George R. R. Martin在B&N BOOK CLUBS上对冰火的一些答疑
Alaurian wrote:GRRM,
First, let me just say that I love ASOIAF. I am eagerly awaiting the next book, but I fill my time with, amongst other things, re-reading each one so I pretty well have them memorized.
I have a million questions, but the one that I really am most wanting to know is .... [b]will Jon ever find out about his parentage? [/b]
[b][color=Red]Eventually, yes.[/color][/b]
I have my theory on who, but is there anyone left to tell him?
Thank you so much!
琼恩会知道自己的亲身父母是谁吗？
是的，最终会知道的
SanSanFanFan wrote:
Hello Mr. Martin,
Im a huge fan and there are so many things that I would love to ask, but I'll keep this short and sweet.
[b]Loras Tyrell, Sandor Clegane, or melisandre
Of these three characters, which one has a POV in ADWD?[/b] thank you.
[b][color=Red]Not Sandor.[/color][/b]
Keep up the great work sir!
Loras Tyrell, Sandor Clegane, or melisandre这三个人谁会是《魔龙》里的POV人物？
不是Sandor。
（个人觉得多半是百花了，melisandre这个人的魅力就来自于她的神秘性，失去这个她会魅力大减的）
RachelT wrote:
Nothing else I have read in the last few years has captured me the way A Song of Ice and Fire has. I am thoroughly obsessed and I find myself spending far too much time on boards devoted to discussion of the series. I am thrilled by the prospect of possibly having ADWD to read as soon as this very year. I have a few minor questions.
[b]1) Is Mace Tyrell aware of his youngest son's sexuality? Does the Queen of Thorns know?[/b]
[b][color=Red]Yes and yes.[/color][/b]
2) How old is Dolorous Edd and how did he come to be in the Night's Watch?
[b]3) Was Jon Arryn truly Robert Arryn's father?[/b]
Jon Arryn 真是 Robert Arryn的父亲吗？
[b][color=Red]So far as anyone knows. Without blood tests or DNA, establishing paternity was a lot more hit and miss.[/color][/b]
目前看来是的。在没有血液和DNA鉴定的情况下，确定亲子关系会出现更多的偶然和错误。（回答了等于没回答。。。）
[b]4) Is Gregor and Sandor Clegane's sister truly dead? Was she Tysha?[/b]
Gregor 和 Sandor Clegane的妹妹真的死了吗？她是Tysha吗？
[b][color=Red]Yes and no.[/color][/b]
（这读者想象力够丰富的。。。）
[b]5) What has become of Widow's Wail?[/b]
[color=Red][b]Still at the Red Keep, until such time as King Tommen is old enough to wield it.[/b][/color]
（未完，不断更新中）
[[i] 本帖最后由 zeus 于 2008-4-15 11:00 编辑 [/i]] 琼恩会知道自己的亲身父母是谁吗？
是的，最终会知道的
不错！ Kadere wrote:
Hello George! Long time reader, first time asker. So I've got one questions that's been bugging me for the past 3 years. Knowing that originally AFFC and ADwD were going to be only one book and then split into two because of length, and that each of your great books starts with a prologue chapter from a new PoV character that dies at the end of the Prologue, which of these prologues (AFFC's with Pate and ADwD's with Varamyr Sixskins) would have been the Prologue to the originally concieved book? Or would it have been someone else entirely?
[b]Pate.[/b]
Also can't wait for the book! Hope you'll be coming by Ann Arbor on your ADwD's book tour! Maeve55 wrote:
Did Tywin have any bastards?
[b]He'd have you flogged for the mere suggestion.[/b]
Where was the Red Viper during Robert's Rebellion?
[b]Good question. Offhand, I don't recall the answer. Maybe in Dorne, maybe across the narrow sea with a sellsword company. I'd have to check my notes to be certain.[/b]
Did Prince Rhaegar knight the Mountain at the tourney at Harrenhal?
[b]Don't think so, but again, I'd need to check my notes. I think Gregor was already a knight.[/b]
Has a woman ever been Lady of Winterfell or Queen in the North in her own right?
[b]No. Although I do hope to someday write the Dunk & Egg story where they travel to Winterfell and meet the She-Wolves.[/b]
How closely does Westeros resemble the real Middle Ages in terms of social customs and gender roles? For example, would highborn ladies have been expected to bathe guests and know how to make cheese, etc.? Sansa's education and training seemed rather impractical - did the fault lie with her parents or were all young ladies raised like that?
[b]Sansa is more than just a young lady. She's the daughter, not just of a noble, but of one of the most powerful nobles in Westeros. The great houses stand far above the lesser nobles, as the lesser nobles do above the smallfolk.
She would not make cheese, no. But Arya might think it would be fun.[/b] Aeternum wrote:
Hello Mr. Martin, thank you for taking the time to read to read this forum and answer a few of our queries. I was wondering if you'd be willing to shed a little insight into a couple of questions that have been tormenting me over the past few years?
