The World of Ice and Fire

[HouseLaLaurie]

So I've noticed lots of fellow GRRM fans around, so I thought I'd share this little tidbit for those as obsessed as myself. Today I pre-ordered my hardcover edition of "The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros & The Game of Thrones," which has been slated for release in October as a sort of a small consolation prize while we continue to wait patiently for "The Winds of Winter."



The description from amazon.com:

If the past is prologue, then George R. R. Martin’s masterwork—the most inventive and entertaining fantasy saga of our time—warrants one hell of an introduction. At long last, it has arrived with The World of Ice and Fire.

This lavishly illustrated volume is a comprehensive history of the Seven Kingdoms, providing vividly constructed accounts of the epic battles, bitter rivalries, and daring rebellions that lead to the events of A Song of Ice and Fire and HBO’s Game of Thrones. In a collaboration that’s been years in the making, Martin has teamed with Elio M. García, Jr., and Linda Antonsson, the founders of the renowned fan site Westeros.org—perhaps the only people who know this world almost as well as its visionary creator.

Collected here is all the accumulated knowledge, scholarly speculation, and inherited folk tales of maesters and septons, maegi and singers. It is a chronicle which stretches from the Dawn Age to the Age of Heroes; from the Coming of the First Men to the arrival of Aegon the Conqueror; from Aegon’s establishment of the Iron Throne to Robert’s Rebellion and the fall of the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen, which has set into motion the “present-day” struggles of the Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons, and Targaryens. The definitive companion piece to George R. R. Martin’s dazzlingly conceived universe, The World of Ice and Fire is indeed proof that the pen is mightier than a storm of swords.

I, for one, am interested in reading more about the history of Lann the Clever and the Casterlys, and the artwork and maps are going to be phenomenal. What are the rest of you looking forward to?


(Sample artwork of a giant)

****Please refrain from discussing any and all spoilers pertaining to the novels and the TV series. There is plenty to discuss without giving away key plot points, so don't be a *****. ****

[Claeyt]

I'm looking forward to his next book.

The series is good but the books are better. They've kept a pretty tight line to the books but they've skipped some and changed a bit.

I don't know how they're going to write 'The Untold Stories' without the series being finished.

I'm also hoping he finishes the next 2 books without dying of a heart attack. The Series is going to catch him in a year and a half. If he finishes book 6 he'll only have a year to finish book 7. Hopefully HBO pays him to finish quick.

[HouseLaLaurie]

I'm looking forward to his next book.

This goes without saying.

The series is good but the books are better. They've kept a pretty tight line to the books but they've skipped some and changed a bit.

Obviously, with a series of this magnitude, you can't exactly translate every page to the screen, or nobody but the book fans would watch it. Small changes made in early seasons for production needs can snowball in later seasons, and you just have to be willing to go with it. I tend to see it as a fun aspect of watching the show, like "Ehrmuhgahd, are they gonna do what I think they are right now??? Nope, they've gone and stabbed a wee baby instead."

I don't know how they're going to write 'The Untold Stories' without the series being finished.

The series may not be finished and in your hands, but the key plot points and outcome are definitely fleshed out. GRRM the Great & Powerful knows his world better than any of us, and he's always worked on multiple projects aside from ASOIAF. There are plenty of side stories that have been alluded to or told outright ("The Tales of Dunk & Egg" and the story of the Dance of the Dragons from the "Dangerous Women" compilation are perfect examples), and this was actually born of a pretty natural occurence. When asked by the authors of this particular work to provide about 50,000 words of history for the world, GRRM responded with 250,000, most of which were already established, and were nothing to simply elaborate on. If you know about worldbuilding, then you know that 90% of the real work of a fantasy series of this proportion is in getting the world established, meaning it needs a geography, a history, a mythology, etc. These were all established well before the first book was even published, obviously.

I'm also hoping he finishes the next 2 books without dying of a heart attack. The Series is going to catch him in a year and a half. If he finishes book 6 he'll only have a year to finish book 7. Hopefully HBO pays him to finish quick.

Wrong. Books 4 & 5 will be 2 seasons, and book seven is actually more complete than book six, so he has plenty of time. I think at this point it's more him holding it hostage because of ******* fans pressuring him and criticising him for the time he takes to work on his books. I'd be pretty disgusted if he actually did rush his work to appease HBO and the viewers over himself. His work was doing just fine before the show, and if they split both entities tomorrow, he'd still sell as many books, and the show would still have as many viewers. Also, he's told D.B. and David how it all ends, just in case he should die or be unable to finish. He also has an insurance plan in place for the books (you know that lady he dedicates every book to, Parris?). He's also been on record saying if he's pressured any further, he's made lots of money from this series already, and he's previously established that there's a big red comet in the sky that he could easily bring down on everyone and everything in Westeros should we bug him enough.

So, in essence...

Shut up, Claeyt.

[alprice]

I have started reading the first book. Flying out of town for business last week and the book gave me something to do. I enjoyed reading it. I haven't read a book in a while. Now I just have to find time to continue. I still want to download the first season when you have time House!

[HouseLaLaurie]

Anytime, my dear. Well, anytime after 7, when I get home from work.

The books are always there for moments when you're bored at work, or when the power goes out, or the server is being wiped... The shows are for the moments when you're plugged in. We're also ass-deep in season four right now, and loving every moment of it.

[Dallane]

this is 100% me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CLCOvZOh1o

[Binks]

****Please refrain from discussing any and all spoilers pertaining to the novels and the TV series. There is plenty to discuss without giving away key plot points, so don't be a *****. ****

You make a discussion thread for this series and than you ask us not to talk about it? I'll pass on this thread, thanks though.

[Brona]

this is 100% me

https://www.******.com

Fixed that for you

[jwhitehorn]

You make a discussion thread for this series and than you ask us not to talk about it? I'll pass on this thread, thanks though.

Look man... Does prince Oberon win or not?

Chief PeePooKaKa
MM Tribe

[alprice]

Noooooo don't reply to the Chief!!!