Fans of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series have been waiting for the next volume, A Dance With Dragons, since A Feast for Crows was published in November 2005.

http://http _pics.livejournal.com_grrm_pic_000095xs_.htm

Martin writes that he doesn't have the book yet but he has the cover images. Martin writes in "Not A Blog" on his Web site that he hopes to deliver the finished book by June.

This is a great series. I only wish George would write a little faster! Series like this where the author gets distracted or hits a mental block make me crazy because I have to re-read the whole series every time the next book comes out 2 years later. :smack:

That's the reason why I don't read unfinished series.

Ahhh, how much I long for this sequel! A Song of Ice and Fire is without doubt one of my favorite top three fantasy sagas (beside LOTR and one I am not so sure yet ;)).

More info on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dance_with_Dragons):

A Dance with Dragons is the fifth of seven planned novels in the epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire by American author George R. R. Martin. Despite original predictions of possible completion in late 2006, the book was not finished as of early 2008.[1] His blog features regular updates on his work, and a recent progress update on his website (http://www.georgerrmartin.com/if-update.html) affirms his commitment to finishing the book as soon as he can, aiming for the middle of June 2008.[2] In early 2008, publisher Spectra (a division of Random House) announced that A Dance of Dragons will be released on September 30, 2008.[3]

That's the reason why I don't read unfinished series.

Yes, I try to do that too. Although I read "Wizards First Rule" without realizing it was first in a series and that it would be many years later until I read the 11th and final installment.

BOb

Yes, I try to do that too. Although I read "Wizards First Rule" without realizing it was first in a series and that it would be many years later until I read the 11th and final installment.

BOb

The same happened to me with Wheel of Time. I read 8 books in a row before I realised that it is unfinished series. That's when I said to myself: never again.

P.S. Btw, did you like this Sword of Truth series by T.G.?

I'm short the last two Sword of Truth books. I'll get to them eventually.

Two fantasy forums I visit (A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen and A Song of Ice and Fire) are so full of bashing the series, it is unbelievable. One of them (ASOIAF) has a tradition when a Terry bashing topic reaches 20 pages, they open a new topic. I believe there is 26-27 topics already.
I have not read him at all. I am very curious though :)

The same happened to me with Wheel of Time. I read 8 books in a row before I realised that it is unfinished series. That's when I said to myself: never again.

P.S. Btw, did you like this Sword of Truth series by T.G.?

I enjoyed it. Some of the books were better than others. It does get a little dark and violent in some places. Also, there is some preachy drawn out dialog in some places too. But, the stories move along well.

Is Wheel of Time still unfinished? I have heard about it before and have considered reading it.

BOb

Is Wheel of Time still unfinished? I have heard about it before and have considered reading it. BOb

Not only unfinished, but the writer died. They've got someone in to write the last volume from his notes, so it will be finished eventually, but you might want to wait for the reviews of the last volume!

Brandon Sanderson (http://www.brandonsanderson.com/blog/585/Brandon-to-Finish-Wheel-of-Time) also a member of Malazan world forum :)

Brandon Sanderson who wrote Mistborn which I am reading and enjoying thanks to Tor's free giveaway.

Small small world.

Another indication that A Dance with Dragons will indeed be released on September 30, 2008:

Availability: This title will be released on September 30, 2008. Pre-order now! Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Dragons-George-R-R-Martin/dp/0553801473/ref=pd_ts_b_10?ie=UTF8&s=books

Oopsy.
I just checked Amazon.com....

Baaaaad news, but somewhat over the top, methinks:

Product Details

* Hardcover: 1008 pages
* Publisher: Spectra (April 30, 2013)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 0553801473
* ISBN-13: 978-0553801477

The UK Amazon site is showing a release date of 9th April, 2009.

The UK Amazon site is showing a release date of 9th April, 2009.

Right now nobody knows when Dance will be ready for the simple reasons that Mr. Martin himself does not know :) So any date is speculative - people who talk with him think it's going to be 2009, but they thought it was going to be 2008, so right now just wait for the announcement the book is done.

Then it will be rushed into production so probably instead the normal one year it will come out in 3-6 months from then depending on schedule, and also it is possible it will come first in the UK because of easier scheduling

Product details

* Hardcover: 704 pages
* Publisher: HarperVoyager (6 April 2009)
* Language English
* ISBN-10: 0002247399
* ISBN-13: 978-0002247399

Product details

* Hardcover: 704 pages
* Publisher: HarperVoyager (6 April 2009)
* Language English
* ISBN-10: 0002247399
* ISBN-13: 978-0002247399

Well the same info appeared when the book had an Amazon date of September 2008 - I had it on preorder :(

Until Mr. Martin announces the book is done, any date is speculation

Meh.

I really like A Song of Ice And Fire but GRRM is turning into a nag, tbh. At his current pace, he won't live to finish the series which is arguably worse than having some details not to your satisfaction.

LOL, wow I hope that's wrong!

am I reading this wrong: Product Details
Hardcover: 1008 pages
Publisher: Spectra (April 30, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553801473
ISBN-13: 978-0553801477,

Or did that say 2013? 13!!!! I don't think I can make it.

am I reading this wrong: Product Details
Hardcover: 1008 pages
Publisher: Spectra (April 30, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553801473
ISBN-13: 978-0553801477,

Or did that say 2013? 13!!!! I don't think I can make it.

