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A Song of Ice and Fire / Announcements / A Storm of Swords -- DONE!

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Ran
User ID: 0867924 Apr 21st 4:12 AM
Just in from GRRM:

You cannot imagine how much it thrills me to be able to tell you all that A STORM OF SWORDS is finally finished.

The manuscript is being xeroxed at Kinko's even as I type, and should be winging its way to my various editors, publishers, and agents by tomorrow.

I do feel as though as I have given birth to a wooly mammoth -- this is a BIG beast, with a nasty disposition, and pretty damned hairy too. It weighs in at 1521 manuscript pages, some 350 pages longer than A CLASH OF KINGS. There are 79 chapters, a prologue, =and= a epilogue.

I fear I lied about the four weddings and the funeral. Now that I am done, I see there are four weddings, =two= funerals, and a wake. Four trials as well. And three dragons, four bears, many mammoths, an unkindness of ravens, and a turtle of unusual size. More battles, swordfights, and deaths than I can count, but two births as well, just to remind us all that life goes on.

There's plenty more work after this, of course; editorial revisions,copediting, proofreading, correcting galleys, notice to mention the maps and
the appendices, to which I must now turn my attention. But the mammoth is at least on its feet; the rest is just a matter of polishing up its tusks.

Thank you all for your patience, and your continued enthusiasm. I hope you'll feel the book was worth the wait.

Zer0hour
User ID: 1432154 Apr 23rd 2:26 PM
...and where is where and why is why and when is when and how is how and huh is huh.

Relic
User ID: 9308123 Apr 23rd 7:12 PM
Thanks Ran, i can sleep easy now.

Tom O.
User ID: 1118614 Apr 23rd 11:52 PM
Clever Zer0hour.

Zer0hour
User ID: 1432154 Apr 24th 0:16 AM
I'm full of 'em. OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH, I can't stand it!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going crazy without my GRRM!!! I need Storm Right NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Terry
User ID: 0909594 Apr 24th 0:31 AM
I finally have something to live for again. Now that anticipating the first STAR WARS saga has been destroyed, I know I can count on Martin for a tale that is truly epic. Whew! Now George -- start writing the NEXT ONE, NOW! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

KAH
User ID: 0541004 Apr 24th 12:06 PM
Holy Cow!

Seems like I can't leave the board for more than a few days for Easter, without something important cropping up meanwhile...

Arend, you beat me to it. I was just thinking how Rincewind would fit in Westeros, when I saw your post...heh.

Emily
User ID: 2192024 Apr 25th 5:42 AM
*Wipes away the tears and tries to stop capering around with glee*

Four TRIALS? This should be interesting. I thought Westeros tended to go in for 'Off with his head' rather than trials. Unless Joff is planning on resurrecting the Targaryen's unique version of a trial, of course...or unless they're all trials by combat...or maybe Robb puts Jaime on trial...

Births - we know Lollys is pregnant, but I don't know if she's important enough to count. Maybe Shae deliberately and secretly got pregnant to try to get Tyrion to marry her? A book of that length could easily span nine months - if so, my bet's on Sansa to breed.

This 'Just to remind us that life goes on' is a bit ominous - sounds like ASOS'll be even more bloodthirsty than the last two.

daremo
User ID: 9878643 Apr 25th 1:03 PM
Now that is this is the best information I have heard. The only thing that could top it would be the release date.

Ghost
User ID: 9704903 Apr 26th 1:49 AM
*Is tired of the long wait and can finaly sleep easy now* - after celebrating, that is :)

How about us speculating about those four weddings, do we look foolish or what??

Anyway, november is a long way of. Gods forbid i might even be tempted to do some studying in the mean time. The certainty of screwing up my January exams makes up for that though!

Wow, i'm so excited i think i'm talking nonsense. Don't worry, i'll stop now.

Jeff
User ID: 1536664 Apr 26th 8:57 AM
Reading between the lines, I think there is more good news. Mr. Martin said how long this book was -- great!. BUT, he didn't say that his plan for six books was in danger. So, I think we're still safely at six, which suggests he has a much tighter plan than does our other favorite epic fantasy author whose current series stands at 8 and is still going strong.

Emily
User ID: 2192024 Apr 26th 12:06 PM
I'm not sure that having a tighter plan than RJ is anything to write home about...who doesn't? I think GRRM'll stick to six books, but I also think that each book will be a few hundred pages longer than the last, as he desperately tries to incorporate all his new ideas whilst keeping to the six-book limit. Not that I'm complaining :)

Padraig
User ID: 1300074 Apr 26th 12:08 PM
That's a very good point. Probably why the book got so big too as GRRM tried to make sure everything was as it should be as we enter the 5 year break. IIRC after aGoT GRRM changed how many books aSoIaF would take and again after aCoK. Not changing that figure after aSoS is significant. Although from what I have read from the so spoke GRRM collection I would be very surprised if he had.