-Will Sandor and Sansa meet again in the future?
[b]Why, the Hound is dead, and Sansa may be dead as well. There's only Alayne Stone.[/b]
-Will there be any future POVs on characters we've yet to see?
[b]Sigh. Yes. More in DANCE than I intended. [/b]
-Will the origins of the Others ever be explained?
-Will Arya have any significant impact on events later in the series?
[b]No comment.[/b]
-Will any of our POVs get to see other locations listed but not shown in the books (such as Asshai, Valyria, Myr, Yi Ti, ect)?
[b]Some, perhaps. I do not subscribe to the theory put forth in THE ROUGH GUIDE TO FANTASYLAND (a swell book, by the way) that eventually the characters must visit every place shown on The Map.[/b]
-Where are Bayasabhad, Shamyriana, and Kayakayanaya located at, and will we see any more of the warrior maids that inhabit these regions?
[b]North and east of Vaes Dothrak. I don't anticipate of their inhabitants playing a major role in this story.[/b]
-Are the Faceless Men and Sorrowful Men affiliated, past or present?
[b]No. Very different views of what they do.[/b]
And I already know you probably won't answer this, but I gotta ask:
-Will Dany and Jon meet?
[b]Keep reading[/b]
Thank you for reading this post and I hope you will consider answering one or more of my questions. I've been a fan of your ASoIaF series since 1996, and have eagerly awaited each installment ever since I fell in love with the first book. Best of luck to you in finishing ADwD and the books thereafter. Turncloak wrote:
To Mr. Martin,
You are by far, in my opinion, perhaps one of the best writers this world has ever seen. You are able to capture the hearts and minds of many, and write with such realism by which makes others seem minuscule.
So, if I may, I have a few questions I would like to ask this lord of the pen, and I would be honored if it were replied.
I have a million questions, but these are just a few to start.
First, if I may ask, being a writer- this is not related to the books- what is your advice to a small lordling that wishes to make an extra coin? One with a well made plot- which looks almost childish when compared to your Song?
Another, what’s with your obsession with hands and the number seven? Septa’s Fist’s, Hand’s…?
Is the Faith Militant based on the Crusaders or Knight’s Templer?
[b]Yes, albeit loosely.
[/b]
Oh and, how do you right all those Sansa chapters? Seriously, did you watch a lot of Disney…? Get drunk? The second time I read Song I made un of her lines and thoughts by being all dreamy like. No offense(Plus I laughed at a;l the japes a lot).
How do you come up with these characters and personalities? You never seize to amaze me.
Do you have a personal dream cast for the HBO Song adaptation?
[b]I had a few actors in mind for particular parts when I was finishing up A GAME OF THRONES, along about 1995. Unfortunately, all those actors are twelve years older now, and the characters aren't. My original dream cast are likely all too old for the roles for which I first envisioned them.
[/b]
How did you come up with the theme/metaphor of the game of thrones?
How are you able to come up with all that food, our writing makes me hungry. Capon and wine poached pears…
A simple lording,
Turncloak 说实话，Lord Ccxx，您真是邪恶啊，完全没有翻译的转帖。
就像在下之前的主题里写的那样，看不懂英文的人，这活动跟他们无关。看得懂的去那个论坛好了，而且还可以自己向GRRM提问。 jacobkim80 wrote:
This is in reference to creating the social context of Dany's thread. Did the history of the Berber people have an influence in this? Specifically the social turmoil from the dynastic transition from Arab Umayyad to Berber Almoravid to Berber Almohad?
[b]No. Sounds fascinating, but I'm afraid I don't have enough experience with the Berbers or their history to draw on them for inspiration.[/b] AngelaKaye wrote:
I've read them all
[b]Keep at it.[/b] HerrHeine wrote:
Thanks for agreeing to answer these questions, Mr. Martin. Like others here I'm a tremendous fan of the Ice and Fire series and while I have plenty of questions about the story itself, I'd rather ask you about the philosophy behind your writing. (And anyway, I assume it's more fun to find out those story questions by actually reading the coming books.)
1. There's a trend in these fantasy series for each successive book to grow larger and larger. I know you fall back on the "tale grows in the telling" rationale, but I wonder how you (and your editors) manage to maintain objectivity and distance when it comes time to decide how to maintain the focus of your sequels, especially since you've said you don't work with outlines. Is it particularly difficult given the success the previous books have enjoyed? It seems as if your publishers would be thrilled to discover that your next book is big enough to be published in two volumes, but how do you decide when and how to trim?
