Some comments on GRRM's sluggardly pace...

[Drying Ink]

..Please tell me this is a joke.

[jdiddyesquire]

..Please tell me this is a joke.

... do I hear 9 from anyone?

[Nighteyes]

I heard he is considering introducing an inter dimension portal to allow his characters from Wild Cards to join the saga.

[jdiddyesquire]

I heard he is considering introducing an inter dimension portal to allow his characters from Wild Cards to join the saga.

Haha, that made my day.

[pornokitsch]

Ha! Me too.

[Overlord]

Seemed to me A Feast For Crows was a pointless addition to the series? I mean... the Brienne chapters especially could have been halved I am sure. Just seemed to me to slam the breaks onto things... the only big revelations really were the Greyjoys and the Dornish things being revealed - but other that that, the movement forward of the plot was very, very minor.

Well... I'm gonna take a month off before reading ADWD now

[Nighteyes]

Seemed to me A Feast For Crows was a pointless addition to the series? I mean... the Brienne chapters especially could have been halved I am sure. Just seemed to me to slam the breaks onto things... the only big revelations really were the Greyjoys and the Dornish things being revealed - but other that that, the movement forward of the plot was very, very minor.

Well... I'm gonna take a month off before reading ADWD now

I think you have raced through the series way too fast, and have missed some important points - Littlefinger is crucial to the story.  I think alongside Varys and Illyrio Mopatis; these three are the most crucial antagonists, (also why we never get POVs from them!) as they have basically directed all the discord and disharmony taking place in Westoros, and have triggered all the important incidents. So that makes Sansa's POVs in AFFC very crucial to the ongoing plot - and Arya's growth and training is very important too.... And Brienne's POVs show us the state of the common people in Westeros ....

But yes, overall, he should have not cut the two books in half, and released them much quicker!!!

[Overlord]

Seemed to me A Feast For Crows was a pointless addition to the series? I mean... the Brienne chapters especially could have been halved I am sure. Just seemed to me to slam the breaks onto things... the only big revelations really were the Greyjoys and the Dornish things being revealed - but other that that, the movement forward of the plot was very, very minor.

Well... I'm gonna take a month off before reading ADWD now

I think you have raced through the series way too fast, and have missed some important points - Littlefinger is crucial to the story.  I think alongside Varys and Illyrio Mopatis; these three are the most crucial antagonists, (also why we never get POVs from them!) as they have basically directed all the discord and disharmony taking place in Westoros, and have triggered all the important incidents. So that makes Sansa's POVs in AFFC very crucial to the ongoing plot - and Arya's growth and training is very important too.... And Brienne's POVs show us the state of the common people in Westeros ....

But yes, overall, he should have not cut the two books in half, and released them much quicker!!!

OK... going to try and respond to this in a spoiler free manner...

Not that fast... I read the four in about a month. I haven't missed Littlefinger's importance at all - however, I knew it in Game of Thrones when he did what he did. It has also been re-enforced in other books too. In fact, it was shown more in ASOS than it was in this book. Varys isn't even in AFFC by the way... the coin link is explained - but this could have been done fairly easy in a less lengthy volume. Again,  Illyrio Mopatis is mentioned more in other books - it is only the links between Dorne and XXX that were really important to me in this book really. Illyrio Mopatis is back mentioned early on in ADWD so I have heard.

[Nighteyes]

Martin put a chapter online about 4 or 5 years ago from ADWD showing the meeting between Tyrion and Mopatis. A Feast for Crows is def the weakest volume, but there is a lot in there, but involves lots of detective work, and rereading the whole series again having read it. Arya's chapters are superb, and while Jamie and Brienne's chapters are Very longwinded they are beautiful pieces of descriptive writing. Cersai's descent into madness and the unleashing of the militant religious order(forgot their name!) Is superb. Add what you rightfully pointed out are the excellent Dorne and Greyjoy chapters, and you still got a fantasy book which is head and shoulders over most. Just overall, ASOIAF is a fine wine to be sipped and enjoyed not rushed down and mixed with other drinks. Though having said that I am powering through Wheel of Time and not allowing myself time to enjoy all the intricate plotlines and mysteries other readers have debated over the last two decades, so I am just as guilty! Wait till you read the posts of a Newbie powering through the Kingkiller Chronicles in 5years time to be up to date for the release of the final book and you will see what I mean!