Game of Thrones

[Blueferret]

Has the author said anything about using them in future books? Also, is it know how many books there are going to be?

It was supposed to be 3 originally but now it's 7. Also, there is expected to be a time jump ahead at some point between books ( I'm not sure if that's still the plan though).

[TradePaperbackTraitor]

It was supposed to be 3 originally but now it's 7. Also, there is expected to be a time jump ahead at some point between books ( I'm not sure if that's still the plan though).

What pains me the most about this series is it makes me remember how great the first three books were because let's face it... he completely dropped the ball with the fourth book. Not sure what he was thinking with that one. I've heard that he originally intended to age everyone several years and then start book four but changed his mind. I've heard that he had a fourth book written and then trashed the whole thing. I've heard that the fourth book is supposed to be half of a giant novel with the fifth book the second half and covering all the popular characters from the first three books that we love. Whatever the case, I just know that he cranked out books one to three pretty quickly and each one got better and it seems like he's spent more than ten years since with just one mediocre book.

[Winterwolf]

What pains me the most about this series is it makes me remember how great the first three books were because let's face it... he completely dropped the ball with the fourth book. Not sure what he was thinking with that one. I've heard that he originally intended to age everyone several years and then start book four but changed his mind. I've heard that he had a fourth book written and then trashed the whole thing. I've heard that the fourth book is supposed to be half of a giant novel with the fifth book the second half and covering all the popular characters from the first three books that we love. Whatever the case, I just know that he cranked out books one to three pretty quickly and each one got better and it seems like he's spent more than ten years since with just one mediocre book.

I have to agree and disagree with you. At first I disliked A Feast for Crows for much of the same reasons you posted.

On a second read I rather enjoyed it, I feel if Martin had given more heads up that this book would not feature POV's of some of the most popular characters, there would be less scorn for it.

I personally loved all the info we got out of the Ironmen and Dorne chapters, two area's of Westeros we have had very little info about, especially since those regions are so different from the others. Not to mention the chapters we got from a certain Queen.

[Inkthinker]

Has the author said anything about using them in future books?

As far as anyone can tell (without spoilers), that aspect of the plot (the White Walkers/Others) is likely to kick in quite soon. There's been a lot of character build-up in that area of the world, and the next book (5) should focus on that region pretty strongly.

But the focus of the overarching series isn't about the threat of the Others (yet). It's mostly about the machinations and struggles of the four families represented in the opening title (the Baratheons, the Lannisters, the Starks and the Targaryeans... or the Stag, the Lion, the Wolf and the Dragon, respectively) and the various other groups that are allied to them. Lots of backstabbing and assassination and open murder and betrayal twists, that's what the story is about mostly.

But occasionally (mostly in Jon Snow portions) we are reminded that a greater threat lies beyond the Wall, gathering strength for the winter to come.

People hate on book 4 because it had almost no Jon, Dany or Tyrion in it... and they're probably the most popular characters in the series. Especially considering what happened with Tyrion at the end of the third book, making the fans wait for a decade and through an entire other book to rejoin him in the wake of those events was pretty cruel, it's no surprise that there was backlash.

[Alex]

I beleive Martin announced up front that Feast for Crows was originaly one book, but it was so big he split it into 2 that take place at roughly the same time while focusing on different characters.
And, in his defense, doing my best to not include spoilers...um...things did happen in the last book. And a lot of things are going to happen in the next book, and there are a huge amount of characters.

As someone who sat through the majority of the Wheel of Time series, hearing a Martin book called boring or pointless makes me lol quite a bit.
As a personal view, what goes on with Dany pretty much deserves its own damn book, it could form it's own series, and i would have been incredibly upset if it was sandwiched into Feast.

[pariah-1972]

Also why does the castle have those step thingies on the wall? look like rock climbing type steps i've never heard of a castle having those before.

[DonC]

Aww man, you need a subscription to watch this on hbo.com. If I had a subscription to HBO, I wouldn't need to watch it online.

[pariah-1972]

Aww man, you need a subscription to watch this on hbo.com. If I had a subscription to HBO, I wouldn't need to watch it online.

There are cheaper ways to watch it....

[Jmacq1]

There are cheaper ways to watch it....

HBO was having a preview weekend when the premiere hit. But seriously, if you're interested in the show, watch it legitimately (even if it just means watching it at a friend/family member who has HBO's house). This is a hella expensive show (possibly the most expensive TV series in history if initial reports are to be believed) and there are a lot of people that would like to see it continue beyond a second season, which is only going to happen if HBO thinks it'll be profitable in the long term.

