Yea I figured, I'll get through the first book quick enough. Good thing when I opened the thread the top post on this page let me know there was a spoiler in the mix... got to use my selective reading skills.
I started the first book 3 days ago after much debate. I must say, I am extremely pleased with my decision. I am only 160 pages in, I am trying to limit myself to about 50 a day. But there is so much more detail in the books than they included on the show. Lots more little hints towards future happeneings, as well as much more historical references as to why things are currently the way they are within the story.
Yeah, totally. Martin is a master of foreshadowing. I've read them 3 times already and still I find things I missed before that give clues as to what may be happening, whether they be dreams, visions or just stories from the past that link different things together that you wouldn't normally notice on the first read. On one hand, I understand why he takes so long to write these books, because his foreshadowing alone is so painstaking, on the other hand I'm impatient and sick of waiting.
Man, I gotta make time to re-read them now, especially before reading the 5th, or having it spoiled. Martin is really good at the foreshadowing, but the first read I felt like I was always trying to keep hold of who was who and doing what to whom, I am sure you could miss a lot of things, or just take something said in passing in book 1, and then in book 3 it is a major part of the plot line. He's good about that, too. I would be interested in knowing if he just writes out straight, or if he has an end game in mind and writes toward it. Just how it is that he writes on this broad of scope.
Judging from some of the things I think I've been able to figure out, it looks like he probably knew how the series was going to end as he was writing Game Of Thrones, but I really never trust my guesses with him because he also likes to set you up thinking it's going one way and then smashes a huge hole in whatever you expected. Definitely worth re-reading, though, because I have gained a huge respect for his storytelling when you see him foreshadow something in book 1 that happens in book 3 or 4, it's a cool thing to see.
Yea, he had one in the beginning of the 1st book when the Starks stumbled upon a dead Stag and a dead Dire Wolf with 6 litters
^^ ive said it before but if you have any long or regular journeys to take definitely get copies of the (unabridged) audiobooks - they are very well read. You can get them on audible.com (obviously you need to sign up to take advantage of the credits system o/w its very expensive) - http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B002UZZ93G&qid=1309417554&sr=1-1 The first three read by Roy Dotrice are the best ones.
I contemplated just doing the audiobooks (which I've never done for any book before). But after listening to a 7 minute sample of the Roy Dotrice reading, I wanted to hang myself. The guy only got like 2 pages done. There's no way I could listen to him for 35+ hours per book.
readers are certainly a personal thing - I think he is a fantastic reader and perfect for those books (though the late great Frank Muller is still the king) - but if you dont like the reader its near impossible to enjoy the book - I found that out with the Dune audiobook.
http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2011/07/10/a_dance_with_dragons no spoilers on the book...great review though. Book is out tomorrow.
That sounds great. The NYTimes article it references is pretty good too, although it's a sad narrative on the fantasy geeks of this country.
Wow those fans that are referenced in that NYT article are a bunch of whiny cunts. If I was GRRM I would try and meet them and break their fucking noses.
I wish I could've read the book this guy was talking about. Oh well, at least we'll hopefully have 2, or 3 if they split Storm of Swords into 2 seasons, of the TV show to look forward to. I guess I can still hold out a small hope that the next book will be better since this was still all jumbled up with the waste of time that was AFFC but at this pace he could write 10 more books and we still wouldn't be close to anything resembling an ending.
Jesus, I got the book on my Kindle ap yesterday, haven't even had the chance to read the first page yet, and you already finished it??? I haven't read that much in such a short time in at least 20 years. I forgot what that feels like, if I actually had that kind of time, I don't think I could read all that at one time anymore. Too many distractions.
