Question for Game of Thrones viewers/readers

[cabanafrau]

With the hype machine in overdrive as the season premiere approaches, does anybody else think we're going to get a publishing surprise over the next few years? I'm starting to get the feeling HBO and the publisher may have some type of agreement worked out with Martin and we may see the next book on the heels of the season, with the final two books being largely fleshed out quietly during this delay and not being so far down the road as we imagine.

Been reading the series for maybe 15 years or so at this point. Of course the last book was so delayed I lost track, assumed I had missed it, sought it out and found out it hadn't been released yet, so I may not be the best judge of when we'll see the rest of the series published. Just seems with so many dollars on the table for HBO & the publisher something is likely to have been agreed upon.

 

[clambert1273]

Actually it is his own timeline - he takes so long to finish the books; however, he has already given HBO the ending of the books in case anything happens to him. I figure if something does happen to him HBO will ghostwrite the books to keep them going or just take it over in the series. I don't think Book 6 is likely to come out before late 2016 (if that).

 

[cabanafrau]

Actually it is his own timeline - he takes so long to finish the books; however, he has already given HBO the ending of the books in case anything happens to him. I figure if something does happen to him HBO will ghostwrite the books to keep them going or just take it over in the series. I don't think Book 6 is likely to come out before late 2016 (if that).

To a certain point it has been his timeline, however it's also obvious the books have slowed tremendously since the series went into development. He was instrumental in the process, which makes sense. However in his case his involvement has no doubt been increased tremendously by virtue of his experience in writing for television. He's written scripts for the show outright (I think Blackwater was one.), consults and I'm not sure if he's directed, but he's been on set frequently in the past. He's also done lots of appearances, the volume of which has gone up tremendously with the popularity of the show. All of that undoubtedly threw off the pace of the later books.

I'm sure the publisher has earned a pretty penny from HBO, however I don't see them willing to just give up a large amount of book sales if the faster pace of the series spoils so much of the story that people give up buying the books after the fact.

 

[MrsDuck]

Didn't George just announce he MAY finish the next book this summer?

 

[cabanafrau]

Didn't George just announce he MAY finish the next book this summer?

Didn't hear that one, but that's about when I suspect it may come. Generally the show finishes about mid-June, so I suspect we might get rewarded with a book within the week following.

 

[clambert1273]

To a certain point it has been his timeline, however it's also obvious the books have slowed tremendously since the series went into development. He was instrumental in the process, which makes sense. However in his case his involvement has no doubt been increased tremendously by virtue of his experience in writing for television. He's written scripts for the show outright (I think Blackwater was one.), consults and I'm not sure if he's directed, but he's been on set frequently in the past. He's also done lots of appearances, the volume of which has gone up tremendously with the popularity of the show. All of that undoubtedly threw off the pace of the later books.

I'm sure the publisher has earned a pretty penny from HBO, however I don't see them willing to just give up a large amount of book sales if the faster pace of the series spoils so much of the story that people give up buying the books after the fact.

They are going to continue to split the seasons so it will take 2+ seasons to cover one book - they slowed the show down to allow for the books to be released... hopefully he doesn't die lol

 

[MrsDuck]

Didn't hear that one, but that's about when I suspect it may come. Generally the show finishes about mid-June, so I suspect we might get rewarded with a book within the week following.

This is the article that says he hinted at it, if you're interested: http://www.polygon.com/2015/3/18/8243769/george-r-martin-winds-of-winter-finished

 

[cabanafrau]

Thank you, Mrs. Duck! Not one I've seen. Like I said, hype machine is in overdrive lately on this.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

They are going to continue to split the seasons so it will take 2+ seasons to cover one book - they slowed the show down to allow for the books to be released...l

But that hasn't really happened at all. They have paced some of the storylines but not all; in fact some have moved a lot faster. We are coming up on season 5 of the show and about half the storylines are already at where they've "ended" with the books. This means in season 5 we are most likely, or should I say definitely, going to see things that happen in a book that hasn't been released yet, or is considered "original" material because it's been written by the show writers as opposed to the author. I believe this is going to be a problem.
If anyone gets EW, their annual GoT issue just came out and it somewhat addresses the above, but I don't necessarily want to quote it because it could be considered spoiler-ish.

 

[clambert1273]

But that hasn't really happened at all. They have paced some of the storylines but not all; in fact some have moved a lot faster. We are coming up on season 5 of the show and about half the storylines are already at where they've "ended" with the books. This means in season 5 we are most likely, or should I say definitely, going to see things that happen in a book that hasn't been released yet, or is considered "original" material because it's been written by the show writers as opposed to the author. I believe this is going to be a problem.
If anyone gets EW, their annual GoT issue just came out and it somewhat addresses the above, but I don't necessarily want to quote it because it could be considered spoiler-ish.

It isn't even close to where the books ended??? lol

 

[sharona]

Ugh he's so sloooooow! And he keeps breaking off to work on other stuff, not just the HBO show!!!! Had I known that the series was unfinished I probably would never have started reading it. I coincidentally finished the second to last book (A Feast for Crows) a few days before A Dance with Dragons was released. The timing was perfect. I was completely oblivious to his previous publishing timelines. When I finished that I checked to see when the next book was expected and found out that it had been 6 years between the previous two. 6 YEARS!!! And 5 years for the one before that! I was completely shocked. At this point I definitely have to re-read ADWD before I can even think of starting the new book but I don't want to do that until a firm date is announced.

