Personally, I am not bothered by waiting for the rest of aSoIaF. I enjoy a lot of other books and as long as the series is finished one day, I don't care WHEN I finish it. I don't feel Martin owes me anything. However, I have only read the existing books of aSoIaF in the past 12 months, so I cannot say for sure that I will continue to bear the wait with magnamity, as I cannot see the future.

However, just because I am OK with GRRM taking his time over his series (because, though I love it, it is only a book, only one of several books I wish to read and as I cannot dedicate my full schedule purely to reading books I might not be able to read the next book immediately anyway) and feel he can live his life as he pleases, doesn't mean I can't empathise with people who are upset by this. I mean, waiting for years for anything is frustrating and I agree that misleading people, however accidentally, with whatever reason to believe you are right, is destined to piss people off. I assume that the combined most painful factors here are the promised deadlines being crushed step by step and the fact that GRRM's blog emphasises his other interests?

It all comes down to whether we think GRRM is trying to finish aDwD on time or if he is slacking. If the former, then we should be sorry that the man cannot do something he wishes to and hope that he can dig himself out of his block/plot difficulties. If not, then anger is acceptable, because though he has made no formal promise, he knows people rely on him and idleness would be letting them down. Plus I cannot tolerate anyone who leaves a job half-done. That would be a matter of pride for me. But that's me.

So where Werthead and you disagree is on Martin's intentions and effort: not being able to write his series (for whatever reason) is unfortunate. Not being willing to AND not being open about it is unprofessional. GRRM can give out mixed signals in his blog. But you can't blame a man for defending what he perceives as the absolute truth to the death. Neither you nor Werthead can read GRRM's mind so neither of you has evidence (as you rightly imply), but it is human nature to get heated up in passionate subjects and the debate thereof. So both of you calm down eh?


On a side note, have you read the Sandman as you dismiss Gaiman? If so, fine, if not, I emplore you to try it - it's his real standard of quality and it is very easy to dislike American Gods or his younger books nad still enjoy his style. Though whether you try or not is your choice and still your opinion.