Ignore all this. They don't know. Nobdy knows apart from George and he probably can't tell it to the day. keep looking here (http://georgerrmartin.com/if-update.html), and here (http://grrm.livejournal.com/) and you'll be among the first to know... (after george and his family and his editor and his close friends and... you get the idea :)) Also keep a close eye on the ASOIAF (http://asoiaf.westeros.org/) forum, if anyone have credible guesstimates, they do.

am I reading this wrong: Product Details
Hardcover: 1008 pages
Publisher: Spectra (April 30, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553801473
ISBN-13: 978-0553801477,

Or did that say 2013? 13!!!! I don't think I can make it.

Your ISBN is different to mine.

Still,
A Dance with Dragons (Song of Ice and Fire)
George R. R. Martin (http://gb.bookbutler.com/do/bookSearch?searchFor=George%20R.%20R.%20Martin&searchBy=author&searchIn=uk&sortBy=salesrank&amountIn=gbp&shipTo=gb&zip=&showMore=true&pageNr=1)
Hardcover - Spectra Books (http://gb.bookbutler.com/do/bookSearch?searchFor=Spectra%20Books&searchBy=publisher&searchIn=uk&sortBy=salesrank&amountIn=gbp&shipTo=gb&zip=&showMore=true&pageNr=1) (Dec 2009) - 1008 Pages
ISBN 0553801473 - ISBN-13 9780553801477

I pulled it off the Amazon site. But perhaps I was looking at the wrong section... It will come, when it comes. I can't wait. But I guess I will have to.

I remember when Robert Jordan started having long delays like this between his Wheel of Time books. It really killed the series for me. I kept myself busy between books by reading other series and eventually I got so into the other series I stopped caring about The Wheel of Time. Hopefully this series doesn't end up like that one. :(

I remember when Robert Jordan started having long delays like this between his Wheel of Time books. It really killed the series for me. I kept myself busy between books by reading other series and eventually I got so into the other series I stopped caring about The Wheel of Time. Hopefully this series doesn't end up like that one. :(

Jordan's delayes are nothing in comparison to Martin regarding the long delayes between books. If you compare two of them in this regard, you might say Jordan had no delay at all.

Look:
A Song of Ice and Fire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire) series:

A Game of Thrones (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Game_of_Thrones) (1996)
A Clash of Kings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clash_of_Kings) (1998)
A Storm of Swords (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Storm_of_Swords) (2000)
A Feast for Crows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Feast_for_Crows) (2005)
A Dance with Dragons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dance_with_Dragons) (forthcoming)

5 years between A Storm of Swords (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Storm_of_Swords) and A Feast for Crows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Feast_for_Crows)
At least 4 years between A Feast for Crows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Feast_for_Crows) and A Dance with Dragons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dance_with_Dragons)

WoT:


The Eye of the World (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eye_of_the_World) (15 January (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_15) 1990 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990))
The Great Hunt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Hunt) (15 November (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_15) 1990 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990))
The Dragon Reborn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dragon_Reborn) (15 October (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_15) 1991 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991))
The Shadow Rising (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow_Rising) (15 September (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_15) 1992 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992))
The Fires of Heaven (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fires_of_Heaven) (15 October (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_15) 1993 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993))
Lord of Chaos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_Chaos) (15 October (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_15) 1994 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994))
A Crown of Swords (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Crown_of_Swords) (15 May (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_15) 1996 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996))
The Path of Daggers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Path_of_Daggers) (20 October (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_20) 1998 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998))
Winter's Heart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter%27s_Heart) (9 November (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_9) 2000 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000))
Crossroads of Twilight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossroads_of_Twilight) (7 January (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_7) 2003 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003))
Knife of Dreams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife_of_Dreams) (11 October (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_11) 2005 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005))

The longest is less than 3 years. So...
If WoT's delayes killed your interest to the series, then your interest to ASOIaF must be dead long time ago!

As Martin said there will be 7 books in the finished series, I really lost all hope that it will be completed some day.
But as we know Martin's taste for killing his most likable characters, I am not sue i want to read the end.

Perhaps he'll go for the "Blake's 7" style of ending :).

Jordan's delayes are nothing in comparison to Martin regarding the long delayes between books. If you compare two of them in this regard, you might say Jordan had no delay at all.

The longest is less than 3 years. So...
If WoT's delayes killed your interest to the series, then your interest to ASOIaF must be dead long time ago!

I read the Martin series last year, (somehow never heard of it before that) if I had started reading when the first book came out then I would definately have given up already. Looking at the times between those books I will more than likely be giving up on Mr. Martin. I think Feist and Brooks spoiled me with their quick writing cycles. :D

A littlebit off-topic, but anyways:

If you liked ASoIaF and are - like me - waiting for the dragons to dance, then you can give a try to Steven Ericsons "Malazan" series. I don't know if they exist as eBooks, but good ole' paper works sometimes, too.

Here's the link to the first volume...

http://www.amazon.com/Gardens-Moon-Malazan-Book-Fallen/dp/0765348780/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1225286858&sr=8-1


kind regards.
ras

Appreciate the suggestion Ras - I'm always looking for a great new author, and if anything like Martin, I very much appreciate it.

MdB.