Ran
User ID: 0867924 Apr 26th 12:32 PM
Ahh, I figure that we're going to see the fourth book come in at about as tight as _A Game of Thrones_. I don't believe GRRM is going to fall into Tad William's trap with his own third book. GRRM has the luxury of breaking the thing into two trilogies, essentially, what with the five year break.

labor
User ID: 0798784 Apr 26th 2:53 PM
Halelluja! That's a happy Easter, indeed. As soon as I leave for a week, the long and fervently awaited news is here.
Anyway, IMHO two of the four trials will be Tyrion's (again) because he'll be falsely accused of killing Joff and Catelyn's for Renly.

Paul Halucha
User ID: 0352454 Apr 26th 10:03 PM
This is really exciting! I think people are getting a bit overworked about when the series will be finished - he is writing these remarkable fast. Don't get me started on how long - as a King fan - I've been waiting for Roland and his band of adventurers to make it to the Dark Tower! I find the speed of Martin's really remarkable especially when you consider the quality of the prose. It is the careful, complex and beautiful writing which, in my books, sets A Song of Ice and Fire apart from other fantasy series. It is poor quality writing which makes so many fantasy series unreadable - for example Terry Brooks and Terry Goodkind who write at a highschool level.
Anyways, I'm hugely excited about this book - and as I told GGM in an email - am planning my summer vacation around whenever I can score an advance readers copy! Later, Paul Halucha

Relic
User ID: 9328513 Apr 27th 3:45 AM
Uhh Paul, if you'd care to divulge, how does one obtain an advanced reader's copy?

Kristin
User ID: 2776644 Apr 27th 6:46 AM
Usually one works in a bookstore or some other publishing-type job. Unfortunately, I don't work in a bookstore anymore, and though I work in publishing now, it's not fiction publishing and is not likely to be getting advance copies of fantasy books.

Paul Halucha
User ID: 0352454 Apr 28th 10:34 PM
Advanced readers copies usually turn up at rare book stores a few months before publication - you need to contact your favorite dealer of choice and let him/her know you want the title. I suspect they will also emerge on Ebay and other auction sites.

Jeff
User ID: 1536664 May 1st 8:39 AM
I just received a reply to an e-mail I sent to Mr. Martin -- forwarded to Ran, so I'm sure he'll have it up at some point.

Not much of substance, except that he said ASOS will resolve the questions about Bran and the Dagger and the murderer of Jon Arryn.

