Feast For Crows rocks so far!(small spoilers)

[Celtavian]

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I appreciate your enthusiasm, but could you elaborate, much as BastionLightbringer did a couple of posts ago, on what about the series that you like so much?

One thing I realized, however, is that I had the same problem with Peter Hamilton's "Night's Dawn" series. Talk about sex and violence! I liked a lot of the characters and concepts in the first two books (one book for those outside the US), but the extreme, graphic nature was a severe turn off.

If you don't like sex and violence, then you won't like these books. I don't mind visceral sex and violence in the books I read as long as they are good. And this is a good book.

It has an engaging plot and a great deal of verisimilitude in world development. The larger story arc involves dragons and demons from beyond the wall. This story arc has not yet fully played out and we really only know bits and pieces about what is going on.

The initial story arc was a succession war. It was very interesting to see all the players attempting to usurp the throne play the "Game of Thrones". Martin kept you in the dark about who was going to win and didn't ever reveal his hand until it was all said and done.

Martin really keeps the plot engaging. You really want to know what happens next and how it will happen.

It isn't a perfect book. Some of the sex is gratuitous and unncessary, but I'm sure it appeals to some of the audience whereas a reader like myself could care less if it was there or not. Some of the situations the characters are put in are contrived and concluded in an artificial manner. But overall it is a very good series of books with an engaging plot and engaging characters.

All in all, if you don't enjoy sex and violence in the books that you read, then you should not read this series. It didn't lessen at all in a Feast for Crows, it in fact increased. But that doesn't make it a bad book, it is in fact a very well written series of books and I enjoyed them all immensely.

 

[Endur]

2008

2008 is my prediction for the next book.

 

[Steel_Wind]

I expect November 2007 for a release date, such that he'll be finished the manuscript in April/May or so.

The big concern is how long for the next final two novels after that? I expect a three year wait at least for book six.

Martin writes slowly, is enjoying his success and goes to too many conventions. It clearly detracts from his focus. His becoming quite wealthy from the success of a Song of Ice and Fire does not assist in maintaining his focus either.

Ah well. Can't begrudge a man his well earned comforts. Just wish he was writing faster...

 

[Fast Learner]

I predict a similar Fall 2007 publish date, in time for Christmas purchases.

And I agree about George being led by other things, and also don't begrudge him that one bit. I'm a fair bit younger than him, so as long as he finishes them before he dies, I'm probably good.

 

[delericho]

I finished it at the weekend, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I actually found the Jaime and Cersei chapters to be my favourites, which was a bit of a surprise. Still, it really suffered for the lack of Tyrion and Jon Snow - you can't cut out my favourite characters without losing something

I think I would have preferred the book he described in his afterword - half the story for all the characters - or, better yet, just a longer wait for the complete volume. Then again, in hindsight, I think I would have preferred to wait for the whole series to be out before starting, as these delays are really killing my ability to follow the story.

 

[IcedEarth81]

Didn't Littlefinger tell Sansa at one point that he thought it would take Cersei longer to pull herself down so he had to speed up his plans? I got the feeling he wanted a longer time to get other plans going before getting rid of Cersei. How much of Cersei's fall was Littlfinger actually behind.

I also thought that was a clever little nod to the original 5 year plan.

 

[RaceBannon42]

George certainly has more interests than just pounding out his books. He also wants to write the best book he can, so yeah if he's not feeling his muse, he's not going to just grind through it. As for going to too many cons... I like that about him. He's accessable to his fans. He's a great guy to sit down with and have a drink and shoot the breeze. I'd much rather see that than someone who seems to view their fans with disdain, and we know there are those authors out there. ADwD will be finished eventually, and I'll be trilled when it comes out whenever it is.

 

[Brogarn]

Finished this yesterday. I'm torn between never wanting to read another book in this series and being completely anxious for the next installment. I found myself annoyed at the way he throws some characters away and how much time I spend reading about characters who's entire existence is pointless and they end up dying. I'm so tired of finding a character I can really root for just to watch them croak in the most unfair way or worse, as a one sentence blow off. I also don't need the entire genealogical tree of every minor character introduced. There's far too much for me to try to remember as it is. But the good stuff in the books, the plots, intrigues and waking up of magic in the world, just keep me wanting more.

I hate them and love them all at once.

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

I'm so tired of finding a character I can really root for just to watch them croak in the most unfair way or worse, as a one sentence blow off.

Unless you actually see the body 'on screen' don't believe they're dead. But then again even if they do die sometimes they come back like UnCat (though I belong to the camp that wishs she'd have stayed dead).

If the character you are talking about is the one I'm thinking of we'll know more what happens in the next book (I don't believe that character is dead).

 

[Black Omega]

I finished the book not long ago and did really enjoy it. UnCat's annoying and I have little use for her. Sam really is a coward except for the rare moments his emotions overwhelm him, but his story is interesting and there is some small hope he might develop into something more. I like how Jamie is developing because he knows no matter what he does he'll never be seen as a great honorable knight. But he keeps on doing his best to do the right thing, even knowing it will be twisted to make him look like an honorless cur.

The progression of the series is interesting for me. At the start of Game of Thrones we have a sort of golden age. Noble lords, ruthless but efficient bad guys, a black knight, a white knight, vile but larger than life killers, ect. Now most of those people are dead or hopelessly scarred and crippled. Including some of the kids. Jaime Lannister has become a better person. Aside from him, the entire realm has gotten worse. It's like going into the dark ages before the real return of dragons to the island.