But that hasn't really happened at all. They have paced some of the storylines but not all; in fact some have moved a lot faster. We are coming up on season 5 of the show and about half the storylines are already at where they've "ended" with the books. This means in season 5 we are most likely, or should I say definitely, going to see things that happen in a book that hasn't been released yet, or is considered "original" material because it's been written by the show writers as opposed to the author. I believe this is going to be a problem.
If anyone gets EW, their annual GoT issue just came out and it somewhat addresses the above, but I don't necessarily want to quote it because it could be considered spoiler-ish.

Was reading that issue at the dr's office the other day and I took it to mean they were going to be deviating from the books. Was a little shocked by that. I was mostly skimming though so maybe they were only saying they were going past the current published material?

Reading the GOT books is just as frustrating as watching TWD. I keep waiting/hoping for certain things to happen and they never do!

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

It isn't even close to where the books ended??? lol

Book comparison storyline spoilers below:
_________________________________________





The Sansa storyline is caught up, the Bran storyline is caught up, Catelyn's storyline is completely omitted, and there is a strong indication in the article that the Iron Islands storyline is going to be omitted or at the very least extremely condensed. The biggest things left to play out this season which will catch them up with the books are for Arya and Dorne, and the bit of Danaerys and the Wall left to wrap up. They WILL go beyond current published material this season; therefore 5 books = 5 seasons meaning it's just not true that it's taking them 2 seasons per book.

 

[BaxterSaysMeoww]

I had just read an article last night that the creators of the show said they eventually will be past where he is with his books, meaning we will know what happens before he is done writing the books. They basically said the show is gonna be a spoiler for the future books now instead of the other way around.

 

[clambert1273]

Book comparison storyline spoilers below:
_________________________________________





The Sansa storyline is caught up How is that caught up??, the Bran storyline is caught up Not even close.. , Catelyn's storyline is completely omitted They haven't gotten to that part, and there is a strong indication in the article that the Iron Islands storyline is going to be omitted or at the very least extremely condensed I believe articles about ZERO. The biggest things left to play out this season which will catch them up with the books are for Arya and Dorne, and the bit of Danaerys and the Wall left to wrap up. They WILL go beyond current published material this season; therefore 5 books = 5 seasons meaning it's just not true that it's taking them 2 seasons per book.

It is not even close... people forget that books 3 & 4 did NOT run back to back.. they ran parallel so the story lines don't cross into each other. It also bounces around in the books A LOT and right now we are just touching on book 4...

I have read these books many times and continue to read them over and over so I do pay attention

 

[aaarcher86]

Ugh he's so sloooooow! And he keeps breaking off to work on other stuff, not just the HBO show!!!! Had I known that the series was unfinished I probably would never have started reading it. I coincidentally finished the second to last book (A Feast for Crows) a few days before A Dance with Dragons was released. The timing was perfect. I was completely oblivious to his previous publishing timelines. When I finished that I checked to see when the next book was expected and found out that it had been 6 years between the previous two. 6 YEARS!!! And 5 years for the one before that! I was completely shocked. At this point I definitely have to re-read ADWD before I can even think of starting the new book but I don't want to do that until a firm date is announced.



Was reading that issue at the dr's office the other day and I took it to mean they were going to be deviating from the books. Was a little shocked by that. I was mostly skimming though so maybe they were only saying they were going past the current published material?

Reading the GOT books is just as frustrating as watching TWD. I keep waiting/hoping for certain things to happen and they never do!

This is exactly why I won't read these books until he's done. I hate huge breaks in between. If or get everything!

I believe I read though the show will have the same ending as the books, so they can't deviate too much I'd think?

 

[sharona]

Definitely read them when it's done. There is so much more to the books! And while I think they've done a great job of telling most of the stories with the show, that could be just because I already know what's going on from the books. Kind of like Harry Potter... I've read the books but DD has not. I understand the movies perfectly but we were watching the 4th movie the other day (Goblet of Fire) and she must have had 50 questions. Who was that? What did that mean? Why were they showing that? What happened? Who was that? What is that thing? Why???? arghhhhh I suddenly realized that the movies, after the first 2, may be totally incomprehensible to someone who hasn't read the books.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

It is not even close... people forget that books 3 & 4 did NOT run back to back.. they ran parallel so the story lines don't cross into each other. It also bounces around in the books A LOT and right now we are just touching on book 4...

I have read these books many times and continue to read them over and over so I do pay attention

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again, spoilers
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It is book 4 and 5 that happen in parallel, not 3 and 4. It didn't have anything to do with storylines crossing; it was merely because it was too long, so it was separated basically into 'King's Landing' and 'not King's Landing.'
The writers have said that Lady Stoneheart will not happen at all. Michelle Fairley has other jobs/commitments and she is not coming back.
The show skipped over the entire Sansa is Alayne and went straight to her being Sansa Stark; by eliminating that they eliminated most of the content and the article states she is going to be doing something this season that has yet to be published in a book. Bran has made it beyond the wall to his destiny and that's where we've left off too; so if they do anything with him this season it too will be at the writers discretion.
Get used to the fact that the writers will most likely be wrapping this one up, not Martin. The writers have taken so many liberties so far that it doesn't even really matter anymore.