Song of Ice and Fire (GRR Martin) -- how many books? -- SPOILERS!

[zyzzyr]

Hi,

I just finished reading "A Game of Thrones". I note there are two other books available in this series.

Is this another Jordanesque series, or is there a set number of books? I don't want to read any more if there is the possibility that it will stretch out over the next 15 years, or similar. Is the Storm of Swords the last book in the series?

Thanks,

zyzzyr

 

[KenM]

I'm just starting "clash of Kings". I had heard GRRM say there will only be 6 books total, two triolgies, the second set dealing with some of the young characters grown, but I could be wrong. Last I knew the first book in the second triogy "A feast for crows" Is coming out in hardcover in sept. .

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Actually, I think Feast For Crows is a "transition" between the two. As I recall, GRRM was going to have all the events of the book occur in flashback, but realized there were enough to justify another book - and based on what fallout will come from Storm of Swords, I can see why. Hadn't heard about the differences in "theme" of the two, though.

But in any case, it's still a fairly set number - 7, in this case.

 

[KnowTheToe]

Yep, it looks like seven. I just hope he keeps it to 7 and does not get inspired by all the large checks and keep prolonging the end of the story.

 

[Darklance]

This i

This is probably the only series where I wouldn't mind if he went on for years to come if he kept it at his current quality. I can't say I've ever been bored while reading it.

 

[Gizzard]

I believe he originally thought that it was going to be a trilogy, but the story has gotten a bit larger than he expected. Therefore he decided to shoot for two trilogies. I hadnt heard that Feast was going to be a bridge between them, but I suppose anything is possible.

Martin is apparently a little stuck on Feast right now, so I wouldnt be surprised if even he didn't quite know how the story is going to play out.

 

[jdavis]

Yea Feast is a filler book that was supposed to be done in flashbacks. There was supposed to be a big jump in years inbetween books (like 10 years or so, I believe) but he decided to put a book in to bridge the gap. I don't know if it's supposed to be two trilogies but there was supposed to be a significant time jump where young characters grew up.

 

[zyzzyr]

So the first three can be considered a complete trilogy, then, a story unto itself? And the next three are merely a continuation - interesting, and built upon the first three, but wholly independent tales?

Or is the story left hanging, with no real conclusion by the end of Storm of Swords?

I.e. is it like Star Wars IV - VI, and the next three VII - IX?

Call me old-fashioned, but if a story can't be told in 3,000 pages or less, it should seriously be revampled.

I quit reading Jordan at around Book 5 when I realized he had no intention of ending the story.

These guys would do well to learn from Chekov (not the Star Trek character).

 

[KenM]

I had not heard FEAST was a bridge book, but i just started the series.

 

[Tiefling]

I'm not sure if at first he wanted to do a single book. It sounds familiar. But I know that it was supposed to be a trilogy. Then it went to four books. Then six, and GRRM swore he wouldn't go any higher. But he eventually realized that the five year gap between books three and four in the six-book plan wouldn't work, and had to go with seven. Seven is a recurring number in the series, it would be kind of cool to have that many books.

Personally I'd be okay with a million of them if the writing didn't degrade. I always want to know how it's going to end, but I know that once I do I'll be disappointed that the story's over.