Rant: Uncool, Readers, Most Uncool
George R. R. Martin is my favorite author. Like many of his readers, I have particular admiration and affection for his epic fantasy series, A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE. These are, without question, my favorite books in my favorite genre in my favorite sub-genre.
They are my (ongoing) bible of literature. To anyone who doesn't care for these books, scoff at this statement if you wish. I really don't care one whit. This story has given me more entertainment than I could ever put into words (ironic, no?), and for that I will be forever grateful to this man.
George Martin has had a literary career anyone would kill for. Awards, the # 1 spot on the NY Times Bestseller List, the respect of his peers, an ongoing series of books that has spawned a franchise, a fanbase as passionate as any, and countless opportunities that continue to offer themselves as a result of his hard work, talent, dedication, and imagination. On top of this, it's not an outrageous statement to say that after George passes on (and I hope it won't be for a long, LONG time), these books could very well continue to grace the shelves of bookstores everywhere.
Pretty good, right?
And yet, right now I feel bad for this guy. Why? Read this. He's posted a lot today, something like 13 times, so right now I'm referring to the last two posts. If he continues to post beyond this, I'm referring to the posts that deal with A Dance With Dragons, what will be the next book in A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE. I'm a regular follower of his blog, and I've been following these books since the first one. I'm even lucky enough to own a signed first edition of the first book in the series, which is now worth quite the pretty penny. I purchased this book through his website some years ago, back when he was selling them for cover price and the series had yet to become a phenomenom. I was in my early 20s at the time, and had just realized I wanted to be a writer myself. When I saw this offer on his website, I wasted no time in cutting him a check and sending it off.
I also sent him a letter, briefly introducing myself and asking a few writerly questions. It didn't take long for the book to come back, along with a page-long letter from George, answering my questions. That letter is still tucked into the dust jacket of that book, which I consider one of my most cherished possessions. And do you know how he signed the book? "Dear Douglas, May all your winters be short, and all your books bestsellers."
Anyone who reads these books will understand just how cool of an inscription this is. All I was hoping for was a signature and maybe a quickly scribbled paragraph in answer to my letter. That I got so much more tells me that George is not just a writer to be admired ...he is a person to be admired. He remembers his roots. He remembers what it's like to be a fan, to be a writer wanting to break in and then working his way up the ranks. He loved and still loves the genre, which is why he went the extra mile for me. He was paying it forward.
So can you imagine how it must feel when the very people he tries to be so kind to start attacking him because the latest book hasn't come out soon enough for their liking? I'll tell you how it must feel. It feels like he's getting stabbed in the back. He doesn't deserve this. Is the book taking a long time? Yes. Do I want to read it? Yes. Am I anxious to read it? Yes. But so fucking what? He's doing his best. Do you think your criticisms and attacks are helping? Do you honestly think he's going to write faster because you bitched and moaned? He is only human (even if he is secretly God--all hail George!)
If someone is taking the time attack him, it's quite likely they're passionate about his books. I would imagine many of these people consider themselves his most ardent fans.
Well, they're not. If you're one of these people attacking the poor man because the next book isn't out, you're not a fan. You're a fucking nitwit who needs to get a life. You're a little too obsessed with these books, and it isn't healthy. Honestly, I'd respect you more if you wrote him hate mail, expressing your contempt for how violent his books are. I'd respect you more if you wrote to tell him he's the most overrated writer in our genre. You'd be wrong, but I'd still respect you more.
Go a read another book for Christ's sake. Better yet, take a look in the mirror and reassess your life, because you clearly have issues. How dare any of you tell him to not take on other projects, to not go to conventions, to not watch football. It's his fucking life, not yours. But you don't want him to have a life. You want him chained to his desk, slaving away. It doesn't work that way, and nothing you say will change that. If his timetables are that unacceptable, stop reading his books. Otherwise SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!
When this series is done, I pity the lot of you, because you'll have nothing left to live for.
Rock on, George!!!
They are my (ongoing) bible of literature. To anyone who doesn't care for these books, scoff at this statement if you wish. I really don't care one whit. This story has given me more entertainment than I could ever put into words (ironic, no?), and for that I will be forever grateful to this man.
George Martin has had a literary career anyone would kill for. Awards, the # 1 spot on the NY Times Bestseller List, the respect of his peers, an ongoing series of books that has spawned a franchise, a fanbase as passionate as any, and countless opportunities that continue to offer themselves as a result of his hard work, talent, dedication, and imagination. On top of this, it's not an outrageous statement to say that after George passes on (and I hope it won't be for a long, LONG time), these books could very well continue to grace the shelves of bookstores everywhere.
Pretty good, right?
And yet, right now I feel bad for this guy. Why? Read this. He's posted a lot today, something like 13 times, so right now I'm referring to the last two posts. If he continues to post beyond this, I'm referring to the posts that deal with A Dance With Dragons, what will be the next book in A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE. I'm a regular follower of his blog, and I've been following these books since the first one. I'm even lucky enough to own a signed first edition of the first book in the series, which is now worth quite the pretty penny. I purchased this book through his website some years ago, back when he was selling them for cover price and the series had yet to become a phenomenom. I was in my early 20s at the time, and had just realized I wanted to be a writer myself. When I saw this offer on his website, I wasted no time in cutting him a check and sending it off.
I also sent him a letter, briefly introducing myself and asking a few writerly questions. It didn't take long for the book to come back, along with a page-long letter from George, answering my questions. That letter is still tucked into the dust jacket of that book, which I consider one of my most cherished possessions. And do you know how he signed the book? "Dear Douglas, May all your winters be short, and all your books bestsellers."
Anyone who reads these books will understand just how cool of an inscription this is. All I was hoping for was a signature and maybe a quickly scribbled paragraph in answer to my letter. That I got so much more tells me that George is not just a writer to be admired ...he is a person to be admired. He remembers his roots. He remembers what it's like to be a fan, to be a writer wanting to break in and then working his way up the ranks. He loved and still loves the genre, which is why he went the extra mile for me. He was paying it forward.
So can you imagine how it must feel when the very people he tries to be so kind to start attacking him because the latest book hasn't come out soon enough for their liking? I'll tell you how it must feel. It feels like he's getting stabbed in the back. He doesn't deserve this. Is the book taking a long time? Yes. Do I want to read it? Yes. Am I anxious to read it? Yes. But so fucking what? He's doing his best. Do you think your criticisms and attacks are helping? Do you honestly think he's going to write faster because you bitched and moaned? He is only human (even if he is secretly God--all hail George!)
If someone is taking the time attack him, it's quite likely they're passionate about his books. I would imagine many of these people consider themselves his most ardent fans.
Well, they're not. If you're one of these people attacking the poor man because the next book isn't out, you're not a fan. You're a fucking nitwit who needs to get a life. You're a little too obsessed with these books, and it isn't healthy. Honestly, I'd respect you more if you wrote him hate mail, expressing your contempt for how violent his books are. I'd respect you more if you wrote to tell him he's the most overrated writer in our genre. You'd be wrong, but I'd still respect you more.
Go a read another book for Christ's sake. Better yet, take a look in the mirror and reassess your life, because you clearly have issues. How dare any of you tell him to not take on other projects, to not go to conventions, to not watch football. It's his fucking life, not yours. But you don't want him to have a life. You want him chained to his desk, slaving away. It doesn't work that way, and nothing you say will change that. If his timetables are that unacceptable, stop reading his books. Otherwise SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!
When this series is done, I pity the lot of you, because you'll have nothing left to live for.
Rock on, George!!!