Damn. Now I'm going against my better judgement and say "maybe he'll actually release another book this decade". Seems this little excerpt also proves a certain bastard got a little creative with the truth when writing that lovely note to the Wall. I am intrigued.

Once again he will introduce 125 characters and leave 5 standing at the end.

Quiefenburger: kronicfeld: It's possible that this is happening before the bit at the wall at the end. I also give credence to the theory that Bolton didn't write the letter at all, that it was either Stannis or Jon himself. Or Bolton wrote it, but before he actually succeeded, and it came into Stannis's possessio. The questions about the ravens feedsinto that somewhat.

In his blog post announcing this preview, Martin does say that it takes place before certain events at the end of the last book. So I'm guessing this is before Ramsay sends his "Pink Letter" to Jon at The Wall. That said, Ramsay is demanding the return of Reek, so who knows what that implies.

Damn the man. I swear I recall some utterances of his that basically came down to "no more of that overlapping timelines" shennanigans when talking about how Feast/Dance and Winds of Winter tie in with one another.

"Oh well, what the hell", said McWatt while waiting for the next book.

madcan34: Once again he will introduce 125 characters and leave 5 standing at the end.

That's why I never study history. Unless everyone lives happily ever after, it's not worth it.

o_O

Dammit, can't Theon ever catch a break?

So we wait another five years for an 800 page novel that creeps the plot forward a few inches? Martin has gotten so sluggish and lazy he's lost of the narrative of his own series.

No thanks, I'd rather read Joe Abercrombie.

The books are totally misogynistic.

So, based on the title of the last book versus the actual content of the last book, I am guessing this one takes place in an utterly wind-less place in the height of summer?

/Didn't read the preview

LeafyGreens: So we wait another five years for an 800 page novel that creeps the plot forward a few inches? Martin has gotten so sluggish and lazy he's lost of the narrative of his own series.

No thanks, I'd rather read Joe Abercrombie.

I love them both - still waiting to see what Joe is coming out with next. I read his first law trilogy & best served cold.

My most anticipated book though will be the end of the Wheel of Time. Seventeen or eighteen years since I started that series by the time it comes out.

Shostie: Seth'n'Spectrum: Dammit, can't Theon ever catch a break?

Because he's an asshole?

Not as much as everyone makes him out to be. And definitely not as much as the television series has made him out to be.

Who doesn't love a good redemption story?

I want to lurk around in this thread so much but as I'm only about halfway through the third book i can see its going to be packed with spoilers.

damn you people! you told me i had time before book 6! you said there was no way we were going to get another one anytime soon.

He should ask Tad Williams for advice on how to juggle multiple plot threads while still moving the plot forward, or Sanderson for how to get rid of the stupid shiat the story has spiraled into and get back to the plot (like he did for the Wheel of Time). The first couple of books felt like the beginning of a story arc, the last couple feel like he wandered off the plot. Sure, it isn't bad, but it just feels like he's rambling at this point. I'd like to see it get back on track again.

ZAZ: When he finishes I will buy the books and read them. I will not play the rush-for-the-next-book game.

Erikson's Malazan series is finished. That means I now have 11,000 pages of gory fantasy to occupy my time. Almost makes me hope my company goes under so I can find time to read.

Just started book 3 of that. Took a long while for me to get into it, but I'm loving it now.

Lumbar Puncture: He should ask Tad Williams for advice on how to juggle multiple plot threads while still moving the plot forward, or Sanderson for how to get rid of the stupid shiat the story has spiraled into and get back to the plot (like he did for the Wheel of Time). The first couple of books felt like the beginning of a story arc, the last couple feel like he wandered off the plot. Sure, it isn't bad, but it just feels like he's rambling at this point. I'd like to see it get back on track again.

Has he ever stated that he has an actual plan for this, or is the whole thing just an ass pull?

I get the feeling reading that he himself doesn't know where it's ultimately going, and every time he gets close to figuring it out, he kills someone so that can't possibly work anymore.

/yet I love the books; halfway through FfC and I'd never heard of this series until April...

Love me some Stannis freakin' Baratheon.

Now release a Jon chapter!

/please?
//:(

Optical Aleutian: Damn. Now I'm going against my better judgement and say "maybe he'll actually release another book this decade". Seems this little excerpt also proves a certain bastard got a little creative with the truth when writing that lovely note to the Wall. I am intrigued.

