Why don't the American editions have nice covers like this one does?

I hope it's Spain. Or at least, my non-English-speaking family hope so. I am already reading the book in English :)

"And the gold medal for fastest translation goes to Portugal."

Actually, Croatia released first volume of translated ADWD on 26th July with 2nd part coming on 26th September. So at best, Portugal gets the Silver Medal ^_^;

"A dance with dragons" was already translate to Portuguese? Lucky them!
Spanish people have to wait for I don´t know how many time yet...

It must be so frustrating for fans that can't read English, having to wait nine weeks longer for my copy of Dance would've been awful. Oh well, at least they are getting it now! Time for me to continue rereading ACoK.

As a portuguese reader, I'm really proud. I have read the english version, but I'm sure the translation is good.

And, dear Martin, there's an "u" missing in your "portuguese" ;)

Do you plan Russian translation?
Or you're not the one who plans translations? :)

E viva Portugal! :D

Lucky portuguese, indeed!
About the french translation... we're far behind I think; they divide the book in 3 parts, first one coming in ... march 2012 :( (with the third part coming in march 2013!) So... I bought the book in english :)

I've already read it in English, but, when can we expect the Spanish version? I can't wait to re-read it!!

As Luka Gerovac has said the first volume in Croatian is out since July 26th. I have wolfed it, seems like ages ago and am eagerly waiting for the second one.
So, I think some corrections should be made concerning the golden medal!

Well...I'm sure Spain might take a queue from it's rival neighbor. However, didn't the United Kingdom release their translation before Portugal? :)

As for the NYTimes best seller list...you know King Kong did stay atop the Empire State Building for a long time, but eventually fell...beauty doing the deed of course. Eventually, Winds of Winter will be needed to get your name back up there to #1 again...hint hint. Now that the monkey is off your back there's a lizard crawling up your leg and making it's way to your shoulders...soon to become Godzilla and breathing fire on your brain. As always, your fans will wait years for Winds et. la. so that we can re-immerse into Westeros and the other lands across the sea with new intrigue and battles...thankfully Dance is so full of twists that we will be enjoying it for the next few years re-reading it six or eight times and seeing something new each time.

Silver medal to Spain!!! Pleaseeeee *.*

So, Croatia was definitely the first country to have translated ADWD. These Norwegian dates are somewhat strange since it was only announced that the Kong was shot on April 27th.

And of course, ever since it was published, ADWD is sitting on top of bestseller list, ahead of Cesar Milan's The Dog Whisperer, AGOT, AFFC, ASOS, Jeff Lindsay's Dearly Devoted Dexter, Michael Crichton's Pirate Latitudes and GG Kay's Ysabel.

Spain!!! SPAIN!!!!!!!!

What chance have the Portuguese! We must wait until April in France. And just the first party!

Can some one please explain the cover to me? i have read most of the book. and the shields dont look like any from the book. My daughters cover she made for my book makes more sense

Yep, great cover. I wish my english version was nearly as nice.

Cheers from Portugal, all you other countries suck! :D
Except you, Croatia, you're awesome too.
I'm buying this for my father as soon as I have the chance.

That's the best cover I've seen yet (and I've seen some good ones).

Wow, A dança dos dragões cover looks great, but I fail to match the pictured scene with a chapter in the book. Anyway, congratulations to portuguese people.

I'm really eager to read the book in spanish, it is amazing but my english isn't as good as I would like and I'm sure that many things have passed unnoticed to me in this first reading.

Anyway I must say the spanish translator sometimes makes weird translation of some phrases, or even of names that should have remained untranslated, but overall her work is great.

And congratulations, George, for being still in the top. Come back to Spain soon!

I am portuguese, and I was so thrilled about the book that I ordered it before it was released and received it one day before it was available in the bookshops :D I am loving it!

The portuguese edition is now the number 1, but even the original edition of DwD flew from the shelves at high speed back in jully! One week after the release you couldn't find any copy in the bookshops all over the country!

Although I prefer reading books in their original language, I have been reading the Songs of Ice and Fire books in Hungarian ever since they were first published in Hungary. Thus, I'm quite anxious for the release of the Hungarian version, although every time I see the English version in my favourite bookstore, I have a nagging feeling to just pick it up and ease the pain of waiting. :)

According to the Wikipedia, "the US hardcover was officially published on July 12, 2011". My question is - how was it possible to release the Norwegian version on May 3rd, before the American debut?...