[b] No hard and fast rules here. It's all book by book. I have plenty of editors to give me input and suggestions. I don't think the success of the books impacts one way or the other. The artistic challenges would remain the same even if the books were being published by a small press for an audience of hundreds.[/b]
2. It seems as if the introduction of viewpoint chapters for the "villains" are intended to humanize them, or at least make them somewhat sympathetic. That seems to have not been the case with the recent Circe chapters where we learn that her actions weren't driven by her resentment over being a woman in a man's game, but rather over fear of a prophecy. To me it seemed like you were letting us into her head only to make her less likeable. What was your expectation for her chapters and how do you feel that your approach to her character differed from the way you've treated the more redemptive POVs of Jaime and Tyrion?
[b] I don't concern myself over whether my characters are "likeable" or "sympathetic." (I had my fill of that in television). My interest is in trying to make them real and human. If I can create a fully-fleshed three-dimensional character, some of my readers will like him/ her, or some won't, and that's fine with me. That's the way real people react to real people in the real world, after all. Look at the range of opinions we get on politicans and movie stars. If EVERYONE likes a certain character, or hates him, that probably means he's made of cardboard. So I will let my readers decide who they like, admire, hate, pity, sympathize with, etc. The fact that characters like Sansa, Catelyn, Jaime, and Theon provoke such a wide range of reactions suggests to me that I have achieved my goal in making them human.
[/b]
Thanks for reading. Keep up the great work! jricks wrote:
Mr. Martin,
Big fan, great books!
My question is about Jaime and Cersei. In ASOS Jaime makes the comment that he and his sister came into the world together and they will leave it together. At the end of AFFC Cersei sends a letter to Jaime, begging him to help her. He ignores the message. Will Jaime end up killing his sister and then be executed for it? Or will they be executed together for incest?
I think Jaime deserves to die fighting... Cersei could be hanged or have her head lobbed off, either way is good.
[b]Sorry, but while I'm glad to tackle questions, I'm not going reveal anything of importance that will happen in future books, and certainly not the ultimate fate of major characters. You'll just need to keep reading.[/b] nateman30 wrote:
Hello Mr. Martin and thank you in advance for answering these questions.
Would polygamous marriage be accepted in current Westerosi society especially where the Targaryens are concerned?
Thank you.
[b]If you have some huge fire-breathing dragons, you can get people to accept a lot of things that they might otherwise have problems with.[/b] 报告：此贴被我转到百度吧了 新闻欢迎转载 bigfishwolf wrote:
Hello George,
I will make this sweet and short. Will we ever see or hear about Hot Pie, Gendry, Nymeria, Rickon and Shaggy in ADWD, or possibly later on in the series of ASOIAF?
Thanks for your time
[b] Later in the series? Yes, to all of them.
In DANCE? Yes to some, no to others.[/b] texdionis wrote:
Is it possible that at the end of the series we will have a complete map of ASOIAF world in its entirety?
[b] The whole WORLD? No, definitely not. No European map of the middle ages could possibly have
included the Americas or Australia, and even their ideas of China (Cathay) and India were rather...
ah, inaccurate.
The regions where the action takes place, through which the characters move? Yes.[/b] mjgrass wrote:
Thank you Mr. Martin for giving me an exciting escape. Im having a hard time finding good fantasy now after reading ASOIAF. I have a question, What was the world of Westros like before the arrival of the Targaryen? You here tails of Children of the Forest and such. To me this sounds like Elves. Whats up north beyond the wall? Was there a time in your world where elves and other fantasy like mythical creatures roaming the lands? Will we ever see something like this again?
Jason Snodgrass
[b]No, no elves. The children are... well, the children.
Westeros has its giants too, so there are other races in my world. But no elves. Elves have been done to death.
[/b] First of all the books are amazing (ASOIAF, Wild Cards, the other stuff, its all great), thank you. Two related questions, and one unrelated one. While you probably have strong feelings for all the characters you write, do you have any "favorite characters" from A Song of Ice and Fire who you enjoy writing/simply like more than other characters?