Back 20 Messages Next 20 Messages

Ran User ID: 0867924	Apr 21st 4:12 AM Just in from GRRM: You cannot imagine how much it thrills me to be able to tell you all that A STORM OF SWORDS is finally finished. The manuscript is being xeroxed at Kinko's even as I type, and should be winging its way to my various editors, publishers, and agents by tomorrow. I do feel as though as I have given birth to a wooly mammoth -- this is a BIG beast, with a nasty disposition, and pretty damned hairy too. It weighs in at 1521 manuscript pages, some 350 pages longer than A CLASH OF KINGS. There are 79 chapters, a prologue, =and= a epilogue. I fear I lied about the four weddings and the funeral. Now that I am done, I see there are four weddings, =two= funerals, and a wake. Four trials as well. And three dragons, four bears, many mammoths, an unkindness of ravens, and a turtle of unusual size. More battles, swordfights, and deaths than I can count, but two births as well, just to remind us all that life goes on. There's plenty more work after this, of course; editorial revisions,copediting, proofreading, correcting galleys, notice to mention the maps and the appendices, to which I must now turn my attention. But the mammoth is at least on its feet; the rest is just a matter of polishing up its tusks. Thank you all for your patience, and your continued enthusiasm. I hope you'll feel the book was worth the wait.
Zer0hour User ID: 1432154	Apr 23rd 2:26 PM ...and where is where and why is why and when is when and how is how and huh is huh.
Relic User ID: 9308123	Apr 23rd 7:12 PM Thanks Ran, i can sleep easy now.
Tom O. User ID: 1118614	Apr 23rd 11:52 PM Clever Zer0hour.
Zer0hour User ID: 1432154	Apr 24th 0:16 AM I'm full of 'em. OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH, I can't stand it!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going crazy without my GRRM!!! I need Storm Right NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Terry User ID: 0909594	Apr 24th 0:31 AM I finally have something to live for again. Now that anticipating the first STAR WARS saga has been destroyed, I know I can count on Martin for a tale that is truly epic. Whew! Now George -- start writing the NEXT ONE, NOW! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!
KAH User ID: 0541004	Apr 24th 12:06 PM Holy Cow! Seems like I can't leave the board for more than a few days for Easter, without something important cropping up meanwhile... Arend, you beat me to it. I was just thinking how Rincewind would fit in Westeros, when I saw your post...heh.
Emily User ID: 2192024	Apr 25th 5:42 AM Wipes away the tears and tries to stop capering around with glee Four TRIALS? This should be interesting. I thought Westeros tended to go in for 'Off with his head' rather than trials. Unless Joff is planning on resurrecting the Targaryen's unique version of a trial, of course...or unless they're all trials by combat...or maybe Robb puts Jaime on trial... Births - we know Lollys is pregnant, but I don't know if she's important enough to count. Maybe Shae deliberately and secretly got pregnant to try to get Tyrion to marry her? A book of that length could easily span nine months - if so, my bet's on Sansa to breed. This 'Just to remind us that life goes on' is a bit ominous - sounds like ASOS'll be even more bloodthirsty than the last two.
daremo User ID: 9878643	Apr 25th 1:03 PM Now that is this is the best information I have heard. The only thing that could top it would be the release date.
Ghost User ID: 9704903	Apr 26th 1:49 AM Is tired of the long wait and can finaly sleep easy now - after celebrating, that is :) How about us speculating about those four weddings, do we look foolish or what?? Anyway, november is a long way of. Gods forbid i might even be tempted to do some studying in the mean time. The certainty of screwing up my January exams makes up for that though! Wow, i'm so excited i think i'm talking nonsense. Don't worry, i'll stop now.
Jeff User ID: 1536664	Apr 26th 8:57 AM Reading between the lines, I think there is more good news. Mr. Martin said how long this book was -- great!. BUT, he didn't say that his plan for six books was in danger. So, I think we're still safely at six, which suggests he has a much tighter plan than does our other favorite epic fantasy author whose current series stands at 8 and is still going strong.
Emily User ID: 2192024	Apr 26th 12:06 PM I'm not sure that having a tighter plan than RJ is anything to write home about...who doesn't? I think GRRM'll stick to six books, but I also think that each book will be a few hundred pages longer than the last, as he desperately tries to incorporate all his new ideas whilst keeping to the six-book limit. Not that I'm complaining :)
Padraig User ID: 1300074	Apr 26th 12:08 PM That's a very good point. Probably why the book got so big too as GRRM tried to make sure everything was as it should be as we enter the 5 year break. IIRC after aGoT GRRM changed how many books aSoIaF would take and again after aCoK. Not changing that figure after aSoS is significant. Although from what I have read from the so spoke GRRM collection I would be very surprised if he had.
Ran User ID: 0867924	Apr 26th 12:32 PM Ahh, I figure that we're going to see the fourth book come in at about as tight as _A Game of Thrones_. I don't believe GRRM is going to fall into Tad William's trap with his own third book. GRRM has the luxury of breaking the thing into two trilogies, essentially, what with the five year break.
labor User ID: 0798784	Apr 26th 2:53 PM Halelluja! That's a happy Easter, indeed. As soon as I leave for a week, the long and fervently awaited news is here. Anyway, IMHO two of the four trials will be Tyrion's (again) because he'll be falsely accused of killing Joff and Catelyn's for Renly.
Paul Halucha User ID: 0352454	Apr 26th 10:03 PM This is really exciting! I think people are getting a bit overworked about when the series will be finished - he is writing these remarkable fast. Don't get me started on how long - as a King fan - I've been waiting for Roland and his band of adventurers to make it to the Dark Tower! I find the speed of Martin's really remarkable especially when you consider the quality of the prose. It is the careful, complex and beautiful writing which, in my books, sets A Song of Ice and Fire apart from other fantasy series. It is poor quality writing which makes so many fantasy series unreadable - for example Terry Brooks and Terry Goodkind who write at a highschool level. Anyways, I'm hugely excited about this book - and as I told GGM in an email - am planning my summer vacation around whenever I can score an advance readers copy! Later, Paul Halucha
Relic User ID: 9328513	Apr 27th 3:45 AM Uhh Paul, if you'd care to divulge, how does one obtain an advanced reader's copy?
Kristin User ID: 2776644	Apr 27th 6:46 AM Usually one works in a bookstore or some other publishing-type job. Unfortunately, I don't work in a bookstore anymore, and though I work in publishing now, it's not fiction publishing and is not likely to be getting advance copies of fantasy books.
Paul Halucha User ID: 0352454	Apr 28th 10:34 PM Advanced readers copies usually turn up at rare book stores a few months before publication - you need to contact your favorite dealer of choice and let him/her know you want the title. I suspect they will also emerge on Ebay and other auction sites.
Jeff User ID: 1536664	May 1st 8:39 AM I just received a reply to an e-mail I sent to Mr. Martin -- forwarded to Ran, so I'm sure he'll have it up at some point. Not much of substance, except that he said ASOS will resolve the questions about Bran and the Dagger and the murderer of Jon Arryn.