The Fireside

This week, we had the season finale of Season 5 [Part B] and it has also been announced that Season 6 will be the end of the show. However, since it'll be 20 episodes, expect it to be once again split into 2: Season 6 [Part A] and Season 6 [Part B]. I'm hoping that the final episode of the entire show will be approx 90 minutes, as well as possibly Episode 11 (the first episode of Part B.) On the ending of the show, creator Michael Hirst has this to say: "I always knew where I wanted the show to go and more or less where it would end if I was given the opportunity. What I was trying to do was write the saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons. After six seasons and 89 episodes, that’s what I felt — finally — I’d done. We stopped shooting the final episode in November last year and I felt that I’d said all I needed to say about Ragnar and his sons. I told my saga, and I’d been very fortunate to be given that opportunity by MGM and History. I had no reason to want to ...

Today is finally the day.  Most likely the most long-awaited of George's 'projects' (not counting the main A Song of Ice and Fire  series, of course) is The World of Ice and Fire . It is a world history book about the realm in which the book series takes place. After many years of George talking about it (and working on it), it is finally out today.  George (or rather, his minions) posted a blog entry entry, in which they describe it better than I could:  The long anticipated release of the official untold history of Westeros happens TODAY. It boasts 300 pages of back story and original artwork by the some of the world's top fantasy illustrators. This one-of-a-kind coffee table book contains maps, folk lore, detailed family histories, and endless insider information dealing with the world of Westeros. Providing vividly constructed accounts of epic battles tackled by famous heroes, and their journies before becoming important figures in the Song of Ice...

I just got word about a series of The Elder Scrolls  books coming out next year. No, these are not strategy guides, maps etc. but rather more about the histories, lore and in-game mythos that the games are so full with. Let's just say that these will be useful and entertaining for me when it comes to research and inspiration of my book series....   Here is the info from Bethseda's blog: Not since Encyclopedia Britannica’s heyday have volumes of books looked this cool and demanded to be on your bookshelf. With  The Elder Scrolls Online , two volumes covering “The Land” and “The Lore” feature never-before-seen art and extensive lore surrounding the game. Meanwhile, by popular demand, the  Skyrim  series offers the first opportunity to get all of the game’s in-game text across three volumes. The first volumes of these books are expected to release in March of 2015. For more information, read the full press release below… TITAN BOOKS ANNOUNCES TWO N...

Elio, Linda, and George have completed The World of Ice and Fire .

The following information is based on this blog post by George R.R. Martin: http://grrm.livejournal.com/ 360936.html   It seems that in this post George tells us quite a bit about what will most likely be a post Ice and Fire publication, but details the history and Houses long before Book One, A Game of Thrones, begins. I also consider Tales of Dunk and Egg to be a part of the 'Lost Lore' (not officially 'lost' but it has a cool sound to it. So cool, in fact, my own history will be titled The Lost Lore )   Anyway here's what we've learnt: - The 'GRRMarillion' has a new official title: "Fire and Blood".   - since the blog post is about the Rogues anthology, George mentions that the "Fire and Blood" release will see a longer version of "The Rogue Prince", and will be more like a novelette rather than a novella (neither version is as long as "The Princess and the Queen", the shorter ver...

This past Saturday, I was supposed to attend a Mardi Gras Party. However, I only knew one person that was for sure going. Turns out they weren't feeling well the day of, so they didn't end up going. As such, because of what I said earlier, I didn't attend.  Not too long after that, however, while I was beginning to arranging back-up plans (I actually got a text message about 20 minutes after I found out; however it was to a film I was not interested in seeing, plus it was at the opposite end of the city.) I remembered something. Something that could be of great benefit to my project - the book I'm writing, A Climb of Chaos .  As I mentioned before, I want to make it as authentic, plausible, and detailed (but not boring) as possible. In order to do so, I'm doing some medieval-era research. First and foremost on swords, armor, etc. Anyway, one of my co-workers makes his own weapons & armor, goes to sword-handling class, etc. When I told him of...