[b]Tyrion. Arya is fun to write as well.[/b]
粗译一下
问：每卷开头死一个，结尾又死一个，他们是不是原来的腹稿中的人物呀？问：泰温有私生子吗？
答：他会因为这个问题鞭打你。
问：劳勃叛乱的时候，红毒蛇在哪里？
答：好问题。但我一时忘记了。也许在多恩，也许在狭海对面组织雇佣军。我需要去查查笔记确认一下。
问：雷加是在赫伦堡册封魔山的吗？
答：好像不是，但我又得去查查笔记了。好像魔山已经是骑士了
问：女性有权利成为临冬城主或北境女皇吗？
答：不行。虽然我也希望有天能写邓克&伊戈旅行到临冬城然后邂逅母狼们的故事。
问：维斯特洛和中世纪有多像？在风俗习惯方面？比如说，名门贵族的姑娘要学习帮客人洗澡或者学习做奶酪？珊莎的教育看起来过于不切实际-是她父母的过错还是别的女士们都像她这样？
答：珊莎不止是一个年轻的女士。她还是一个贵族的女儿，不是普通的贵族，而是维斯特洛最有权势的贵族。大贵族们凌驾于小贵族之上，而小贵族们统治着普通民众。
她不做奶酪，但艾莉亚可能喜欢。
问：你好马丁，谢谢你过来回答问题。有两个问题让我痛苦了好几年
猎狗和珊莎最后会在一起吗？
答：为什么呢？猎狗死了，珊莎也可能会死。那里只会有阿莲石。（我猜这意思是说艾林谷的阿莱莎之泪）
问：有更多的POVs吗？
答：是的，第五卷里有，而且比我开始预想的多。
问：会解释异鬼的起源吗？
艾莉亚后来会干出点事业吗？
答：无可奉告。
问：主角们会看到未描写的地方吗？（比如亚夏、瓦雷利亚、密尔、夷地？）
答：个别，也许。我可不想写一本梦幻大陆旅游指南的大部头，最后主角们把地图上的所有地方全部旅行了一遍。
问：Bayasabhad, Shamyriana和Kayakayanaya在哪儿？我们能看到这些亚马逊女战士吗？
答：维杜拉克的东北方。我不认为她们会成为书中的主要人物。
问：无面者和遗憾客有联系吗？
答：无。差异太大。
问：我知道你不会回答，但我还是要问
丹妮和琼恩会见面吗？
答：继续读。
谢谢回答，我从1996年开始就是您的FANS了……（后面省略）
亲爱的马丁：
您是有史以来最伟大的……我很荣幸……（后面省略）
问：你是怎么写那些小孩子的章节的，比如珊莎？那些如梦似幻的感觉（比如比武大会）……是看很多迪斯尼，还是喝醉酒再写的？
答：1995前我写权力的游戏时在一些特殊的章节里会参考和依据一些演员。但很不幸，现在他们都很大了，但书中的人物没有。
（下面是一段无聊的对话，省略……对我来说，只要和剧情无关都很无聊……这家伙居然想谈哲学和人性……）
问：詹姆说他和瑟曦一起来到这个世上，也将一起离开。会不会他杀了姐姐然后自杀，或者因为乱伦而被处死？我认为詹姆应该战死沙场，瑟曦则应该被绞死或砍头。
答：继续读。
问：特殊的婚姻制度会被维斯特洛接受吗？比如坦格利安家族……（好像不太准确……）
答：只要你有几头喷火的巨龙，你可以让他们接受很多事情。
问：我们还能看到热派、大牛、娜梅莉亚、瑞肯和毛毛狗吗？
答：是的，他们都会后面的书里出现。但在卷五只会出现一些。
问：卷终的时候我们能看到完整的世界地图吗？
答：整个世界的？明确地说，不会。中世纪的欧洲地图可不包括美洲和澳洲，就算他们关于中国和印度的知识也是错的。但最终的地图会包括所有书中提及的王国和地点。
问：坦格利安之前维斯特洛是什么样？森林之子听起来像精灵。长城后有什么？……
答：没有精灵。精灵已死。
问：最喜欢的人物？最喜欢写的人物？
答：提利昂。艾莉亚写起来很有趣。
[[i] 本帖最后由 孤城西门 于 2008-4-16 22:56 编辑 [/i]] SerSteffonMarstark wrote:
Some questions from another German fan:
1. Dragons
How many legs do your Dragons have?
[b]Two. The forelimbs are the wings.[/b]
Are they either male or female, somehow both, or do they breed magically?
[b]Sexing dragons is difficult. More in future books.[/b]
2. Valyrian Swords
We know of Ice, Brightroar, Longclaw, Lady Forlorn and others.
Do the other great houses (Arrym, Tully, Tyrell) own Valyrian steel swords? Are they just hiding them in their vaults, or why havent they appeared in the books?
[b]Oh, there are more Valyrian swords than we have seen so far. Not all of them belong to the Great Houses. Lesser nobility would oft purchase one as well, for the prestige, and sometimes knights or even lesser swords would acquire one on the battlefield, after the original owner fell. But there have been no more made since the Doom of Valyria.[/b]
3. Maesters Chain
Does a chain consist of only one link of each metall, or may a chain have more than one link of silver, gold, lead etc. ?
[b]Mulitple links are possible, and signify that the maester is especially accomplished in that area.[/b]
4. Dead Charakters
Many people have died during the books. Do you sometimes think, that you could need a dead charakter again?
I hope you enjoy writing the books as much as I reading them :-) PaulMontesanti wrote:
George,
For me, one of the most striking things about the Song of Ice and Fire series is the use of multiple perspectives strongly delineated by chapter. Was it always your intent to write A Song of Ice and Fire from the viewpoints of a wide variety of characters,
[b]Yes.[/b]
or was your initial focus more narrow? And what do you think are the strengths (and weaknesses?) of this construction?
[b]It is really the only way to tell a large, sprawling, complex story if you are using a third-person, limited viewpoint, as I do.[/b]
Thanks!
