George R.R. Martin Gives Quick Update on Winds of Winter Progress

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Keep muddying the water with his output on non-ASoIaF if you like. My premise has always been that he's tired of writing ASoIaF. That he's churning out other works with any regularity is enough evidence for me that he's looking for distractions from a series he's fallen out of love with.

And his work on the TV show??? Please. Writing one episode per season isn't really that impressive. The rest of his work on the show amounts to glad-handing.

You couldn't sell ice-water in hell. But you keep amusing yourself that your points are salient and mine are silly.

You miss the point of him producing works not in ASOIAF, he’s got his fingers in a lot of pots. And yeah any one thing that he does doesn’t take a ton of time. But you know doing all of them adds up. Rather unlike your arguments.

But I know you wouldn’t be convinced unless he was live streamed chained to his desk writing Winds.

You couldn’t give away ice water in hell. I’m still waiting for you to make a salient point that isn’t directly countered by this thing the rest of us live in called reality.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

You miss the point of him producing works not in ASOIAF, he’s got his fingers in a lot of pots.

No. I didn't miss it. I just don't put the same stock in it that you seem to. Yes. He's very, very busy not finishing ASoIaF by having his fingers in all of the other pots you've mentioned. That's not exactly evidence he still loves writing the series, now is it? That's evidence that he's busy. So congratulations! I happily concede that GRRM is terribly busy NOT finishing A Song of Ice and Fire.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

No. I didn't miss it. I just don't put the same stock in it that you seem to. Yes. He's very, very busy not finishing ASoIaF by having his fingers in all of the other pots you've mentioned. That's not exactly evidence he still loves writing the series, now is it? That's evidence that he's busy. So congratulations! I happily concede that GRRM is terribly busy NOT finishing A Song of Ice and Fire.

LOL yea it's also hardly evidence that he's actively not writing nor that he has "fallen out of love" with writing the series. But you keep stretching that logic, I'm sure it'll work out well.

[DiapDealer]

Yep. And you keep stretching your neurons. The exercise will do them good.

[MGlitch]

Keep on pounding the table and yelling, I'm sure you'll convince someone. I mean no one who's interested in facts of course, but since you're clearly more interested in being a cynic and calling people liars then in presenting any salient points not refuted by reality I'm sure you won't mind mere things like that.

[murraypaul]

I have no skin in this game one way or the other, but the plain fact is that he hasn't released a book in the series for nine years, and we are now about six years past the initial estimate for the next book's release.

I think it is reasonable to be skeptical, especially given what he has said about release expectations.

"in September 2015 he had still considered the end-of-year deadline achievable."

"In March 2020, Martin stated that he was writing The Winds of Winter every day, and in June he hoped to be done with it in 2021."

So in 2015 he thought he was only 3 months away from completion, but 5 years later he is hoping to have it done in 20 months?

He has also said in an interview in February 2016:

"Q: “Hello, Mr. Martin! Sorry for the off-topic question, but will you be writing an episode for Season 7 of Game of Thrones?”

A: “I am not writing anything until I deliver WINDS OF WINTER. Teleplays, screenplays, short stories, introductions, forewords, nothing."

But has in fact released other works since then.

He may well finish the series, and there is nothing wrong with hoping and believing that he will.
But is is also perfectly reasonably for people to look at what has actually happened, and conclude it is likely that he won't. (Without meaning to be too crass, he is 71 and releasing books at a one-per-decade rate. He might not get the chance to complete the series at that rate.)

[Gandulf]

Originally Posted by HLS

I only read 1/2 of the first book. it was easier watching game of thrones on HBO lol

You have missed out on a lot.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Gandulf

You have missed out on a lot.

I disagree. I think it's not worth it to read the series until it's complete if it ever gets completed.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I disagree. I think it's not worth it to read the series until it's complete if it ever gets completed.

I think whether or not the series gets completed is irrelevant. The first three books are well worth reading, but then walk, rather run, away. The subsequent books detract from the experience. I don’t like epic fantasy, but I thought the first three books were compulsive reading. Why miss out on that?

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I believe he lost interest in writing the ASOIAF sometime after the third book. No, I have no evidence, just a gut feeling. Yes, he has continued to work on the series, but imho the spark has gone out a long time ago. It's just drudgery for him now. And he hasn't the courage to just come out and admit it. Perhaps he hasn't even admitted it to himself.

I think there’s evidence for this in the text at that. Martin kept opening up the story at the point where the plot trajectory should have started leveling off in advance of the final confrontation. It was easier for him to keep inventing rather than manage the plot. I think it’s obvious he can keep churning out the stuff, but can’t resolve it. It’s like a daytime soap. In that sense, I take Jon’s point; however, I don’t see why you can’t enjoy the best of it and then move on. Stories run their course and this one has. And in this case especially so, when I gather Martin is going to be constrained by the last two HBO seasons anyway. I’d say it’s a pity, as filmed versions frequently and of necessity depart from a text, so why not backwards?

When the series wasn’t sufficient goad for him to get the books done, I personally can’t put much stock in revised timetables. I’d ask if anyone cares anymore anyway, except that it’s obvious that they do. Eh. While I doubt the series will be finished, what I know is that it can’t possibly live up to what people have invested in it, and perhaps that’s what has blocked Martin.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

Keep on pounding the table and yelling, I'm sure you'll convince someone.

Said the person pounding their own table and yelling right back trying to convince someone.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Said the person pounding their own table and yelling right back trying to convince someone.

Hardly, but I suppose someone ignoring facts would see it that way.

[Gandulf]

Only read all 5 twice already, it's because of his books I started reading again.
Malazan book of the fallen for me was also a brilliant read and WOT I should even mention.

Just hope Martin can tie all the threads up and that the books don't sux as bad as the last two series did.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

Hardly, but I suppose someone ignoring facts would see it that way.

So you're not pounding the table and trying to convince me that I'm wrong? You're not "someone on the internet is wrong"-ing me right now? You're not obsessed with having the last word on the subject? Then prove to me that you're the better person and walk away from this petty (on both sides) squabble without saying another word. Or go ahead and keep pretending you're the rational, objective one. Makes no difference to me. I'm fine with petty.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

So you're not pounding the table and trying to convince me that I'm wrong? You're not "someone on the internet is wrong"-ing me right now? You're not obsessed with having the last word on the subject? Then prove to me that you're the better person and walk away from this petty (on both sides) squabble without saying another word. Or go ahead and keep pretending you're the rational, objective one. Makes no difference to me. I'm fine with petty.

Ah the sign of the truly lost argument. Unable to make a case you set up a scenario where the other either silences themselves to prove something or doesn’t and becomes the same as you.

Anyway until actual evidence comes out that GRRM isn’t writing any thing more to do with Winds I’m going to side with that he is, since he not only says he is but has produced chapters and his track record is for telling the truth even if he ends up not meeting the goals he sets.

Enjoy living with your cynical view that he’s lying to millions.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by HLS

That was a good clip. Not sue what you mean buy slow.

Is that a joke?

A Dance With Dragons came out in 2011. The Winds of Winter might come out in 2021.

In that same time, Stephen King has released 12 books. I'm betting his next book Later will be released before The Winds of Winter.