A Game of Thrones

[HappyMartin]

He sure kills lots of people. Peasant die by the boat load at every turn. These people must be extremely fertile

[carpetmojo]

Originally Posted by cjr72

The problem is for every character he kills off he introduces a new continents worth of characters.

Actually, I think a continent's worth rather overvalues the latest lots.............

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by cjr72

The problem is for every character he kills off he introduces a new continents worth of characters.

Kind of hard to have a compelling story if EVERYONE is dead!

[cjr72]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Kind of hard to have a compelling story if EVERYONE is dead!

It can be if it could compel the author to bring about an end to the story...

[DianNC]

I looked it up out of curiosity and found someone who listed the number of named characters that have kicked the bucket, keeled over, popped their clogs, bought the farm, croaked, or otherwise found themselves sleeping the big sleep:

A Game of Thrones - 54 named deaths

A Clash of Kings - 72 named deaths

A Storm of Swords - 97 named deaths

A Feast for Crows - 23 (give or take a couple)

A Dance with Dragons - 35

The characters are named, but not included here to avoid spoilers.

POV death numbers are pretty low...so far. Less than a dozen?

[tecweston]

Originally Posted by DianNC

POV death numbers are pretty low...so far. Less than a dozen?

Not counting prequel/epilogue characters, I count one (Ned Stark), unless you count Catelyn Stark as well. Prologue/epilogue characters increase the count, since a lot of those chapters end with the POV character dying. But keep in mind I haven't finished book five yet so I don't know if any more POV characters die in the second half.

[howyoudoin]

I meant to start reading these books for a long time. However, I've gathered that there's a good chance that the series might not be completed by the author, both due to the time element (i.e, he's taking too effing long. He's made a lot of money, and all those cruises and vacations aren't going to take themselves, you see ) and because there's apparently so many loose threads hanging now that it would be very tough to get them all tied up in a satisfactory manner without requiring the author to write many more books in the series. I'm prepared to wait for the series to be finished before starting on the books I'd hate to be left hanging.

[DianNC]

Originally Posted by tecweston

Not counting prequel/epilogue characters, I count one (Ned Stark), unless you count Catelyn Stark as well. Prologue/epilogue characters increase the count, since a lot of those chapters end with the POV character dying. But keep in mind I haven't finished book five yet so I don't know if any more POV characters die in the second half.

Total of eight, then, including the two you mention. The others would be...Will, Cressen, Chett, Merrett Frey, Pate and Arys Oakheart....(haha, I like your typing in white trick)!

[AndrewH]

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

I meant to start reading these books for a long time. However, I've gathered that there's a good chance that the series might not be completed by the author, both due to the time element (i.e, he's taking too effing long. He's made a lot of money, and all those cruises and vacations aren't going to take themselves, you see ) and because there's apparently so many loose threads hanging now that it would be very tough to get them all tied up in a satisfactory manner without requiring the author to write many more books in the series. I'm prepared to wait for the series to be finished before starting on the books I'd hate to be left hanging.

The first three books were great, and I would heartily recommend them. If you can live with an unfinished story, I would just skip books 4 and 5 (and any subsequent books he may get around to writing in between the cruises, vacations, conventions, and watching/blogging about football).

[carpetmojo]

I'm sorry, but couldn't resist, when I saw this was the next thread in line....

"Before I Go To Sleep ......."

As in "quick, finish it ....?

[Belfaborac]

I'm wondering.... Do you think it's worth holding out hope that the huge success of the Game of Thrones TV series might provide the encouragement Martin needs in order to finish the story within a "reasonable" (ok, it's already beyond reasonable) time? With season 2 kicking off on Sunday the seventh series should run in the Spring of 2017, meaning volume 7 ought to be finished at least a year before that (assuming it stays at 7 volumes of course).

Presumably injecting a one year (or two, or...) pause into the running schedule would give HBO a serious earache (angry letters, angry e-mails, angry everything), which again might tricle down to the source, spurring him on.

Oh well, just a stray thought. Not really like me to come up with optimistic scenarios anyway.

[DiapDealer]

To be perfectly honest... I don't see the HBO series going the entire distance anyway. But even if it does, I don't think they're going to stick to a "one book/one season" format the entire way. I'm pretty sure they've already discussed making two seasons out of A Storm of Swords. And of course, Feast for Crows/A Dance with Dragons will have to have a completely different treatment for television. A TV audience won't tolerate the popular characters disappearing for an entire season (ratings would plummet), so I expect the events of those two books will be interleaved (for a total of 2 - 2.5 seasons).

Plus, the way I understand it, HBO wouldn't have to wait... they've been given a general outline of the way things might wrap up—in the event something happens to George or the book series. And for all legal intents and purposes, the TV show is autonomous. They can deviate if need be. All they're obligated to do is offer George the opportunity to write one episode per season. That more than anything is what I'm hoping will inspire him to stay ahead of the TV series: vanity.
(I don't mean that disparagingly toward Mr. Martin; I would be vain about my own creation as well)

I don't see the book series wrapping up in seven, regardless.

[tecweston]

Originally Posted by Belfaborac

With season 2 kicking off on Sunday the seventh series should run in the Spring of 2017

Remember, though, that HBO series don't necessarily run one season per year. Sometimes they take a year or two off. Although with the fact that there are so many kids on the show, I'm sure they'd want to film it all as quick as possible before they grow up.

[Belfaborac]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Lots of good points...

...none of which occurred to me as that stray, optimistic thought hit me just before I hit the sack. Where I hope you're wrong is regarding HBO not lasting the whole nine yards, since - and I say this about twice every decade - I absolutely love the TV series. I suspect the remainder is spot-on though.

Originally Posted by tecweston

Remember, though, that HBO series don't necessarily run one season per year. Sometimes they take a year or two off. Although with the fact that there are so many kids on the show, I'm sure they'd want to film it all as quick as possible before they grow up.

I'm less than familiar with HBO's routines, but I'm sure you're correct. You're the American, after all. I'm sure you're correct on the latter point too, although personally I can't for the life of me remember who lasts for five minutes before being killed off and who is more persistent. I've read the first three books (and own all five), but it's been soooo loooong and I've forgotten it all. Except for what's in season one of the series, that is.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Belfaborac

Where I hope you're wrong is regarding HBO not lasting the whole nine yards, since - and I say this about twice every decade - I absolutely love the TV series.

I actually hope I'm wrong too. I'm just basing my opinion on the fact that TV shows I enjoy always manage to get canceled early. I heard HBO actually increased GoT's budget... so that has to be seen as a positive sign, anyway.