(Already asked in another thread, albeit a less appropriate one) meeop-tep wrote:
Mr. Martin,
I only have two short questions.
1. Is Little Finger loosely based on the life of Caligula? (Little Finger/Boots. Erratic Behavior. Outrageous acts masking deep political savvy, etc.)
[b]Definitely not. Gaius Caligula was nuts, and Petyr Baelish is as sane as can be. Caligula was flamoyant and drew attention to himself. Littlefinger is more subtle.[/b]
&
2. Why is Tyrion so awesome? Seriously, what was the inspiration behind him as a character?
[b]He's drawn from a wide variety of sources. Including myself. I'm taller.[/b]
Thank you. Steve_Johnson wrote:
Hello Mr. Martin. Love the series.
I was wondering if you could give us an approximate frame of reference for the size of the main continent in your Song of Ice and Fire series, say from the Wall to Dorne.
I've always argued that it's roughly Europe sized, based on travel times, etc. But my buddy thinks it's substantially bigger. Who's right?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[b] I have deliberately tried to be vague about such things, so I don't have obsessive fans with rulers measuring distances on the map and telling me Ned couldn't get from X to Y in the time I say he did.
However, if you really must know, you can figure out the distances for yourself. The Wall is a hundred leagues long. A league is three miles. Go from there.
But if you turn up any mistakes in travel times by using that measure, let it be your secret.[/b] Swift_Voyager wrote:
1) The SOIAF series began in a world basically devoid of magic and mystical creatures. Now that winter is coming the world is transforming into a more Tolkein style fantasy land. Was this planned from the beginning or did it just grow that direction?
[b]Planned from the beginning.[/b]
2) There is quite a bit of adult content in SOIAF, and I enjoy the series a lot more because of that, but I've met at least two people who tried your books and set them down because of your graphic writing style. Do you get much prodding from your publisher to be more or less graphic or include/exclude adult content, or are you mostly left to write as you please?
[b]My publishers are perfectly happy with the adult tone of my books. There are plenty of squeaky clean YA fantasies out there for them who don't like that sort of thing,
I do get occasional letters from readers who object to the sexual content in the books... but oddly enough, no one seems to object to the violence. It is a sad commentary on American society that there are people who will be outraged by a description of a penis entering a vagina, but not troubled at all by a description of an axe entering a head.[/b] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T2 wrote:
Hi George,
First I'd like to just say that I'm duly impressed. For an author of your popularity, an undertaking of this big a Q&A (even if you can't answer them all) is incredible.
[b]Thanks. I have to admit, though, that the number of questions is getting to be overwhelming, especially in this topic. Good thing I'm only doing this for a week.[/b]
Now then, questions.
1. In A Game of Thrones there's Bran's crow dream, where he sees three shadows. The first two are relatively easy to determine, but the third I cannot quite figure out. The commonly held belief is that it's Gregor, which doesn't seem to fit right. A less popular belief is that's it's Joffrey, and I guess if you take a few leaps - like the idea of black blood being symbolic of incest in Shakespeare - you can argue it. I'd love to know who it is, but I can understand if you can't answer that directly, like when people ask about whether Sandor's alive (and I'm not really sure about the Syrio Forel situation myself, so I sympathize) - although something occurred to me. Is the last shadow a character? Or is there some relevant passage/chapter in the books?
[b]Sorry, but you'll have to interpret the dreams and visions yourself. [/b]
2. I know you mentioned how Bran was the hardest to write. What is it like to write from the point of view of a wolf?
[b]Impossible, really. I keep staring at the drafts and saying, "a wolf wouldn't know that word." Of course, a wolf wouldn't know ANY words, really. And writing without any words is hard. All I can do is try to flavor those sections, to suggest that the wolf is perceiving the world much differently than a man would... but I'm always wondering if I have gone too far, or not far enough.
Yes, the wolf scenes are killers.[/b]
3. I love how you utilize languages in your books, especially with Dany (and the third book was amazing). How much have you developed Valyrian, and the other languages, and how?
[b]"How little" have I developed Valyrian is the real question. I am not, alas, J.R.R. Tolkien, and I cannot imagine taking a decade to actually work up not one, but two, entire languages. I have something like eight words of Valyrian. When I need a ninth, I'll make one up.
Sorry if that disillusions any of you. It's all smoke and mirrors, kids.[/b]
4. Will we get to hear more about Lyanna and that tournament? It is a beautiful sad scene from what I can tell so far.
[b]Yes, you'll hear more about Lyanna and Harrenhal.[/b]
5. Is Syrio Forel still alive?
6. Is your use of giants in your books both as a race and as symbolism (with Tyrion) really just a clever link to the football team? (Sorry, it came to mind and I had to ask.)
[b]Absolutely no link. Clever notion, though. And go G-Men![/b]
Thanks!
