Dance with Deadlines
Patrick from the popular blog Pat's Fantasy Hotlist posts an exclusive excerpt from a new Dunk and Egg story by George R.R. Martin. The first comment to this blog entry:

Anonymous
I m really glad that George can find the time to do anything under the sun, but finish the book that everyone is waiting for. For example, eating, watching football, editing crappy novels nobody cares about, talking about Paris, conventions in 3rd world countries, etc. Also, its really cool how he releases books in England first when 95 % of his fans are in the U.S. Good job fatso! Boycott?

And it goes downhill from here. For more than 200 comments "Martin sucks because he is doing everything except writing A Dance with Dragons" people and "Leave Martin alone! Quit whining and find something else to read!" people are bitching at each other. Highlights include:


knightblade
Some required reading for you, "Anonymous"... scroll down about 1/3 to get to the part re: Martin...

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/05/entitlement-issues.html

I'll sum it up for you in a nutshell though, as Gaiman so beautifully put it:

"George RR Martin is not your bitch."

Remember that the next time you catch yourself picking your nose instead of working.

Anonymous
never suggested that he was. but it s apparent that you are his. probably make more a year than you.

Anonymous
Martin might not be my bitch but he has become the Duke Nukem Forever of the fantasy book world..

promise dates, throw out content, entire engine rewrites, more promises of dates, then even a little showing off of samples. Dance is vaporware.

Anonymous
GRRM needs to dance with the deadlines. Doesn't being a professional writer insinuate that you can in fact meet deadlines. Even the ones that you have the luxury of making up yourself? There are too many Oprahs on this post complaining about people being upset that GRRM has essentially failed his audience countless times. Go Jets right GRRM? At what point is it ok to site the personal behaviors that affect his professional work Mr. Philosophy? For the people that have read the series from day one, whose recollect of events and story lines hasn't evaded them at this point? Does GRRM expect people to really re-read his books over and over again in hopes that he may release the next one when he gets good and ready? Come on! I have no degree in philosophy, and don't write for a living. But I can detect bullshit when its present.

Anonymous
it s amazing how many people love the fact that marty shits on them daily, then wipes his big fat ass with your money. you people who support him, and his hobbies (book sales money) justify his behavoir in his mind. i just sold all my first editions of his last week. im done with the full time football fan, part time writer. for all i care he can spend all his time watching football, going to conventions, while eating jelly rolls and fried dough. oh wait he already does.

charles
THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON ANYBODY GIVES A SHIT WHETHER HE FINISHES ON TIME OR NOT : THEY'RE AFRAID HE'S GOING TO DIE. AFTER ROBERT JORDAN, THE FANTASY WORLD IS SO PARANOID OF LOSING ITS OTHER GREAT HIGH FANTASY AUTHOR THAT THEY'RE GOING INSANE.

IF HE FINISHES IT BEFORE HE DIES, HE FINISHES IT. IF HE DIES FIRST, HE DIES. ALL MEN MUST DIE.

Anonymous
Please remember: ALL of Martin's little side-projects and hobbies et al were allowed by the loyal support of us who read his ASOIAF tales... If I had known of the delays behind these I would've never started reading them. I feel he owes me an ending in a reasonabl amount of time (which is NOT a 5 year wait between each book). I feel he's taking advantage of us for our support of his primary work. Our support of him has to be at least PARTIALLY based on a belief that we wouldn't have to endure waits like the one we're in now...

I believe he hould feel he owes it to us becuase of the lifestyle we afforded him to finish in a more expeditious manner than he has... alll the riting baout football and side-projects almost flaunts how little he cares for what his sudience wants from him.

Anonymous
What I find most inappropriate is that he doesn't even feel it necessary to apologize. Half of your fan base, your stock holders eseentially, are mad about the way you've conducted yourself professionally and you do not deem it worthy to bite the bullet and admit "Hey, I'm sorry Dance With Dragons is years overdue, I'm working as hard as possible to finish it." A little humility goes a long way.

Instead we get limitless hubris and snake oil hawking at every turn. There's a reason this issue has become divisive. No reason it should turn personal, but the fact remains.

If you believe an author and those who purchase his books on a regular basis do not have a professional relationship, you're delusional.

And to the guy who called me Oprah - buddy, you do realize you're arguing FOR defamation, don't you? One of the lowest social taboos in our culture? I can't really understand how someone could get behind such a ludicrous position, but since it is one, I can dismiss your post without a second look.

