I blame Robert Jordan.... if he hadn't died before completing Wheel of Time, this may not be a concern.Hey George, do you think you will live long enough to finish the story?
Well it's more like every week you hear about him doing something besides writing. Unless you're standing over him every minute of every day you don't know how much time he is / isn't spending writing. Also obligatory Neil Gaiman thoughts.
Although I don't think I agree entirely with Neil - I've spent money on these books based partly on the assumption that if I continued to buy these books as they came out I would one day have the complete story. If that's not going to happen then I think a certain level of grumbling is allowed.
It takes him about 6 years to write one book.... there's 2 more to be written so basically around 12 years to go as of 2011. Meaning the series should be complete sometime in 2023.
Martin is 65 and in terrible physical condition. Since we're 2014 and thus only 9 more years are needed... he'll be 74 when the series is done. Color me realistic that there are solid chances that won't happen. This if he actually meets the objective of 1 book every 6 years and the way Book 4/5 were written... I'm unsure how much is left in his tank.
And from what I read today, he doesn't want anyone to finish writing the story if he dies... OK.
Maybe if he didn't blog about 250 pages every year and converted that to actual pages in a book. To let's say half of that... 125 pages per year instead of that useless blogging. (Seriously, the Jets?) After 5 years... that's 600 pages in a book. His books are about 1400 pages.... so basically a significant amount. Easily will shave 1 year off from his book.
1 year less waiting instead of the useless blogging no one gives a shit about.
There are other ways he can find more time to write a book but let's be honest, he needs to live a little (and judging from his obese weight, he has been... sorry).
Don't get me harping wrong. I'm not really hating.... I just really worried. And every time I see him on the news, he's using valuable time not writing a book. Heck, he even had a pointless 3 second section on John Oliver a few weeks back. Can a writer really constantly take the time to disconnect from his story/flow this much and actually still be productive?
Odds are, no.
Martin is 65 and in terrible physical condition. Since we're 2014 and thus only 9 more years are needed... he'll be 74 when the series is done. Color me realistic that there are solid chances that won't happen. This if he actually meets the objective of 1 book every 6 years and the way Book 4/5 were written... I'm unsure how much is left in his tank.
And from what I read today, he doesn't want anyone to finish writing the story if he dies... OK.
Maybe if he didn't blog about 250 pages every year and converted that to actual pages in a book. To let's say half of that... 125 pages per year instead of that useless blogging. (Seriously, the Jets?) After 5 years... that's 600 pages in a book. His books are about 1400 pages.... so basically a significant amount. Easily will shave 1 year off from his book.
1 year less waiting instead of the useless blogging no one gives a shit about.
There are other ways he can find more time to write a book but let's be honest, he needs to live a little (and judging from his obese weight, he has been... sorry).
Don't get me harping wrong. I'm not really hating.... I just really worried. And every time I see him on the news, he's using valuable time not writing a book. Heck, he even had a pointless 3 second section on John Oliver a few weeks back. Can a writer really constantly take the time to disconnect from his story/flow this much and actually still be productive?
Odds are, no.
A disciplined writer can. Someone who is truly invested in what they're doing, is going over the story in their head between interviews, is writing more in a notebook when they get the chance, is typing on the laptop in the hotel room at night--that kind of writer can.
But that's Neil Gaiman. Martin doesn't seem like he has the discipline anymore.
Of course he's not obligated, but it's still a shit way to do things. He does work on the books, but he does it at such a rate as to suggest disinterest. If that's the case, why work on them at all? Not to mention, he could've avoided any issue if he'd stuck to a trilogy. We're not entitled to have a conclusion, but he's not immune to criticism.
I look at Stephen King, who is older than Martin by a year. He's tried to retire, but he can't stop writing. It's obviously not about money; he's got plenty of it, and it's not about finishing a book series; he already did that. He just loves writing. I have to wonder if Martin does or if it was always just a career to him.[DOUBLEPOST=1404954188,1404954087][/DOUBLEPOST]
Which was entirely Jordan's fault for writing padded filler novel after padded filler novel. He could've finished it himself, but he wanted to milk that money cow as long as he could--and he did. It outlasted him.[DOUBLEPOST=1404954403][/DOUBLEPOST]
It just occurred to me, even if no one finishes the books, someone else is going to finish the story, in the form of the TV show.
Same here, but nonetheless the show will have its conclusion, while the books' future is uncertain, even if that show conclusion is entirely different what may or may not happen for the books.
I get what Gaiman is saying, especially in the difference between writing a series in your late 20s, early 30s versus being one in your 50s and 60s. I agree Martin is not our "bitch," but if he's going to commit to writing a series, he's going to have to put up with people ask questions and bug him. Welcome to fame.[DOUBLEPOST=1404955006,1404954932][/DOUBLEPOST]
Yay ..........
