting, fighting, dying, backstabbing, fighting and dying some more to see who will take over the kingdom.

Incredibly intense and uniquely unpredictable. Can you imagine Aragorn dying in Lord of the Rings, Rand dying in Jordan's books or Luke Skywalker dying in Star Wars? In Martin's books it's not only possible, but probable. No character is safe, the greatest heroes and the worst villians can all croak at any moment. Things are constantly in flux, you never know what's going to happen next.

Nice...

I think I'll give it a go when I finish reading through WoT again...

 

[cruzer]

Martin sure keeps the "news"(merchandising) page on his site updated often.
IMHO he made a mistake with the whole Danearys/Dragon princess returning home plot thread, it's the only predictable thread and it's boring.
Oh, and every time one of those direwolves saved a person's life I literally had to roll my eyes.
It's the Tyrion POV that keeps me hooked.

 

[Feneant2]

Anyone know if the 4th is the final book or if there are more?

Also not mentionned, but Goodkind succumbed to Jordan symptom, the last 2 books were total BS... actually, what is it called... Naked Empire is a stand alone book people don't even need to read!

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: blakeatwork
[I've meant to actually get into martin, though for whatever reason I haven't. Not like i don't have the material handy, I've just never actually read it. Can anyone give the basic premise?

The premise has been covered already so let me give you some advice if you choose to read this series... do not get overly attached to any single character.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: cruzer
Martin sure keeps the "news"(merchandising) page on his site updated often.
IMHO he made a mistake with the whole Danearys/Dragon princess returning home plot thread, it's the only predictable thread and it's boring.
Oh, and every time one of those direwolves saved a person's life I literally had to roll my eyes.
It's the Tyrion POV that keeps me hooked.

Agree 100%. I hate the Daenerys thread. It's too isolated from the rest of the events to be pertinent all the time. While everyone on Westeros is fighting each other, making new alliances, backstabbing old friends and jockeying for position, she's just raising her dragons and calmly building an army. YAWN.

Tyrion is maybe the best character ever to appear in a fantasy series. He's just layer upon layer upon layer and I can never get a handle on what he's going to do next. I'm afraid to like him too much though, every time I start to get into a character they croak. I'd like to see more of Arya and less of Sansa, Arya is the interesting sister. And I hope we see more of Mance Rayder in the next book. He and the wildings have a lot of undeveloped potential.

 

[dderidex]

Mostly because of the boardgame (linked above), I've been thinking about trying to get the wife into the series (me, too, but her moreso, since she doesn't play games she can't identify with the world of). She likes fantasy, but primarily young adult fiction. I think "Lord of the Rings" is about as adult fantasy as she's ever been willing to read (she liked them, of course)

What kind of 'adult' elements are in this series? Violence level, etc?

 

[cruzer]

What kind of 'adult' elements are in this series? Violence level, etc?

There is graphic violence, one-on-one fights to the death, intentional drownings, and multiple rapes/gang rapes.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: dderidex

What kind of 'adult' elements are in this series? Violence level, etc?

It's a very adult, very dark series. Violence, murder, torture, hookers, rape, incest, implied cannibalism, whatever, you name it, it's there.

 

[dderidex]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: dderidex

What kind of 'adult' elements are in this series? Violence level, etc?

It's a very adult, very dark series. Violence, murder, torture, hookers, rape, incest, implied cannibalism, whatever, you name it, it's there.

ROFLMAO - oooookay, then. NOT for the wife. Good to know, anyway - thanks for the info!

 

[abaez]

Arya rules. I like the dany thread, it'll be interesting to read what happens when she finally reaches shore.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Feneant2
Anyone know if the 4th is the final book or if there are more?

Also not mentionned, but Goodkind succumbed to Jordan symptom, the last 2 books were total BS... actually, what is it called... Naked Empire is a stand alone book people don't even need to read!

I believe he's aiming for at least 6 books total.

 

[jpthomas]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Tyrion is maybe the best character ever to appear in a fantasy series. He's just layer upon layer upon layer and I can never get a handle on what he's going to do next. I'm afraid to like him too much though, every time I start to get into a character they croak. I'd like to see more of Arya and less of Sansa, Arya is the interesting sister. And I hope we see more of Mance Rayder in the next book. He and the wildings have a lot of undeveloped potential.

I agree completely. I loved every chapter from Tyrion's point of view.

I've also grown to like Jaime Lannister's character quite a bit. It's interesting to me how all the "bad guys" in the book have turned out to be the characters that Martin has me rooting for. Then again, the way he writes the story its difficult to tell who is good and who is bad in the first place...