It's not profitable if someones snatching it from a torrent somewhere.

[pariah-1972]

HBO was having a preview weekend when the premiere hit. But seriously, if you're interested in the show, watch it legitimately (even if it just means watching it at a friend/family member who has HBO's house). This is a hella expensive show (possibly the most expensive TV series in history if initial reports are to be believed) and there are a lot of people that would like to see it continue beyond a second season, which is only going to happen if HBO thinks it'll be profitable in the long term.

It's not profitable if someones snatching it from a torrent somewhere.

Well to counter your rant there are legit ways to watch it for cheap like Amazon especially for one episode.

And some people can't afford HBO as much as they would like too so they have to get it from other ways like for instance i watched a bunch of Entourage from renting Dvd's from blockbuster.

there's also Netflix and other such stuff.

[Winslow]

Has the author said anything about using them in future books? Also, is it know how many books there are going to be?

The Others are a major part of the plot as inferred by the title of the series: A Song of Ice and Fire

I think the number of books is up in the air ... (said skeptically)

What pains me the most about this series is it makes me remember how great the first three books were because let's face it... he completely dropped the ball with the fourth book. Not sure what he was thinking with that one. I've heard that he originally intended to age everyone several years and then start book four but changed his mind. I've heard that he had a fourth book written and then trashed the whole thing. I've heard that the fourth book is supposed to be half of a giant novel with the fifth book the second half and covering all the popular characters from the first three books that we love. Whatever the case, I just know that he cranked out books one to three pretty quickly and each one got better and it seems like he's spent more than ten years since with just one mediocre book.

I share your POV. Loved the first 2.5 books, but was disappointed with the lack of focus and soap-opera approach in the fourth.

But my disappointment has faded and now I just hope to find out what happens to wrap the thing up.

[Conn Seanery]

Just want to remind people that have read the books not to post book spoilers here, not without using spoil tags at least. Let's let people who haven't read the books have the chance to get into the story fresh and be surprised.

Also, be careful with the coy book reader spoilers. If someone (who hasn't read the books) wonders about something and you chime in with something to the effect of "oh, just wait", that in and of itself can be a spoiler.

[Jmacq1]

Well to counter your rant there are legit ways to watch it for cheap like Amazon especially for one episode.

And some people can't afford HBO as much as they would like too so they have to get it from other ways like for instance i watched a bunch of Entourage from renting Dvd's from blockbuster.

there's also Netflix and other such stuff.

It's not on Amazon, which generally tends to lag a couple years behind "recent" shows for HBO series. Blockbuster is on the verge of being completely out of business in the US (and won't have the DVDs for several months). If you can afford Netflix, you can afford HBO (unless you don't have cable at all).

But that's beside the point...at present, the only way to watch the show legitimately (at least in the US) is to subscribe to HBO or know someone who's subscribed. Which means the only "cheaper alternative" at this point is piracy. I didn't get the impression you were suggesting "Hey, just wait a couple years and it'll be on Amazon/wait a few months and it'll be on DVD." Those are perfectly legit means of watching the show...but won't be available for a few months, at the very least.

[pariah-1972]

It's not on Amazon, which generally tends to lag a couple years behind "recent" shows for HBO series. Blockbuster is on the verge of being completely out of business in the US (and won't have the DVDs for several months). If you can afford Netflix, you can afford HBO (unless you don't have cable at all).

But that's beside the point...at present, the only way to watch the show legitimately (at least in the US) is to subscribe to HBO or know someone who's subscribed. Which means the only "cheaper alternative" at this point is piracy. I didn't get the impression you were suggesting "Hey, just wait a couple years and it'll be on Amazon/wait a few months and it'll be on DVD." Those are perfectly legit means of watching the show...but won't be available for a few months, at the very least.

I don't know what the wait time is honestly.

I don't know how much HBO is (should look into that i would love to have that)but Netflix and Blockbuster are relatively cheap if you just get the basic subscription service.

Also i think Blockbuster is not going to go completely out of business cause they have been building Kiosks all over just recently and they still have their online subscription for renting DVD's.

[Walsh06]

What a great episode and its nice to have it right after the US over here. I dont need to find it on the internet. Also it was cool that it was Sean Beans birthday last Sunday for the pilot episode.