Surely you can't be surprised that Ramsay's note was less than a truthful depiction of reality.

My guesses for the next set of events

1) The Iron Banker reveals the treachery and Arnolf dies. His men having little option join with stannis.

2) Since the Freys and the Manderlys were sent out to face Stannis, I see alot of Frey's dying with Manderly lances in their backs or Northman swords in their chests.

3) Manderly forces reports back a victory and brings a few tokens that Stannis has given them to support their version of events. Stannis might be persuaded to temporarily part with his crown and sword if it will make Bolton lower his guard.

3) Manderly forces send a messenger back saying the battle is won with a few tokens from stannis and Roose is lulled into a false sense of security.

She comes in colors everywhere: Has he ever stated that he has an actual plan for this, or is the whole thing just an ass pull?

He's said that he knows generally how the story is going to end up, but getting there happens kind of organnically. So semi ass-pull.

CaptainCampbell: Now release a Jon chapter!

JON

Ow. Dicks.

ok. I loved the show. I want to read the books. do I need to read the first book?

Gergesa: Optical Aleutian: Damn. Now I'm going against my better judgement and say "maybe he'll actually release another book this decade". Seems this little excerpt also proves a certain bastard got a little creative with the truth when writing that lovely note to the Wall. I am intrigued.

Surely you can't be surprised that Ramsay's note was less than a truthful depiction of reality.

My guesses for the next set of events

1) The Iron Banker reveals the treachery and Arnolf dies. His men having little option join with stannis.

2) Since the Freys and the Manderlys were sent out to face Stannis, I see alot of Frey's dying with Manderly lances in their backs or Northman swords in their chests.

3) Manderly forces reports back a victory and brings a few tokens that Stannis has given them to support their version of events. Stannis might be persuaded to temporarily part with his crown and sword if it will make Bolton lower his guard.

3) Manderly forces send a messenger back saying the battle is won with a few tokens from stannis and Roose is lulled into a false sense of security.

What Stannis have you been reading? I got the impression the man utterly hates subterfuge, and he really, really, really hates people not recognizing him as king.

Gergesa:

2) Since the Freys and the Manderlys were sent out to face Stannis, I see alot of Frey's dying with Manderly lances in their backs or Northman swords in their chests.

3) Manderly forces reports back a victory and brings a few tokens that Stannis has given them to support their version of events. Stannis might be persuaded to temporarily part with his crown and sword if it will make Bolton lower his guard.

3) Manderly forces send a messenger back saying the battle is won with a few tokens from stannis and Roose is lulled into a false sense of security.

This is exactly what I think (and hope) will happen.

"The ground?" said Theon. "What ground? Here? This misbegotten tower? This wretched little village? You have no high ground here, no walls to hide beyond, no natural defenses."
"Yet."

As I said, love me some Stannis freakin' Baratheon. ;)

hawcian: Gergesa: Optical Aleutian: Damn. Now I'm going against my better judgement and say "maybe he'll actually release another book this decade". Seems this little excerpt also proves a certain bastard got a little creative with the truth when writing that lovely note to the Wall. I am intrigued.

Surely you can't be surprised that Ramsay's note was less than a truthful depiction of reality.

My guesses for the next set of events

1) The Iron Banker reveals the treachery and Arnolf dies. His men having little option join with stannis.

2) Since the Freys and the Manderlys were sent out to face Stannis, I see alot of Frey's dying with Manderly lances in their backs or Northman swords in their chests.

3) Manderly forces reports back a victory and brings a few tokens that Stannis has given them to support their version of events. Stannis might be persuaded to temporarily part with his crown and sword if it will make Bolton lower his guard.

3) Manderly forces send a messenger back saying the battle is won with a few tokens from stannis and Roose is lulled into a false sense of security.

What Stannis have you been reading? I got the impression the man utterly hates subterfuge, and he really, really, really hates people not recognizing him as king.

He puts up with Jon well enough who basically did whatever the he thought was best.. I definitely see Manderley spitting the Freys in the forest like so many boars but I think Stannis would actually hesitate to engage in such active subterfuge as well.

Also, Jon best not be dead. That was just farked up (and frankly stupid, lets kill a guy 10 feet from his damned giant who just smashed one of our knights).

SuperT: ok. I loved the show. I want to read the books. do I need to read the first book?

Personally, I would. Just be prepared to invest lots of time...

madcan34: Once again he will introduce 125 characters and leave 5 127 standing at the end.

