Yes, I am aware that more than a year has passed since my last update. A lot of you have been emailing me to point that out. Thanks, but really, I did know. Unlike many of you out there, I got my copies of the Song of Ice & Fire calendar, so I knew what date it was.
No, I'm not planning to update the update, for reasons stated in the update itself. Until such time as I can write, "It's done," it will remain the last update... aside from what I may say here from time to time, on my Not-A-Blog.
I made a lot of progress on the book in the first half of 2008. So much so that I was optimistic that I would be done by the end of the year. Unfortunately, I did not make much progress on the book in the second half of 2008. Indeed, I made some regress. (That Sansa chapter I talked about finishing, for instance. It's still finished, but my editor and I decided it belongs in THE WINDS OF WINTER, not A DANCE WITH DRAGONS, so it's been moved into the next book. Sansa will not appear in DANCE.)
Some of the reasons were literary, arising from problems in the narrative itself. I'm not going to discuss them here, because I really do not like talking about questions I am still wrestling with on a work in progress. It never helps. Art is not a democracy, and these are problems I need to solve myself. Having a few hundred readers weigh in with their thoughts and opinions -- which seems to be what happens whenever I post here about DWD -- does not advance the process. I'm sorry, but that's true. I know that many of you would like to help me, but you can't. I have editors and I have two capable assistants, and that's sufficient. I'm the only one who can dance this dance.
Some of other reasons for the delay have nothing to do with the book itself. They're extra-literary, arising from other things in my life. I could sketch out some of them here, sure, but what good would it do? Those who are inclined to understand would send me messages of sympathy and support. Those are not so inclined would dismiss them as "excuses," or even "feeble excuses." A few will even go so far as to accuse me of lying.
That's the part that really bothers me. For the record, I have never lied about anything having to do with A DANCE WITH DRAGONS or the series as a whole. I have been wrong, yes. I have been wrong lots of time, especially when I've tried to predict how long it will take me to complete the book, or when it will be published. Being wrong is not the same as lying. Since the very beginning of this series, I have been guilty of being over-optimistic about how long it would take me to finish the next book, the next chapter, or the series as a whole. I cannot deny that. I have always been bad with deadlines... one reason why I did my best to avoid them for the first fifteen years of my career. That's an option I no longer have, however. Or at least will not have until A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE is complete.
That's the main reason why I no longer want to give any completion dates. I am sick and tired of people jumping down my throat when I miss them.
This latest flood of emails has worn down my resolve, however. So in hopes of quieting it, once more I will step into the breach --
I am trying to finish the book by June. I think I can do that. If I do, A DANCE WITH DRAGONS will likely be published in September or October.
(Yes, I am aware that I have previously said that I hoped to finish by the end of 2008. And before that, I said that I hoped to finish by June 2008, before I went to Spain and Portugal. And before that, I said I hoped to finish by the end of 2007. I know, I know, I know. No, I was not lying. I was wrong. And wrong again. And wrong before that. This time I hope that I am right. But you know, I can't swear that in blood. I write one chapter at a time. One page at a time. One word at a time. And then the next.)
That's all I have. But it's more than Amazon has, or anyone else.
The INSTANT that I finish the novel and put it in the mail to Bantam, I will post that fact here, just as I did for SUICIDE KINGS a few days ago. Until and unless you read that announcement here, believe nothing you hear from any other source.
Thanks for your continued support... and for your patience.
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Profile
grrm- George R.R. Martin
- George R. R. Martin
Page Summary
- poet_ninja : (no subject) [+0]
- buull : no support, no sympathy [+0]
- chefasaur77 : Haters... [+0]
- mattferrie : A tenth... [+0]
- hokie256 : Can't wait to read it but I know however long the wait will be worth it! [+0]
- coraline73 : (no subject) [+0]
- immer_erlernend : Take your time! [+0]
- leilijon : (no subject) [+0]
- fido_helen : Good books can be likened to good lovers... [+0]
- pzwitterion : compliments and best wishes [+0]
- woniya : (no subject) [+0]
- hockeyinhd : I don't think the concern should be... [+0]
- slidewithme : (no subject) [+0]
- ulgrim : Live your life first [+0]
- 2eclipse : (no subject) [+0]
- alanusmaximus : May I have this Dance? [+0]
- paulrockinhard : The Winds of Winter is Started! [+0]
- mogleydawg : Whatevs Dude! Like Jesus said "It's all gravy baby!" (or something thereof) [+0]
- sevenwarlox : Thank you very much for the update! [+0]
- peterpendragon : Good luck [+0]
- ariata : (no subject) [+0]
- pkimer : Be of good cheer [+0]
- chewyluka : As you should [+0]
- lostrune : *grin* [+0]
- batmancw23 : Delays--a question [+1]
Comments
Illegitimi non carborundum, eh?
I won't offer sympathy, because... well, sympathy for what?
I can wait.
I can wait for Dance to be exactly what YOU want it to be, to be a continuation of the story you are telling, and I am experiencing. To me, quality is far better than quantity, so I can wait.
I'll just say thank you.
I'll be very happy to read it once it's done but I know it's going to be great whenever it's finished.
