It's long since past due that there was significant monkey-related news, so that at least is cause to celebrate!

Well, good job on the draft, George. I seriously can not wait for the series. Just in time with Lost wrapping. I am absolutely buying HBO and telling them I do so for Game. That would be killer if it went all 7(?) seasons.

Who knows, even if it doesn't, I would think there's a good chance another station might nab it and finish it- maybe showtime or something? A guy can hope, right?

And tame that damn, dirty ape already!!!

There is a very nice song by the indi/garage group "The Kills" called "MOnkey 23", part of their first album "Keep on your mean side" which nicely talks about having monkeys on on's back.. Nice to be able to get rid of at least one of them..
I really enjoyed your interview at DragonPage; I actually agree with what you say about impatience being at lest in part age related. I am of the internet, "on.demand", "entitlement" generation: in fact, I actually was an impatiant and angry fan of you who on this very blog of yours called for an uprisal of mountains and seas..
But I believe that there is a way, in aging, in life (I hate how rethorical all of this sounds, but, this is it..) in which we are called back to our matterly world, where, if fortunate, we learn to understand how the core, the "heart of every thing", to use Natsume Soseki's words, lays not in the intent, not in a demand, not in the pure will. Is more of an acquired taste, which has to be assumed, and consumed, and waited for. Because it is the only way anything would worth something..
Then, nothing but thanks; I really hope you succeed in being rememvered for an outstanding, if not perfect, work. In my eyes you already have..

Woah, what, you met a deadline? Awesome XD Honestly, I don't know if I could ever do that XD

As for your screenplay, isn't it natural that it'd be too long and too expensive? I mean, it's natural to get excited over this, right?

Anyway, good news are good! I can't wait to see this on screen. Episode 8, if I remember right, uh? XD Still a long way to go before I can finally watch it~~

Congrats on finishing the script monkey.

Kong - that's a nice image. Maybe Dany can tweak its fur a bit. (I've started to call mine Cthulhu because of all those plot tentacles.) :)

Bahahaha. "The Pointy End". *is dying for this show* :)

I don't know whether or not this has been addressed already, but will there be as much "creative license" taken with Song as there's been with Legend of the Seeker -- as in, an almost completely unrecognizable plot, mutilating the characters, etc. I understand some stuff has to end up getting dropped, but will there be unnecessary additions, also?

How can you *not* like someone entitled "The Red-Headed Whore"?

Almost as good as "The Angry Barmaid."

... or 'Whore with a Heart of Cold' or 'Poxy Whore'

Do you already know in which brothel she is supposed to work? I gather if she was one of Chataya's girls we likely should have met her in the books as she was there since the beginning of the series. But you never actually showed us who was working in all of Littlefinger's brothels, so I really can see her having some of the breasts Ned was supposed to fondle back in AGoT ;-).

I really don't think the "almost unrecognizable plot" thing is anything you need fear on this project.

The first season, at least, will hew quite close to the books, from what I have seen.

Admittedly, it will grow harder to remain faithful in later seasons, if the series is renewed. As the books progress and the original characters scatter, more and more secondary and tertiary characters become involved, more and more settings are seen, and the "butterfly effect" comes into play... whereas what seems like a small and innocous change in season one or two turns out to have major consequences in season five, when the minor character who was changed/ cut in season one is supposed to push to the fore and play a significant role.

No one is saying it will be easy. But the intent is there.

But hey, David and Dan knew the job was dangerous when they took it.

congratulations on the anti-monkey brigade.

Good for you! :D Meeting dead-lines is so satisfying, isn't it? (I know it is for me, since I do it rarely.) Can't wait for the show!!

I really hope that episode title sticks.

I too am happy to hear that you are making progress!!! XD

I and my kids will make some chili con queso to celebrate!!! btw, do you have Parris' recipe for us to use? We rather want that!! ^_^ (thanks phipps!!!!) ^_^

Is it really too long and too expensive, or is that 20-year-old CBS notes coming back to haunt you?

Good news, and let's hope to have that monkey biplaned off the Empire State soon :-)

You should explain to them how much less expensive this is than your original idea that involved a massive sea battle with burning ships ramming each other and a bridge of boats.... wait, have they read the second book yet?

Is the Battle of the Green Fork in your episode then? I was thinking it would be interesting to see how the TV series was going to handle that with Tywin's hundreds-strong cavalry charge and Tyrion and his wildmen cutting their way through a bunch of northmen.