(Hey, after this is over you can probably put the questions that got asked multiple times on the FAQ -- y'know, if you ever have time. )
Message Edited by T2 on 04-17-2008 12:31 AM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juhan wrote:
Hello,
Possibly a strange question: What are the pros and cons of writing a "parallel" book to an already existing one? When writing DANCE, how much do you acknowledge the fact that it runs simultaniously with FEAST? (in terms of story etc.) Will you be playing a lot with the expectations or assumptions that have formed in the reader´s head after FEAST? Or can one just pick up either one after STORM and then read the other?
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[b]I don't necessarily recommend the whole "parallel books" thing. I've done it before, with Wild Cards volumes 6 and 7, and to a lesser extent volumes 4 and 5, and there's some cool things you can do... but all in all, I would have preferred to do it all in one book. There were special circumstances behind the split of DANCE from FEAST, as previously related.[/b] teholbeddict wrote:
This may be an odd question to post here, sir, but I've always been fascinated by the interaction between authors and their feelings of about each others' work. That being said, aside from you, my favorite author at the moment is Steven Erikson. Have you read any of the books in his Malazan series, and if so, what do you think of them?
[b]I met Erikson last year in Saratoga at the World Fantasy Con. He seemed to be a nice fellow, but I haven't read any of his books yet, alas. No judgment there. There's too many books and too little time. A lot of my fans seem to like the Malazan series, though, and I imagine I will get to it eventually.
I do read other fantasists all the time. I've raved about Scott Lynch and Daniel Abraham on my website. Right now I'm reading the first novel by a guy named Patrick Rothfuss, and enjoying it hugely, though I have some quibbles with the structure. [/b]
Since that question is a bit (or a lot) off topic, I'll ask another, more on topic, question: there are a lot of forums out there that speculate and theorize on future events in asoiaf. Have any of them ever hit close to the mark?
[b]I am aware of such forums, certainly, but I try to avoid them.[/b]
And if so, have you ever been tempted to change the outcome of some of the events in the series just to show 'em?
[b]And this is one of the big reasons WHY I avoid them.[/b]
Are you ever surprised by how perceptive your readers are, or do you feel that you've put enough hints throughout and that they should have figured out some of those mysteries by now?
Well, that turned out to be quite a few more questions than I intended. Sorry if they're a bit inarticulate, I kind of went on a typing frenzy.
Anyway, thank you for being so accessible to your fans and please know that I have very much enjoyed every book so far. And, even though your probably tired of hearing it, I await the next title with baited breath. My breath has been baited for quite awhile now. IronThrone_or_Bust wrote:
Hi George,
Your aSoIaF books are deliciously haunting. A few questions:
1) What is the most outlandish theory you've heard concerning your aSoIaF books?
2) When the Onion Knight was floating around in the bay after the battle of the Blackwater, he fancied he heard the Mother answer his prayer. Was that for real, or just his dehydrated brain playing tricks on him? I've always assumed this was deliberately ambiguous.
[b]It was. Which is why I won't answer the question. My readers are free to come to their own conclusions.[/b]
I wish you the best of luck and speed with aDoD! Try not to kill off too many of my favorite characters Petergrifindor wrote:
Have you revealed important details of the next books to Parris? Does she ask?
[b]No and no.[/b]
Thanks and sorry for my english
[b]You're most welcome. No apology necessary.[/b] Auldrin wrote:
Have you considered doing a combined version of a Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons with the chapters arranged together in the format similar to the other volumes?
I understand there were publishing concerns due to the size of such a book, but I have to believe it could be done in a specialty version. (I love the epic nature that you achieve going back and forth between the regions and would find it fascinating to one day re-read the chapters arranged how you originally thought!)
[b]I won't say no, but the resulting book would be a monster. You'd have to sew the binding together like a dictionary are sell it with its own special stand. Or else you could make the print really really small and include a magnifying glass.[/b]
Never stop writing! E-D wrote:
Dear Mr. Martin,
I did recall one other thing that I'd be interested in knowing. I loved Fevre Dream, and have been wondering...
You mentioned that the thirst eventually fades if a vampire lives to a certain age, like Dameon.
My question is, can ordinary vampires in your story then, survive without drinking human blood? Will they actually die if they don't give in to the thirst, or is it just more like this overpowering urge/primal instinct that they can't really bring themselves to fight against?
[b]Unlike the undead of myth (and many other novels), my "people of the night" could actually eat normal food, and it was that which provided most of their sustenence. The red thirst was more of an overpowering sexual urge that an actual thirst or hunger. Failing to satisfy it might drive them mad, but would not kill them. (They were very hard to kill in any case).[/b]
Thanks again.
Message Edited by E-D on 04-18-2008 02:14 PM Ran wrote:
1) Is cyvasse inspired by any particular games?
[b]A bit of chess, a bit of blitzkrieg, a bit of stratego. Mix well and add imagination.[/b]
2) In your "mind's ear", do accents from different parts of Westeros map to accents from real life, or are details like the Dornish drawl primarily a matter of background color?