I am on the side that he isn't legally obligated to finish them but he is under fair grounds for criticism for not finishing them. Buying a unfinished series is an investment and a risk and you may be paying for the books that are completed but keep doing so on the premise that they will be completed. If Martin said upfront he would only finish 5/7 of the story, he would probably have a lot less 'investors' and probably not a TV series and therefore not as much money or fame. Now because it is a creative process maybe Martin has been getting writer's block but from what I have been hearing from the fans I am not so sure how dedicated he is to overcoming such an obstacle.
I only watch the show as I am sure HBO will finish the TV story in any event and I was lucky enough to hear about Martin's delays before buying the books. I will read them once the story is finished on paper but until then Martin doesn't see a dime from me for his books.
Also I hope anyone who is defending Martin from any sort of criticism never spoke poorly of Kurtz and his work ethic because parallels between growing an audience then resting on laurels can be made. hehe
Also I just Kurtzwin'd this thread. *drops mic*
I only watch the show as I am sure HBO will finish the TV story in any event and I was lucky enough to hear about Martin's delays before buying the books. I will read them once the story is finished on paper but until then Martin doesn't see a dime from me for his books.
Also I hope anyone who is defending Martin from any sort of criticism never spoke poorly of Kurtz and his work ethic because parallels between growing an audience then resting on laurels can be made. hehe
Also I just Kurtzwin'd this thread. *drops mic*I originally wasn't going to read the books until the series finished, but when the show started nobody could keep their mouths shut, not even my wife, and so I realized it was either start reading or get spoilers, so I started reading that summer.
This.
Everyone had their dumb fuck faces going, SUMMER CHILD HEU HEU HEY and I hated it. Started reading it, now that I knew what happened, I bitched like the rest how bad the last 2 books were and old man Martin will die before Book7 is published.
Read the other books man.
YES. This is what I've feared too. He doesn't seem interested in them anymore. Maybe I'm wrong, I'm not in his head but man, he seems like he just doesn't care anymore. Given the state of the last two books they feel like someone who is just hating every minute of every word he writes.
I was going to say the same thing about King!
STOP READING MY MIND.
I am so ok with that. Despite liberties taken they are still hitting the same major beats, even if they do them in slightly different ways and you know what? If all I get is condensed, way more interesting takes on 2 very boring books and whatever has to happen to finish it I'm ok with that. It's better than reading 2 more 1000+ page novels of filler (if thats what he's going to produce in the next 10 years). I'm hoping he proves me wrong and writes a couple fantastic books that just blow my expectations out of the water.
I am a little surprised that he has not turned over the writing responsibilities over to other authors, and just edit the collection like Wild Cards. Since half his career has been editing anthology series.
Beneath the skin, we are already one.
I just mean, he's all "Only I will finish the story!" and that's just not true.
Tyrdin.....
GasBandit
Staff member
LOL I like how there's 2 Delaware mottos, a "serious" one and then another version whose motto is "We're in Delaware." Delaware. The Hufflepuff of states.[DOUBLEPOST=1405604563,1405604236][/DOUBLEPOST]And of COURSE Texas' motto is its anti-littering campaign slogan.
Really, it should say "We're in DelaWHERE?"
Inquiring minds want to know!
What I sang to myself while cooking dinner tonight:
Frosty the Other,
From the land of cold and dark,
And if you listen well,
You can probably tell,
He's feasting on a Stark!
Nomitty om-nom
Nomitty om-nom
Look at Frosty chew
Nomitty om-nom
Nomitty om-nom
On flesh, entrails, and goo.
There must have been some magic in that old dead man he found,
For when he put blue in its eyes, it began to dance around!
Frosty the Other,
Sorry kids, he's got to go
But he raised the dead
And said, I'll be back again,
In five thousand years or so!
Nomitty om-nom
Nomitty om-nom
Over the Northern way
Nomitty om-nom
Nomitty om-nom
May this Winter end, we pray ...
Frosty the Other,
From the land of cold and dark,
And if you listen well,
You can probably tell,
He's feasting on a Stark!
Nomitty om-nom
Nomitty om-nom
Look at Frosty chew
Nomitty om-nom
Nomitty om-nom
On flesh, entrails, and goo.
There must have been some magic in that old dead man he found,
For when he put blue in its eyes, it began to dance around!
Frosty the Other,
Sorry kids, he's got to go
But he raised the dead
And said, I'll be back again,
In five thousand years or so!
Nomitty om-nom
Nomitty om-nom
Over the Northern way
Nomitty om-nom
Nomitty om-nom
May this Winter end, we pray ...
Prince Charles just requested the "Rains of Castemere."
To be fair, I wouldn't expect him to get any work done during SDCC.
Even though Neil Gaiman is probably still typing away during breaks in his hotel room ...
Even though Neil Gaiman is probably still typing away during breaks in his hotel room ...
Jonathan Pryce fucking rocks.
