I do / don't like George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice & Fire series

[Mistwell]

Okay, this thread has done the unexpected. I'm looking forward to the next book again, and I have a new perspective on the series a bit. Thank you all for your comments.

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

Bad News

I just saw on another message board dedicated to the series that A Feast for Crows now has a release date of September 2003 not April. I checked Amazon.com and they have that date as the expected date too. I couldn't find the book on B&N.com but since I work at a B&N retail store (we're two different companies) I'll check when I get to work since I know that the book listing was there before. I work 3-12 today I'll report back when I get home.

Another 8 months... , 8 months...

[Add on] I just looked at Buy.com and they have an April 1, 2003 release but I've noticed in the past that they're usually a little behind Amazon and B&N.com on some things.

 

[KnowTheToe]

A late release, I can't believe it (heavy sarcasm).

This just means I will put it on my B-Day list and slow down on my second reading of the series. Since this is covering a gap between his intended story, does this mean no meaningful character deaths? As long as the Imp becomes king, I don't mind.

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

Well the book was supposed to be out in Fall of 2002 so this is a year delay. But Martin has not disappointed me yet with this series so I will have to wait for September.

 

[jdavis]

But even that may, perhaps, have been done to a greater good. Many have surmised that Jon is really Ned's sister Lyanna's child, begotten from Rhaegar Targaryan. Her "promise" to Ned may have been to never tell of his true origin, which would have lead Robert or any future king to find the boy and kill him - being he was of Targaryan blood.

If that's true, Ned did a very honorable thing in bringing dishonor to his name. It hurt Catelyn for sure but, considering the greater good it may well do, he was prepared to take that risk and call Jon his own bastard.

Naturally, this is all speculation. But evidence is pointing in that direction. Anyway, it's fun to speculate!

I find it odd when people seem suprised by how it turned out for Ned, I saw that one coming from the very start of the book, what suprised me was that Jon Snow hasn't broke out as the main hero yet. Ned was just a side character who's chapters gave a lot of information and his going south put all his children in line to start storylines of their own (except Rickon and I don't have a clue as to where that is going, if anywhere). I still look for Jon to step out as the main character eventually and with Stannis in the North now too things should start to move that way. It should also pick up around Daenerys as other characters ended the last book on boats crossing the ocean.

 

[Viking Bastard]

I agree, Ned had 'Dead Meat' written all over him from the start.

What did surprise me though was HOW he died.
I pictured him being murdered in his sleep or something similar.

 

[Apok]

I agree, Ned had 'Dead Meat' written all over him from the start.

What did surprise me though was HOW he died.
I pictured him being murdered in his sleep or something similar.

But you gotta admit, how he died works on so many levels. Dramatic Irony, baby.

Yes, I love these books to death. They are, without a doubt, the best fiction I have ever read and I eagerly await A Feast for Crows.

 

[Viking Bastard]

But you gotta admit, how he died works on so many levels. Dramatic Irony, baby.

Never said it didn't, baby, never said it didn't.

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

I just got back from work and the system said that it had a Strict on Sale date of September 1, 2003.

 

[Endur]

Eddard Stark

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Eddard Stark was Lawful Good. And Martin, as an author, hinted that he was willing to kill good characters off by having Stark dream of the day he fought the King's Guard to rescue his sister, Paladins against Paladins. "We swore an oath," the leader of the King's Guard said.

Remember that we don't know that Ned Stark fathered a bastard. Its rumored that Jon might be the son of Ned and the Lady of Starfall. But, given what we know about Eddard Stark, its more likely that Jon is the son of Lyanna, Eddard's Sister, and Rhaegar Targaryen.

Tom

Originally posted by WizarDru
Well, let's be honest, here. Ned Stark was likeable. He was not always a hero. His wife certainly was not happy that he fathered a bastard, then brought him home and paraded him around in front of her and her entire household, treating almost like a legitimate heir. In a world where inheritance and heraldry carry so much weight, and where a women's greatest contribution is often her progeny...that's no small thing. Stark also could be downright bloodthirsty, if it called for it.

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