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.
And yes, for many of those reasons
So... A Game of Thrones
- 04/09/2009 03:52:25 PM
1680 Views
Re: Meh. *NM*
- 04/09/2009 03:54:32 PM
472 Views
What a scintillating contribution you've made
- 04/09/2009 03:58:55 PM
1398 Views
- 04/09/2009 03:58:55 PM
1398 Views
Re: It was an excellent summation of my feelings on the matter!
- 04/09/2009 04:50:15 PM
1314 Views
I've missed you, Mr Darcy. <3
- 04/09/2009 05:21:05 PM
1219 Views
Re: I love you, Sir Lucas whose first name I have forgotten. (William?)
- 05/09/2009 12:31:20 PM
1199 Views
'Game' was good. The rest go downhill fast, though.
- 04/09/2009 04:53:57 PM
1134 Views
I always like it when people post this.
- 04/09/2009 05:52:50 PM
1111 Views
Oh alright, so there was a bit of exaggeration.
(very slight real spoilers)
- 04/09/2009 06:18:13 PM
1003 Views
(very slight real spoilers)
- 04/09/2009 06:18:13 PM
1003 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
992 Views
Just to ask.....are the first 3 books essentially a trilogy?
- 05/09/2009 05:47:14 PM
942 Views
More or less
- 05/09/2009 06:59:53 PM
897 Views
You were that "kind poster!"
- 06/09/2009 04:09:53 AM
863 Views
- 06/09/2009 04:09:53 AM
863 Views
A few moments like that, yes.
- 06/09/2009 01:16:06 PM
956 Views
Very cool, after Warbreaker, I may give GRRM a shot.....thanks! *NM*
- 06/09/2009 07:37:47 PM
450 Views
Quite stoically? That's not how I remember it.
- 06/09/2009 07:57:56 PM
945 Views
- 06/09/2009 07:57:56 PM
945 Views
Okay, more stoically than now.
- 06/09/2009 09:10:31 PM
990 Views

*NM*