FTFY

Shostie: CaptainCampbell: Now release a Jon chapter!

I have the feeling we're not going to find out what happens to Jon until the book is released.

I'm pretty sure he's not dead, though.

I hope he's not head.

Please don't die, Jon.

There are WAY too many outs for him. Most likely, I think, is that he pops over into his wolf and bounds off. If that won't work, Melisandre can always pop out and rez him. Martin likes to throw in a fake death once in awhile when, after he thinks about it, it will cripple the plot more to leave the character dead. See also: Catelyn Stark

Too bad he couldn't figure that out with Tywin Lannister. He was the best "bad guy" in the whole series.

HighZoolander: LeafyGreens: So we wait another five years for an 800 page novel that creeps the plot forward a few inches? Martin has gotten so sluggish and lazy he's lost of the narrative of his own series.

No thanks, I'd rather read Joe Abercrombie.

I know it sounds incredible, but you could read both.

I've read both series. Martin is turning into Robert Jordan in the worst way possible.

CaptainCampbell: SuperT: ok. I loved the show. I want to read the books. do I need to read the first book?

Personally, I would. Just be prepared to invest lots of time...

Yes.

The show does follow the books surprisingly closely but skips out on various character subtlties. Its not going to make you like a character rather than dislike a character, but will tweak your feelings and provide better understanding. The books give you the internal monologues as well as the actions where as TV is limited to purely showing actions (for the most part).

For example: I liked Eddard more in the show, where as in the books its plain hes so bound by honor he is practically asking

****Spoiler for his head to be lopped off. ********spoiler

ZAZ: When he finishes I will buy the books and read them. I will not play the rush-for-the-next-book game.

Erikson's Malazan series is finished. That means I now have 11,000 pages of gory fantasy to occupy my time. Almost makes me hope my company goes under so I can find time to read.


That was one of the most overhyped series I ever threw across the room in anger, and I include Battlefield Earth in that category (When it debuted on the NYT bestseller list, I was 13 and didn't realize that it was all bulk-ordered bullshiat by CO$).

Erikson just starts writing one storyline, and then when he runs out of steam after a hundred pages or so starts an entirely new storyline, repeat ad nauseum. He does this with races (here's a lizard race, omg how cool! Oh wait, this one is a bird race, check it out! This is another race, related to this first one, but they have "extra joints" whatever that means!); and does the same with pantheons (the young gods, elder gods, elder elder gods, super overlord meta god, etc... repeat for every race) and with magic systems. The onion never gets peeled back, because the guy cannot shut the fark up with "world building" and actually write a story to completion.

Erikson is ADHD fan fiction, skip it with a quickness, read "Name of the Wind" instead, or better yet, anything by Jack Vance.

Also, we need more Sansa. Her storyline is just getting interesting/sympathizable with.

LeafyGreens: Shostie: CaptainCampbell: Now release a Jon chapter!

I have the feeling we're not going to find out what happens to Jon until the book is released.

I'm pretty sure he's not dead, though.

I hope he's not head.

Please don't die, Jon.

There are WAY too many outs for him. Most likely, I think, is that he pops over into his wolf and bounds off. If that won't work, Melisandre can always pop out and rez him. Martin likes to throw in a fake death once in awhile when, after he thinks about it, it will cripple the plot more to leave the character dead. See also: Catelyn Stark

Too bad he couldn't figure that out with Tywin Lannister. He was the best "bad guy" in the whole series.

This. Never have I been so damned satisified with a death and yet so filled with regret. He was the only Lannister with any talent for the game of thrones (and oh damn was he good) aside from Tyrion. Without him they just...flop around clumsily thinking themselves oh so very clever.

She comes in colors everywhere: Has he ever stated that he has an actual plan for this, or is the whole thing just an ass pull?

Seeing as it was originally planned as a trilogy, then as seven books, now maybe eight books, so some of it is just ass pulling. Sounds like it has sort of taken on a life of its own, but it still feels like he gets bogged down in subplots, that he created, and has a difficult time tying those to the central narrative in an interesting way.

Seth'n'Spectrum: Also, we need more Sansa. Her storyline is just getting interesting/sympathizable with.

DEFINITELY. Don't get me wrong, her little bits were getting very tiresome but after certain events ^fell into place I am just immensely curious as to how that little corner of Westeros is going to shake out. Especially with Winter Coming here.