- Adam
californiaking1983@gmail.com

Anonymous
California King/Oprah:

While you have your dictionary out, look up the word defame. In law school they instill in you that defaming a person, or slandering a person is a tort. If the person is actually doing those things it is not. Sorry Oprah, let me break it down so you can actually achieve comprehension. It be like when a person is front'n on you, and you call them peops on they shady ass front, it not be like defaming them or slandering a fool. Gets it? I pity the fool, Californiakingsly. California is truly the land of fruits and nuts is it not? You should just strap that dictionary to your forehead. Maybe it will save you face, possibly just by covering it from the general public. Go out side and play or something little boy. Oprah! Oprah! Oprah!

Anonymous
Thanks for rehashing my previous posts on ethics california queer. I knew you would see the light at some point. You are in fact the master of all education programs and curriculum. right?

Anonymous
Adam,

c'mon man,

suck his dick!

Goofilin
all I can think of is of janis joplin...

CRYYYY CRYYYYY BAAAAABY!!!!!!!

"Oh, I post on the internet, take ME into account! I post on the internet!"

Anonymous
Anyone else like the arrogance of Pat and GRRM calling the people that support his living trolls? Direct example of the frequent better than you attitude.

Jebus
Yo dudes, it's a book, He'll finish it when he finishes it and you'll enjoy it or not. In the meantime who gives a fuck? I'm as big a fan of the series as the next guy but since reading AFFC I've read dozens of great books by plenty of great authors.

Stop wanking and start reading, douchebags. You're on the internet and you and your opinion DO. NOT. MATTER!

Anonymous
@jebus

You are wrong dude. Its slobbering sycophants like you who DO NOT MATTER. Martin treats his fans like shit. He deserves what he gets.

Anonymous
Lets sum it up.

1. Most people would like to have been treated with a little more respect for investing their time a money in this series.

2. More than one post say that it has progressed beyond the point of their attention spand.

3. Several say that its not worth their time to re-read this series.

4. Multiple posts say that they really don't care for GRRM's short stories or other writings outside of Dancing with the Deadlines.

5. Pat and several others are in some GRRM jahova's witness like cult where only the most truest 5 fans can receive GRRM's love and affection, because unlike his morning donuts, there is only enough for five fans and no more.

P>S>
Whitehead should go get popped and CaliforniaQueen should just wear a feed bag over his mouth to catch all the bullshit that comes out of it. Seriously doubt that all the other little guys who know so much about the publishing world even read one book from this series.

Detroit Drachentöter

Anonymous
"I find amusing some people think a writer MUST finish a books' series because they bought the first book. Amusing and terribly childish."

Exactly. You bought a book with your money, not a guarantee for anything in the future.

These kids need to grow up.

- JO

Anonymous
Jo rhymes with Hoe

Gabriele C.
telles, amen to that.

Pat condones the bad language and persónal attacks by not moderating comments. I'm going to delete the link to his blog from my sidebar, because I don't want to be connected with a place where this sort of behaviour and language can go unmoderated.

Anonymous
@ Gabrielle C

Seldom have I read such a sanctimonious and self-righteous comment as yours.
You basically hold Pat responsible for a minority of out-of-place comments in an otherwise very reasonable and well-mannered discussion.

And that - mind you - after Pat himself made it clear that he doesn't condone the language and behaviour of some people.

You could have just thanked Pat and GRRM for letting you read an excerpt of this undoubtedly fine novella.
But no, you had to proclaim to the world "you don't want any connection with such a place and will remove Pat's link from your sidebar"

Well, you Highness, who the f*ck cares?

Scamper off to your sorry place of a blog or under a rock or whatever and let us enjoy the excellent work that Pat is doing here.

And Godspeed to you,

Frank

Gabriele C.
I have thanked Pat and GRRM above. Plus I have said more than once over the time that I don't like the way some discussions veer into name calling and that Pat should moderate comments or disable anonymous postings. This is only the final straw. Sure, I could have deleted the link without saying anything - I know it looks a bit like a flounce, but I thought it fair to let Pat know that there are some people who disagree with the stuff going on here (others may go as far as deleting links, but I know I'm not alone in my sentiments). It his blog and his decision, of course.

And since coming back to defend myself makes me look like I care more than I do, this will be my last comment.

Anonymous
@ GAb C.

You should go back to living under the bridge you call home and eating billy goats. These fucking libs in America are ruining this country with their arrogance and retard interpretation of the Constitutional Rights! And you know her ugly ass will still be reading this post and making post anonymously. Fucking Oprah generation.

