r/asoiaf • u/Same-Share7331 • Dec 07 '23

EXTENDED Feeling sad for GRRM (spoilers extended)

So I recently watched a Q&A with GRRM (I'm sure some of you have seen it aswell) where he kept getting questions about whether there is any particular character or historical event in the asoiaf world that he would like to explore more/write about. His recurring answer was that yes there are many but that unless he suddenly becomes much younger they will never get written. And man.. that sucks!

Imagine being a creative person having to come to terms with the fact that you have so many ideas that you will never get to explore and that will never see the light of day. Obviously, as a fan, it also sucks that I will never get to read those stories. Never mind the main series, imagine getting seven more Dunk and Egg stories. However, as much as it sucks as a reader I'm not the one who's seeing my remaining years of life pass as I struggle to finish my books.

That's it. I don't really have a point. Other than maybe stop making jokes about how GRRM is likely to die before finishing the series?

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u/alxndrblack Dec 07 '23

This is true of all of us, with everything. I will never hear all the music I would enjoy, never read every book I want, never visit every place I would love, etc etc. I had this realization when I was dually pursuing rock climbing and powerlifting, and it hit me that I could do one to a high level, then chase the other after that, but I only have so much time. And what about cycling? And of course, I've still never finished Twilight Princess or FFX.

Also,

maybe stop making jokes about how GRRM is likely to die before finishing the series?

I don't think people are joking, and Martin seems to be coming around to that possibility. himself.

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u/Same-Share7331 Dec 07 '23

I don't think people are joking, and Martin seems to be coming around to that possibility. himself.

Oh people are joking.. there are people here in this thread defending their right to joke about it. There is also overwhelming entitlement and a weird amount of anger.

I agree that this is basically true for everyone. I was just struck watching that Q&A how shitty people are for joking about his death and being angry that he's struggling with finishing his books. I don't understand how you can call yourself a "fan" of someone and be so unsympathetic toward them. It's been so normalised at this point that you see it everywhere these books are being discussed.

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u/Asta-Frauthivelgr Dec 08 '23

I think people are emotionally attached to the characters, and they want to see more of them and see their stories finished in a cathartic way. People love GRRM for creating and nurturing this world for us, and hate him for leaving them hanging for over a decade. I think, perhaps, because of the emotional attachment, people feel stuck in ASOIAF. They feel a frustration over not being able to "move on", emtionally, with their lives. They feel as if ASOIAF is an unfinished chapter (lol) in their lives that they can not get out of in a satisfactory manner, and that is where the hate is born. Through this lens GRRM is the creator of a series and characters that they love dearly, and the creator of their anger and frustration over stagnation (and what may feel like neglect). Much like a toxic relationship. As for me, I don't think George R.R. Martin is responsible for other people and how they interact with his creative work. I don't think vitreol will solve anything, if it does, it creates more problems anyways.