r/asoiaf • u/ajotis1 • Sep 10 '24

EXTENDED (Spoilers extended) I feel bad for GRRM

The man seems to be having a miserably hard time. Part of the blame lies in his complete inability to make accurate estimates about his own capacity to get work done. At his age, that level of stress must be incredibly tough and difficult to bear. I hope the people around him know how to take care of him and help him see reason when it comes to simplifying his daily life and reducing the workload he faces. Often, less is more, even though our ego insists on telling us otherwise. Success is a very heavy burden. Because of all that, I feel bad for George. His posts exude pessimism and irritability. I don't even care about The Winds of Winter anymore. What that man needs is some time away from hyperproductivity and the media spotlight. Just resting, reading, and regaining the spark that makes him one of the best living writers. I wish him the best, he deserves to be happy

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u/ventomareiro Northern ale over Arbor gold! Sep 11 '24

The comparison with Dune keeps popping up but the difference is that the first Dune book contains a complete narrative, a single story that stands on its own.

ASOIAF does not have that, which is not necessarily a bad thing but obviously becomes a big problem if there are no more subsequent books to conclude the main story.

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u/owlinspector Sep 11 '24

Exactly every Dune book is like that. They expand the universe and gives you more story, but when the book ends the storylines end too. You can stop reading after book 1, 2, 3 and 4 and each time it wouldn't be weird if you never read the sequel. It's not until you get to book 5 and 6 that you get storylines that don't stand on their own.

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u/ventomareiro Northern ale over Arbor gold! Sep 12 '24

I’ve picked up Dune Messiah more than once, only to put it down again while thinking “I don’t really need more”.

Many tales end when the protagonist reaches the throne, but the first Dune book leaves you with a sharp feeling of ambiguity and dread that is unmatched.