Lordtywin
I will concede, you sycophants have one point correct. George is under no obligation to finish the book at all. He can by all rights stop writing and cash in all the crap he wants, and that’s fine.

You could say that it is the true fans who are displeased with George’s work ethic. We love Westeros and we want George to love it as much as we do. George once had passion, no more. Blogging about football, trying to sell crap on his blog and complaining about airport security now seem to be at the top of George’s list. I advise George to challenge his mind and inspire himself. Turn off the damn tv, go for a walk, do some exercise, anything but listen to you little bootlickers, because that path leads straight to the grave.

Anonymous
yeah lordtywin, martin is so fucking fat its not funny. There is no way he will live long enough to finish the series, let alone the next book. For all we know he has already had 3 fucking heat attacks.

Anonymous
Oh God. The sycophants truly have no shame whatsoever.

Unfortunately, many of the posts on NaB are along the same vein. Honestly, I really can't fathom how His Massiveness has inspired such a grovelling fanbase.

Anonymous
So what's everyone favourite sycophant excuse to the wait?

I love the "But you going to read it anyway!! So stop complaining you sad lowlife!". The logic is just baffling. Of course we complain...it's because we want to read it! Ish...

Another equally good: "Tolkien took 50 years to finish Lord of the Rings ya know!". This one is even supported by George and everything. Talk about cult. It seems that George mails this stuff to his hardcore fans so they have comebacks.

Anonymous
Another thing I dislike about the sycophants is the double standard The Man and his lackey Ty apply to them compared to detractors. Just as bad, Martin made a grand-sounding post a few months back about how everyone was equal on his website and rudeness, no matter from whom it comes from, would not be tolerated. Not long thereafter, a sycophant made a rude post I guarantee would have earned deletion and probably banning if it had come from a detractor, and Ty replied with the equivalent of a friendly slap on the wrist.

But hey, after the loooong "I hope you'll buy every bit of ASOIAF merchandise I peddle but don't you dare inquire as to the progression of the next ASOIAF book or I'll delete your post and ban you" period we went through, it's not like we're not used to double standards on The Man's part.

Anonymous
have to agree with this. Dealing with those kinds of people is an absolute nightmare. Any time there's the slightest criticism of GRRM over ADWD, they get rabid. It's also slightly funny how they always adopt the same arguments over and over again, namely the "time versus quality" and "GRRM is not your bitch." God. How I despise Neil Gaiman for that.

And as I've said before, I really can't fathom how GRRM has inspired such bootlicking. Do they think that by continually feeding his ego they'll somehow get ADWD faster? Fat chance.

Ha ha. Fat.

Anonymous
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I said it wouldn't take long before I had plenty to say about these, I hesitate to use the word people, but I will, and here it comes, neither of these comes from the NaB, that's a whole other subclass of imbecile.
I draw your attention to this: http://forums.terrybrooks.net/PostView.aspx?postid=702841&page=32. I’m not suggesting anyone go through the entire thread (I did, hey I was bored and it was amusing), although if you’ve got a lot of time and are up for a laugh, please do so. It’s interesting to watch Shawn tie himself in knots to justify his position and views and you’ll see other posters change their viewpoints as they go through it, too. The bit that interested me was the last page or so. A criticism often levelled at us (according to Martin’s defenders we’re trolls. Someone really needs to give these people the definition of an online troll. No one that posts here or at FTBG can be classified as a troll) is that we only allow comment from like minded people. Can anyone look at what Shawn is proposing and tell me how that differs? He’s getting together a handful of defenders for a love in and a praise Martin session and saying that provides meaningful discourse on the subject, yes wonderful way to show two sides of the argument, Shawn. Can you spell the word bias?



Eventually Patrick disabled new comments and made this post:

For fuck's sake. . .
Posted by Patrick

Are you fucking kidding me???? Am I running a day care??? I've been running this blog for more than 5 years, and it's the first time I've been forced to disable the comment function.:\

To the GRRM haters and the trolls out there, do everyone a favor and stop reading anything Martin writes. There's enough good SFF material to keep everyone happy, I believe. And yes, a little maturity would go a long way. . .

Never thought I'd be saying this, but you are even worst than the brainwashed Goodkind fans on the Yeard's forums. And Christ, that's saying something!=( As a matter of fact, you make Mystar sound like the Voice of Reason and the Soul of Wisdom. . .

I would like to believe that this is the work of pimply anti-social teenagers who get pick on at school and whose sex lives amount to downloading porn every night. But my gut tells me that it's from "responsible" adults. . .

Come on, man. . .