Oh, and thank you for so many years of enrichment, we owe you a great deal!
I don't care when it's done as long as A) it does get done (which it will be), and B) it is amazing (which it will be).
I think the concern should be that, regardless of how long it takes, there is an incredibly real likelihood the book is going to be a disappointment, and the longer things drag on the more likely it becomes that should the series even be finished at all, it will go out with a whimper rather than with a roar.
I want the book to be done, whenever that is. I want it to be as compelling as I thought the first three in the series were. I have all four of them in hardcover, a couple in paperback, and all of them in audiobook form, even. My concern is that any author, or even any professional, begins at some point to, to borrow a sports phrase, 'lose their fastball'. I am not an expert on literary history, so if there is a trend I am unaware of I freely admit that ignorance here, but are there a bunch of authors who do their best work past the age of 60? Mayhap there is a reason for that beyond age, then again...
Be that as it may, I found even the fourth book in the series to begin to groan under the weight of the world it represented. It was still a very good book, just less so than it's three older siblings. I see many of the same problems that plagued the Wheel of Time as it wobbled precariously through books 7, 8, 9, and so on beginning to crop up here. As the point of views become more diffuse and the 'size' of the world broadens, the sheer volume of the plot becomes ponderous to shift, a herd of buffalo thousands strong being guided across an endless plain by one lone shepherd, afoot.
So, I have nothing for Mr. Martin but the best of wishes. As someone who has derived hours upon hours of pleasure from his works I can only be hopeful that I will find similar joy in his future works, whenever they may be forthcoming.
And yet... I fear.
I'm looking forward to A Dance like everyone else, but I'm not impatient. I figure the longer you labor, the more lovely it will be.
Thank you for writing this series. It provides hours of entertainment, and my friends and I discuss it all the same. It's truly one of my favorite series.
For the little one man's opinion is worth in this world I hope you find the inspiration and resolve to finish your great work one day, I think it will be remembered longer and touch the lives of more people than you'd imagine.
Just my 2c anyhow.
i'm so glad to hear that you are making progress. and it sounds like the progress is substantial even by your evaluations.
it is a painful process to wait to find out what happens. i can understand why people are pissed off. that being said, i imagine it must be MUCH worse for you than it is for them. you don't OWE those people. and the truth is that the books are so good that for every one guy who walks away never to read another of your books, there will be 10 new converts to the series.
I for one would rather wait patiently until such time as you are happy with the book, because that way I know that it will be every bit as enthralling as the others. People who leave negative comments like the ones you have mentioned should be ashamed of themselves.
So chin up George, I and many others are behind you, cheering you on as you approach the end of this marathon. Keep smiling!!
Alan
-St. Francis
You give everything all the meaning it has.
You are a Lion.
Not a sheep pretending to become like a Lion.
A Lion.
You ARE spirit.
There is only one.
Not two.
0=2
Now go on.
We are Grateful that we get to do this Great Work.
I have written myself, and as everyone who has ever written knows, the process doesn't always unfold the way the writer imagines it will. Sometimes it refuses to unfold at all. We all hope that is no longer the case with aDwD, but if it is, we have to understand.
A handful of trolls can be truly loathsome, but as for the rest, they are just impatient for the rest of the story because they are so engrossed in it. Hopefully you will remember, when people are impatient, that it is only because the series is so damn good.
Maybe that's just in the movie, "The Agony and the Ecstasy", but the point remains. Good things take time.
So, good luck. I have many, many things to read, and I LOVE Wild Cards. When you finish ADWD, I will buy it and I will read it. Until then, hope all goes well with you. I've always enjoyed your work ever since reading "The Second Kind of Loneliness" in the December 1972 issue of Analog, and you have rarely let me down since then.
Take care,
Marc
I'm one of those people that's a bit upset about the length of time since the last book, but that's just because it's a good story and I'm anxious to get my hands on more of it. I know stress will kill the creativity and drive, so just take your time. Its upsetting that so many people want you to not have a life over this... You'll get there when you get there. In the interim I'm re-reading the series. It's interesting picking up things I didn't know would be important later on.
Thanks for writing such wonderful stuff!
P K Eubanks
P.S. The Rick Nelson video was a terrific response! It had me laughing.
I know you never asked for anyone's opinion on this matter but you sound "guilty". Of what? It doesn't matter. If this is about you doing it your way then fuck'em! What EVERYONE (here we're talking about the vocal minority) else thinks doesn't matter. You're not hurting anyone and what you have given is joyous and worth celebrating, there's no need to write this letter (or the angry follow-up). If you really are doing it your way, and giving it everything you can, then everyone has to expect that it'll be done when it's done.
Enjoy your life, and don't let anyone tell you how to live it.
:)
So basically I love your books and wait for the next one.
L~
I'm a huge fan and love your work. I'm not writing to bash you for the delays, yet I do have a question. Even with all the other things you're involved with, how is it that it took 5 years between the 3rd and 4th volume of Ice & Fire, and now its been another 5 years since the 4th was published and we're still waiting on the 5th? I ask, because I really don't understand why it takes so long to complete the books. Could you please enlighten us non-writers? Thanks and best wishes, Craig
That's all the enlightenment I've got, I'm afraid.