[b]Yes, Westeros has regional accents. I played with the idea of trying to depict them with phonetic misspellings (and indeed I do a little of that, with some less educated characters), but that way lies madness. I try to suggest the accents with syntax and taglines instead.[/b]
3) There are historical mysteries -- not just recent matter which might have a bearing on the current plot, but older things that are a part of the background -- which have interested a lot of readers. Do you know the answers to all these purposeful mysteries, or do you only decide such details when you actually have to do so?
[b]Depends on the mystery, I suppose. I know the "answers" to many.[/b]
4) There seem to be hints in FEAST that Dornish commoners have a greater sense of nationalism (for lack of a better term) than we see in other areas. There are plenty of smallfolk yelling for war following Oberyn's death, for example, which I don't think we've ever seen before since the smallfolk tend to prefer peace and plenty. Timeon tells Brienne to send him to Dorne as she's killing him, as well. Is this intended, or am I reading too much into these examples?
[b]Dorne was a nation apart from the other six kingdoms until a hundred years ago, so, yes, they have a stronger sense of nationality.[/b]
Thanks for taking the time to do this, George. Reminds me of the old Legends forum that Tor setup.
Message Edited by Ran on 04-18-2008 11:37 PM
Message Edited by Ran on 04-18-2008 11:59 PM Turak wrote:
Hello once again.
I make my apologies, but I've recalled one more question that bother many of your fans.
Were the Targaryens the [b]only[/b] Valyrian House which possessed DRAGONS? Or may be there were another Houses which possessed dragons as well?
[b]They were the only dragonriders to survive the Doom.[/b]
Thanks and good luck! 马丁的回答到此就结束了
后面的这些我都没有翻译，因为这两天我都比较忙。等我有空了还是会翻译的（但是也许只能翻译部分，一是我水平有限，有些实在拿不准，二是有些回答没什么实际意义，没有这个必要翻译） 马丁真负责，活动结束了都还在回答问题:lol
mauldjdi wrote:
Mr Martin,
Like many of your fans I have been a longtime reader of fantasy and find myself completely surprised to hale your books (ASOIAF) as my favorites in the genre. I am glad that you are taking your time and ensuring that each book is of the quality you demand and not rushing to press in order to make money like other authors seem to do. I have read and re-read your novels many times and look forward to each and every one that is scheduled to come out. I have three questions for you;
1. Do you have plans to write about Ancient Valyria and the arrival of the Targaryen's to Westeros?
[b]Not at present, but anything is possible in the future.[/b]
2. Any plans to write more about young Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark and the War of the Usurper?
[b]Not at present, but I never say never.[/b]
3. Lastly, will Roy Dotrice be returning to narrate the upcoming audiobooks? He was sorely missed for Feast.
[b]I would love to have Roy back, and I know he'd love to do it. It all depends on the schedule, and whether or not he is available when Random House wants to record. Last time there was a scheduling conflict.[/b]
Thank you for your time.
Shrek
USMC Cadwal1983 wrote:
Dear Martin,
1) What autors of Fantasy, Science Fiction or Terror have influenced you more in write adult sex scene in a Song of Ice and Fire? (Mary Gentle, for example, uses some sex adult scenes in The Book of Ash)
2) What books of Jack Vance do you think have influenced you more in your own work? Do you like very much also the last stuff of Vance, Ports of Call/Lurulu?
[b]I love everything that Jack Vance has written, although some of it I love more than others.
Some of his series projects are particular favorites - the Dying Earth, the Demon Princes, the Planet of Adventure. His mysteries are good as well, especially BAD RONALD, a truly creepy concept.[/b]
3) And what books of Stephen King do you think have influenced more in your books?
[b]Well, I like a lot of King as well. I think THE SHINING is probably his masterpiece.[/b]
4) Have you read and seen the manga and the anime of Berserk? Did you like it?
[b]No, don't follow manga or anime.[/b]
A lot of thanks! Lord_Varys wrote:
Well, after listening to the audiobook version of 'The Sworn Sword' last night, there are a few pressing questions (I hope you consider to anwer them as they may be a little obscure, but the answer would make me very happy).
1) Ser Eustace Osgrey says that one reason of Aemon Blackfyre to rebel against the then more than ten years ruling King Daeron was that Daeron 'sold his sister to the Prince of Dorne'. A sister that loved Daemon Blackfyre (by the way, what's the name of this sister of Daeron's?). But how is it possible that Daeron the Good got the credit for brokering the marriage with Dorne in the first place? Daeron must have got married during the reign of his father, Aegon the Unworthy (his fourth son Maekar commanded a men at the Battle of the Redgrass Field; he must have been at least 15 or 16 then). Therefore, officially, Aegon IV. should have been responsible for getting Dorne joining the Realm, even if Daeron was his Hand at that time, and the whole Dorne thing was his idea. He certainly was not able to this as King.
