Here's a fun article and interview with George R.R. Martin about A Dance with Dragons, how HBO handled the adaptation of his books and how GRRM feels about fantasy in general.
It has VERY minor spoilers for A Dance with Dragons (mostly vague plot outlines during the review portion), but should be okay even for those that have not read ADwD..... assuming you are okay with knowing vague plot outlines.
Here is a sample of the interview... after the jump is the full review and interview. Enjoy.
We spoke to Martin last week about the challenges of building a fictional universe, the sexual politics of his writing, and why science fiction and fantasy are conquering the world.
Do you still think you'll be able to wrap everything up in the remaining two books?
I certainly hope so! That's my plan, that's my intent, that's what I'm going to try to do. But at this point I know better than to promise anything and write it out in blood.
I think some fans are hoping we'll end up with eight books.
Well, it's grown in the past—I'm not going to say those fans are wrong. When I started out, it was a trilogy. Back in 1994 when I sold this, it was going to be A Game of Thrones, A Dance with Dragons, The Winds of Winter—three books. But that scheme went out the window before I'd even finished the first book. I think it was Tolkien who said when he was writing The Lord of the Rings, "The tale grew in the telling."
When Game of Thrones aired on HBO this past spring, there was a lot of conversation and debate about the depiction of sex, rape, and female agency on the show and in the books. How do you feel about the way the show handled those things in comparison with what you tried to do in your novels?
My novels have quite a bit of sex in them. ... I have read some people saying that they added sex scenes, and they did. They also didn't put in some sex scenes that are in the book, so on balance, I think they're the same. A few things were handled differently. Obviously the way I wrote it in the book is the way I would have handled it.
When can we expect The Winds of Winter,the next book in the series? Or have you learned never to answer questions like that?
I have learned! I've been burned too much by that, so I'll just say... it will be done when it's done.
Read the full article at TheAtlantic
I really don't like reading him say something about Tolkien and "The tale grew in the telling..."... UGH! I just felt it would be eight books after reading ADwD .... Grrrrrr.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise a very interesting interview!
Well, here's the thing. Game of Thrones (the original Book 1) grew into 3 novels, right, but Dance with Dragons only grew into 2. While transition books tend to be the shortest, it wouldn't be completely impossible or unreasonable to say that he could turn Winds of Winter in 2 as well. Maybe. I mean, I'd love 8 novels.... But also, he's getting old.
ReplyDeleteHe' getting old and a another novel seriously puts the HBO timeline into question too.... assuming Game of Thrones lasts 7 or 8 or 9 seasons.
ReplyDeletePersonally I would be okay with an 8th book... maybe. I mean he has to fill in whatever he thinks he needs to fill in and if that takes 3 more books so it does not feel truncated.... Well, then I'm okay with it.
I do think there are a lot of fans worried by his indecisive-ness about the end date of his novels... guess we'll just have to see how it all plays out!
ReplyDeleteI all fairness George is only 62, I know he look older though. With the amount of hassle he has gotten into in previous year when talking about when the next book is due, I don't blame him for beening tight lipped about the next book. If it was me, I would have stop writing them, so I'm just happy to read his amazing book.
ReplyDeleteI really hate waiting for series to finish up. I tend to read completed series or only start a series when they are expecting the final book out soon. A Game of Thrones and the next 2 books got such stellar reviews I decide to read them anyway and I am very glad I did! I just prefer to not have to wait like most impatient fans I guess.
ReplyDeleteI have been burned before by authors... most notably Melanie Rawn and the Exiles Triology. The second book was released in 1997 with a note that the third and final book was "coming soon". Fourteen years later and still nothing. In her defense, physical and mental health issues contributed to her not completing the book. Real life issues always trump fantasy... so I do understand.
He certainly is not too old to keep writing, so I have no worries on that front. It's just my impatient desires rearing their ugly heads and roaring I guess.
I would be tight lipped about upcoming projects too honestly. The sample chapters he's released in the past are above and beyond what most writers do or what should be expected of any author! He has done more to mollify the fans misery than most writers.... and I appreciate it! Kudos GRRM.
An epic tale. One of my favorites of the series. It took me a while to
ReplyDeleteget through it, but every time I picked it up i was in for a treat.
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