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The Reason Why GRRM Didn't Finish the Books

posted 5 years ago by Keelai (31798)
22 replies | jump to latest

GRRM interview:

"...“We did not need anything else than Winds of Winter and the last book,” one commenter wrote. “All fucking spinoffs and histories and other moneymaking stuff could have waited!!!!!”

"Martin kept his head responding. “I am not sure HBO would agree that the spinoffs could have waited. With GOT set to end in 2019, they put five of them in the works, so as to have a new show… or more than one… to take up the mantle in 2020,” Martin wrote. “The successor shows were going to happen regardless. I prefer that they happen with my participation and guidance, rather than without it.”"

My interpretation is that HBO wanted to make money. HBO couldn't do any spinoffs without GRRM's permission so he could've made them wait. It sounds like HBO and GRRM placed making more money ahead of finishing the GOT books which hurt the quality of the series in the last two seasons.

Thoughts?

full interview:
https://www.newsweek.com/grrm-will-never-finish-asoiaf-winds-winter-delay-game-thrones-dreams-spring-907706

[–] Coleburg83 (684) 5 years ago

Thoughts?

GRRM is lazy fat piece of shit. And he was before HBO started airing the series.

[–] Keelai (31798) 5 years ago

He's written a bunch of books which makes him productive. He's just not writing what he should be. I started giving him the benefit of the doubt and thought it may be writer's block until I read that interview. Now, I think it's greed.

Maybe if the fans boycotted the spinoff books and TV shows, he would be more motivated to finish the GOT books.

[–] Coleburg83 (684) 5 years ago

It's not just that he's working on bullshit like that Wild Cards nonsense, he's lied to the fans for years about it. His bullshit deadlines and excuses. It's pathetic.

All through the fall of 2015 he said I'll be finished by New Years! It's going on four years later and still not out. My mistake, he's fat lazy lying piece of shit.

[–] Keelai (31798) 5 years ago

Ian Mcelhinney, a GOT actor said he heard the books were finished but there was an agreement with HBO they wouldn't be published before the GOT series ended. I know GRRM denied this, but he lies. It's all about money. Keep people's appetite wet for the GOT books and in the meantime they'll buy and watch the spinoffs.

True or not, GRRM has no respect for the fans.

[–] maximmm (3034) 5 years ago

I think he will soon learn that his fans are losing any respect they might have once had for him.

GRRM will be dotted down in history as an example of a good writer whose writing quality fell off a cliff due to greed and laziness.

[–] eYeDEF (5050) 5 years ago

GRRM was pretty forceful in his denial of Selmy's claim. He was seriously pissed off, it wasn't an act. So no I don't buy Ian's account.

[–] whynotwriteme (7119) 5 years ago

I for one would love to read all the books you have written and watch the TV shows you have had a hand in. Can you post some links?

[–] Keelai (31798) 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] whynotwriteme (7119) 5 years ago

That's cool and everything, but I was not replying to you, rather to the person who calls GRRM "a fat lazy lying piece of s#!t".

[–] Keelai (31798) 5 years ago

A million pardons.

[–] maximmm (3034) 5 years ago

Greed and laziness.

It's generally easier to write for TV - and you make more money.

The problem is, his guidance is shit - hence the 8th season of GOT. Now he is 'guiding' 3 more tv shows all at once and I expect those shows to be just as mediocre as 8th season, unless they hire a legit writer/director for each of those shows and that doesn't seem to be the case.

[–] kuku (3510) 5 years ago

He's just not writing what he should be. I started giving him the benefit of the doubt and thought it may be writer's block until I read that interview. Now, I think it's greed.

He's 70, only has a few years left, no children and more money that he could ever spend. Greed? That's ridiculous.

[–] Keelai (31798) 5 years ago

"Greed? That's ridiculous."

Corporate greed aka profit re: HBO too. They want to continue this money-making machine.

Look at the two Koch brothers who are in their 70s and 80s yet they still want more money even though each has over $50 billion. They wanted a tax cut and are against programs like social security and medicare that help the middle class and poor.

As for GRRM, rich people tend to want more money. It depends what he plans to do with it. For instance, George Lucas wanted $1 billion to create an art museum. GRRM may want to create a philanthropic legacy that continues after he is gone. He also has a wife and other family members who will want some money.

[–] kuku (3510) 5 years ago

George Lucas has 4 children, not to say their own offspring. RR Martin has zero children, and his wife is as old as him. In 10-15 years, every penny he has will end going to charity or distant family.

I repeat: greed is ridiculous as a motive.

[–] Keelai (31798) 5 years ago

GRRM:
“The successor shows were going to happen regardless. I prefer that they happen with my participation and guidance, rather than without it.”

This is a crock because HBO couldn't do any spinofs without GRRM's permission. He could have said no spinoffs until the GOT books are finished.

GRRM himself said he gave much less guidance to D&D in the final seasons than the earlier ones which obviously hurt its quality. HBO wanted to continue making money instead of having a hiatus that could last a few years.

GRRM quote:
"...have a new show… or more than one… to take up the mantle in 2020,”

That's HBO's need. Why did he go along with it?

His original reason may have been for his craft but like Dany, he has changed. I'm just going by his own quotes.

I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt (writer's block, time constraints, perfectionism?), but this interview changed my mind.

[–] kuku (3510) 5 years ago

GRRM is lazy fat piece of shit

He's 70. Most people at 70 don't work. He keeps working, even though he doesn't need the money and could retire.

Calling him lazy is ludicrous. I'd like to see how hard you'll work when you're 70.

[–] Robo (2) 5 years ago

It's hard to motivate a 70 year old with that much money. He’s going to do precisely what he wants to do.

[–] bohemianroxie (2471) 5 years ago

The guy has just lost his mojo on these characters and can't get it back again... and probably never will.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71453) 5 years ago

Nachos

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

I'm beginning to think that the reason he cant finish the books is that his ideas for the finish suck.

[–] maximmm (3034) 5 years ago

Agreed.

[–] TearofLys (2398) 5 years ago

The ending of GoT hurts my chances of watching a spinoff.