It’s probably the most eagerly anticipated fantasy book in the genre at the moment: George R. R. Martin’s A Dance With Dragons, which the author has been writing for at least five years since 2005, when he last published a book in his epic series A Song of Ice and Fire.
Although there is currently no hard completion date for the book, GRRM recently gave an update on how it’s not just the fans and his publishers that are angsty about getting the book out. As summarised by Winter is Coming:
“You know, it’s no secret that this last book [A Dance with Dragons] has taken much, much longer than I thought it would and much, much longer than anyone wanted it to. My editors and publishers are not happy with that, there’s an element of my fans that are vociferously angry about that, and most of all, I’m unhappy about it. But my goal has always been to make it the story I want to tell and to make it as good as I can.”
Martin reportedly said that at a certain point, “when the stress really got to me”, he had to stop thinking about how long it takes the author to write a book and just write “one page at a time, one sentence at a time, one word at a time” — without worrying about the fact that he had “40 chapters left to do”.
Frankly, I do feel sorry for GRRM.
Not every writer can be as workmanlike as current boy wunderkind Brandon Sanderson, who is currently reliably churning out a major novel each year, and in some ways seems to regard writing as more of a manufacturing process than an art.
No, GRRM is more case in the mould of a writer like Patrick Rothfuss; a writer that must struggle — at times desperately — with their art in an attempt to achieve not only sublimity in their writing, but also the organisation of a complex plot.
And yet, if there is one thing that you can say about GRRM, it is that he has achieved that sublimity in his writing. A Song of Ice and Fire is one of the great modern fantasy epics. Am I impatient for GRRM to finish it? Of course I am. But I’m content to wait for him to finish it in his own time. We’re rooting for you, Mr Martin :)
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Yes, I agree completly! I have been a fan for a long time, and have read quite a bit of his books. Never have I been so anxious for a book to come out. There have been times I have cursed GRRM in my head and even out loud for everyone to here. I say this to everyone who has anticipated this extention to the greatest fantisy series to claim Westeros, GRRM holds the answers, the knowledge and the mysteries to come……….so why push him? If this one man has entertained you to the point that you must critisize him and his work, then you have already embarrased yourself. IF you are feeling these emotins about this novel then in my opinion, GRRM has already done his job. He has captured the minds of his readers….you like, love or even stalk his work. So in conclusion, I ask to give GRRM the space that he needs so that he may perfect his work, for him, for me, for you and the future readers of a place that can only be because of his words.
Simply a fan,
Eric Stevens
Excuse my spelling please ; )
Oh please. At some point the delay becomes more than an “artist struggling with his art”. 6+ years to finish what is effectively the second half A Feast for Crows. Really? He’s either lost interest in the work or has run out of gas.
I agree that these are great books, but there are a lot of great books in the genre. At his current pace I wonder how on earth he is ever going to finish the last two.
Feeling sorry for Martin is akin to feeling sorry for the contractor who’s taken 6 years to finish the extension to your house and won’t come back to finish the job.
Martin missed a chance to be remembered amongst the likes of Tolkien and Herbert. At best he’ll be likened to Robert Jordan – great start, lost his way in the middle and was ultimately never able to finish his work.
I used to reccommend GRRM to ,well, everyone. I can’t do that anymore. While I love the books, I am very frustrated by how long this wait has been for Dance with Dragons. Yes , I know it’s a very complex storyline (one of many reasons I love the series) , and I know he has other interests, which I don’t begrudge him. Enjoy your success and don’t be enslaved by it. But I worry if this series will ever be completed (and what a shame that would be). I have decided to just take him off my reading list until if or when the series is completed. Honestly I think if he would just update his website that would take alot of the pressure off of him from his fans. How much hope can we really have if he hasn’t even managed to update it in 3years? And perhaps not giving the big F.U. to his fans, who are the reason he has the time and money to pursue his other intersests would help as well.
I now recommend people who haven’t read the series to wait until the books are completed.
I agree with Susan. There is no reason GRRM can’t at least post an update on his website with some information on this book. His last update was Jan. 08. He has time to tell us about all the trips he takes, and how the Jets and Giants are doing. That’s fine, more power to him, but at least spare a few minutes to give us a paragraph or two on A Dance With Dragons. Doesn’t even have to be a release date, just some kind of time table. This year? Next year? 2013? From everything I’ve read, he seem’s to be a nice guy, but he seem’s to be taking out his angst on all of his fans because some have written nasty comments about the delay of this book.
First of all, yes he is a great writer. BUT. GRRM has too many plotlines going in too many directions… its basically out of control. He also seems more interested in marketing swords, calenders, figurines, etc. than actually writing. I agree that he will follow Jordan and die before he finishes the story. Morbid yes, but he’s not getting any younger, loves pizza, and is really out of shape. I know i sound like a jerk saying all this but its true people. If Martin is truly unhappy about it he will stop going to as many cons, stop marketing every trinket he can think of (including his older less well written early books) and not take 5-6 years to complete a book that was supposedly mostly done 5-6 years ago. I’m rooting for him.