I would say that the first three books do stand alone to a certain extent. Characters are left 'plateaued' at the end of Book 3 (in stable situations, not in imminent danger of death) and there are no immediate cliffhangers. That's why people bore five-year wait for Book 4 quite stoically, whilst they're moaning a lot more now, as Book 4 ended on a ton of cliffhangers (most of which won't actually be resolved until Book 6).
And I would say the even greater annoyance now has more to do with how DwD was supposed to follow aFfC rather quickly, but then didn't, and with the lack of certain characters' appearances in aFfC, so that fans have been waiting for new story in those plotlines (including as you know of course many of the most popular ones) for quite a long while now.
So... A Game of Thrones
- 04/09/2009 03:52:25 PM
1619 Views
Re: Meh. *NM*
- 04/09/2009 03:54:32 PM
440 Views
What a scintillating contribution you've made
- 04/09/2009 03:58:55 PM
1269 Views
- 04/09/2009 03:58:55 PM
1269 Views
Re: It was an excellent summation of my feelings on the matter!
- 04/09/2009 04:50:15 PM
1245 Views
I've missed you, Mr Darcy. <3
- 04/09/2009 05:21:05 PM
1156 Views
Re: I love you, Sir Lucas whose first name I have forgotten. (William?)
- 05/09/2009 12:31:20 PM
1127 Views
'Game' was good. The rest go downhill fast, though.
- 04/09/2009 04:53:57 PM
1056 Views
I always like it when people post this.
- 04/09/2009 05:52:50 PM
1039 Views
Oh alright, so there was a bit of exaggeration.
(very slight real spoilers)
- 04/09/2009 06:18:13 PM
928 Views
(very slight real spoilers)
- 04/09/2009 06:18:13 PM
928 Views
If you keep up the 15-year delay, you may not have to wait to read the fifth book...
- 05/09/2009 01:28:52 AM
924 Views
Just to ask.....are the first 3 books essentially a trilogy?
- 05/09/2009 05:47:14 PM
873 Views
More or less
- 05/09/2009 06:59:53 PM
821 Views
You were that "kind poster!"
- 06/09/2009 04:09:53 AM
793 Views
- 06/09/2009 04:09:53 AM
793 Views
A few moments like that, yes.
- 06/09/2009 01:16:06 PM
879 Views
Very cool, after Warbreaker, I may give GRRM a shot.....thanks! *NM*
- 06/09/2009 07:37:47 PM
416 Views
Quite stoically? That's not how I remember it.
- 06/09/2009 07:57:56 PM
885 Views
- 06/09/2009 07:57:56 PM
885 Views

*NM*