A Song of Ice and Fire

IMHO, A Song of Ice and Fire is the best medieval fantasy series out there. It's clean, smooth; not like that convoluted soap opera that Robert Jordan has been spouting out with the last four of his books (hold on, that's not a flame. I'm a huge fan of Robert Jordan).

In the beginning the series was to be only three books. However, Mr. Martin was only half way through what he had outlined for the first novel when he realized that he was nearing the 1000 page mark. So, the series has been extended to six books. This is mostly a good thing, as the books that have been released are fantastic. It's partially a bad thing, though, as the time between novels so far has been three years... That means it could be 15 years total from beginning to end. I don't know if I can wait that long!

Known titles:

• A Game of Thrones
• A Clash of Kings
• A Storm of Swords
• A Dance with Dragons
• The Winds of Winter

Initially the plan was to have five books, this later became expanded to six, with a five-year unnarrated gap between A Storm of Swords and A Dance with Dragons.

Martin now plans to tell the story of those five years in book 4 of the series, entitled A Feast for Crows, scheduled for release this summer. DwD is now book 5.

Two new PoVs are planned for the book: one has been confirmed as Cercei Lannister, but Martin is remaining tight-lipped about the other. There will, however, be no more Catelyn PoVs, and characters who are going through a "Learning Process" will only have one or two chapters.

Martin claims he can still finish the series in six books. Sources close to him, however, say that with the inclusion of FfC this is unlikely, and are betting on seven. If this ever increases to eight, then a diagnosis of creeping Jordanitis will be made.