I wonder if Dan and Dave have let the CGI team know about the Blackwater yet, if we get a second season? "So boys, what do you think about blowing up a river and incinerating thousands of people with using our whole CGI budget for the season?" "We can do it as long as you don't let George write the episode. It will be too long and expensive then." ;-)

On the day that Kong is fully humbled, you should treat yourself to chilled monkey brains and a banana!

Let the God give you strength. And speed :)

I like having episode titles - they make it easier to discuss the show with other die hard fans. If someone knows what I'm talking about when I mention "Chain of Command" or "Surprise / Innocence" then I know we have some common ground. :)

Hahahaha! I got a good chuckle out of that Kong line at the end! Any chance you'll be doing a post about what you've been reading lately? It's been a while. :)

You need to take care of those monkeys quick...they uh aren't very sanitary.

"O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"

Please don't use that saying any more. I was only beginning to forgive you for ruining it for me with "The Monkey Treatment" when my mom decided to start using it. It's even worse when someone knows about it.
....
I hope these monkeys are the good kind.
Also, how awesome would a film adaptation of The Monkey Treatment be? I mean, I don't really have an SFX budget for the monkey, but I could totally see myself making a student film of it. With permission, of course...
Now you've started me obsessing about that story again.

I am so excited, George. I re-read the series yearly in anticipation of the show and "A Dance." I say take your time and do it right. I don't have a tv and only watch boxing and "the daily show" on family and friend's tvs. I get my news on line and radio(npr). I will be buying a tv soon, though, and will be getting hbo as well. Boxing and "A game of thrones", i think i am in heaven!!! All this excitement but I cant get my mind off our crazy neighbors. What is going on in arizona! Aghhhh! Any ways I can't wait! Keep it up!

About Kong, you could have him grab Cersei and climb the Tower of the Hand. That would distract him a bit.

Then you could burn the Tower with wildfire. :D

I guess now would a more appropriate to re-ask my question about the Syrio Forel character - is there someone? If there is, who is it?

Kudos on meeting the deadline, and hopefully the guys at HBO won't be too cheap to make the production in the quality it deserves.

Intresting how much will final version Change? I thought very much

Mr. Martin, I certainly wouldn't want to cast any kind of "why aren't you writing ADwD" aspersions, but in all seriousness I am curious about how you're approaching the balance between writing (hopefully!) the full run of the show and getting the rest of the series written before the tv show catches up? It seems like getting ASoIaF, the books, finished before the show catches up would be a challenging endeavor even if there weren't any distractions - and I suspect all of us agree that we love the idea of you writing the show, for accuracy and authenticity's sake!
Whatever comes, I am excited to see and read all of it!

Ah. That would be different then, wouldn't it? Neeeever mind...

I had to go and create a LJ account just to comment on how awesome an episode title "The Pointy End" is. It comes off as whimsical at first glance but has much darker implications for Arya in particular, and will have fans of the books smiling in anticipation of what they know is coming while people experiencing the story for the first time will recall the conversation between Arya and Jon and will tingle in anticipation of its implications. Fantastic!

This post actually gives me a chance to ask a question I've been wondering about:

With any major work of literature being adapted to film/television, there are bound to be alterations/cuts. Have you given much thought, in terms of SoIaF, about that? Specifically, are there any particular bits that you look and, and think 'that probably won't make the series'? Either because of time/budget constraints, or because it doesn't translate well from the page to the screen? Not looking for any inside info here, just your own personal opinion.

Well done sir! I get pissed drunk in your honour! May you have many happy, healthy and productive days ahead! Be well always!

Thank you for updating your billboard sir - I am very happy to have another chance to get the 2009 calendar and hey this is a good excuse for me to order that signed copy of TUF VOYAGING I've been promising myself I'd get! I just got paid for this construction contract I'm on so now I can afford it!

Well done! I rather hope they do keep the title from Jon's first lesson with Arya. Although 8 episodes in I expect it will be when Arya remembers that lesson. Mmm, I can't wait to see your epic work come to life in a new media! <3

firstly, you're a hero for meeting the deadline and cannot wait to see the episode.
secondly, you're now my arch nemesis because you got to meet esme bianco/ros and i didn't so i'm afraid i have no choice but to challenge you to a duel. how does laptops at dawn sound?