[b]Daeron II was much older than his sister Daenerys. He was already married and father to a son of his own (Baelor Breakspear) before she was born. That marriage was brokered by King Baelor the Blesser, who also officated at the ceremony. It was part of the peace with Dorne, following the conquest of Daeron I. The wedding of Daenerys and the Dornish prince came much later, and was part of the treaty that brought Dorne into the realm.[/b]
[As an alternative, I could imagine that the first talks between Dorne and the Iron Throne took place during the Handship/short reign of Viserys II. Aegon the Unworthy fathered Daemon Blackfyre during the reign of Baelor the Blessed, Daeron the Good was his elder, so it's possible he could have been betrothed to his Dornish Princess by his grandfather.]
2) We have heard that the Dance of Dragons changed the Targaryen custom of succession. Meaning that after it, even uncles would come before daughters (which explains why Viserys II. and not Daena the Defiant ascended the Iron Throne). Go the roots of the Blackfyre Rebellion even back to Daena? Did she tell her son 'I should have been Queen, and you should be King after me', meaning that Daemon considered his own claim to the Iron Throne coming more from his mother's side than his father's?
[b]Certainly possible, but it was Aegon's very public gift of Blackfyre to his bastard son that first started widespread talk that perhaps he should be king.[/b]
3) In 'The Sworn Sword' we see the decline of the once not-so small House of Osgrey. Are you happy with your decision to let every Great House get (more or less) unharmed through every major war after the Conquest? One should assume that Rhaenyra Targaryen or Daemon Blackfyre got at least one or two Great Houses behind them with their full strength as their principal supporters (which could have meant, that the victorious party took away their wealth and privileges - if not their lives - afterwards to make a point).
Well, okay, I think I should shut up and accept that no Great House got crushed, instead of imagining that one should have got crushed ;-).
[b]Well, the series isn't over.[/b]
[As we speak about it, would young Harrold Hardyng, if young Robert Arryn would die, become Lord Hardyng of the Vale or could he style himself Lord Arryn? If the latter is the case, one could imagine that other distant relatives also changed their names when they became the Lords of Storm's End, Casterly Rock or Riverrun.]
4) Took the North (especially the Starks) part in any post-Conquest war? Somehow I don't see any Lord of Winterfell cross the Neck before the whole 'thing' between Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.
Maybe if there were any Targaryen-Stark-marriages (Jaehaerys I. and Alysanne could have brokered one when they visited Winterfell). Was there any?
5) Clearly, the High Sparrow manipulated Cersei into rearming the Faith in AFfC (a strong written passage, in my opinion). But we already had a Septon on the Iron Throne: Baelor the Blessed. Why did he not rearm the Faith? Well, it's possible his uncle did not let him (or poisoned him when he planned to do that ;-)).
[b]Baelor the Blessed wasn't interested in arming anyone. He would have preferred to disarm the entire world. He was a man of peace, and his favorite weapon was a prayer.[/b]
But how exactly was the relationship between the Faith and the Crown under Baelor? Was he mad enough to pursue only ridicilous agendas as, for example, banishing all the ravens?
I'm under the impression that Baelor's somehow reflects the relationship of the young church and the late Roman empire (or, better, the relationship between the church and the Byzantine Empire): After Maegor broke the neck of the Faith the Targaryen Kings were able to force there own theological preferences on the Faith. But except for Baelor no one was interested in doing that.
6) Did ever any younger Targaryen princes got Lordships and castles of their own? We see that Daeron the Good gifted Maekar with Summerhall. Were there Houses sworn to the Prince of Summerhall, and would one of his sons have ruled in the South as Prince of Summerhall, if Maekar had not ascended the Iron Throne?
I can see a similar situation back before the Dance of Dragons (Viserys I. could have had many uncles, aunts, cousins etc.).
7) Can we assume that the Young Dragon was gay? It's strange that Daena should be betrothed/married to Baelor as long as Daeron I. still lived. Especially as you himself said Daena idolized both her father and her eldest brother.
[b]No, Daeron I was not gay. He was married, but died without issue.[/b]
8) A few pages ago sou said you hoped to write once the Dunk & Egg novella about the she-wolves. So the Dunk & Egg novella next to be published does not cover Dunk's quest to see the Wall?
[b]Sorry, but no. Though it does touch on some other subjects you've raised here. It is titled "The Mystery Knight."
And that ends my week here on Center Stage. Thanks to all of you who participated. I appreciate your questions, and I'm sorry I did not have the time to answer all of them.
And thanks as well to the good folks at Barnes & Noble and B&N.com for hosting us.[/b] 1) Is Mace Tyrell aware of his youngest son's sexuality? Does the Queen of Thorns know?
Yes and yes.
晕 开明的古代人啊 我一直不明白Renly是否对Loras有爱 或者只是利用
太阳下山之后没有蜡烛能够代替 若小花真的为一个不爱自己的人在灵魂上奉献终生的话还真是可悲啊
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