Following the announcement that HBO will produce a series based on George R. R. Martin’s acclaimed fantasy series, A Song of Fire and Ice, Toronto Star reporter Cathal Kelly has an article on the downside of Martin’s going fame – when people read his books, they want to find out how the series ends but cannot – it’s been five years since the fourth book in the seven book series has been published and Martin does not know when the fifth will be out. As a result people are starting to get impatient, particular since during this interval Martin has published several other works and has numerous other interests besides writing the next book in the series. The article notes:
The most disgruntled Martin fans gather together on blogs and message boards like The Slothenly Author, Is Winter Coming? (a play on the motto of Martin’s heroes, “winter is coming”), and the particularly acerbic Finish the Book, George.
Follow fantasy author Neil Gaiman expresses the view of Martin’s defenders: George R.R. Martin is not your bitch and George R. R. Martin is not working for you.
My view is Gaiman is right but anyone thinking of buying the books in the series should be warned by the bookstore staff or by a note on the online web sales page that the series may never be finished.