# George RR Martin's A Dance with Dragons is delayed until 2013! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797 "2011-04-01T14:59:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/1 "2011-04-01T14:59:15Z")
This just hit the wires today. > [@](#): > > _Associated Press_ - George RR Martin, best known for his 1986 stint as a writer on The Twilight Zone has delayed yet again his long awaited fifth book A Dance with Dragons. It was originally scheduled for publication in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and then 2010. Last month, Martin announced a definitive publication date of July 12, 2011 but complications have caused him to move the deadline back to early 2013. > “I had originally planned to add in seven new character viewpoints, create an completely new continent, and kill off the entire Stark clan in a food poisoning incident,” Martin said “But around February of this year I thought to myself ‘No. That’s just ridiculous’.” > Martin’s editor at Bantam Books, April Fulls, says that she’s “thrilled” by this turn of events. “(George) came to me a few weeks ago and said he was scrapping 2,300 of the 3,500 pages he’s written so far. Bantam Books loves it when authors take such pride and ownership in their work.” > “It’s not about the time or money, for us” Fulls continued. “It’s about the quality of the end product.” > “Also, I’m still getting the hang of this TiVo thing,” Martin said “and there’s a lot of football games still left in my queue.” For more information, you can check out newssites [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=512545&highlight=martin) and [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=558065&highlight=martin). Could this really be the last year I do this? Tune in April 1, 2012! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/2 "2011-04-01T15:04:25Z")
I do hope he’s hired personal security for the present time at least. I’m not a fan, nor have I read his books. This is largely because of the utter fury I have observed in the people who _have_ read his books, and are waiting fo the next one. . . ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/3 "2011-04-01T15:07:13Z")
Mixing it up, are we? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/4 "2011-04-01T15:07:50Z")
Ahem. Check the calendar. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/5 "2011-04-01T15:08:57Z")
Too funny! It is because it is \*believable \*that makes it a good joke! Had I not read closely I would have been telling people that it was delayed. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/6 "2011-04-01T15:27:37Z")
Whooshed. Utterly and completely. Bravo! ::claps:: ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/7 "2011-04-01T15:36:19Z")
I think this is the 5th year in a row I’ve been suckered on April 1 about GRRM. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/8 "2011-04-01T15:46:24Z")
The OP is a cruel person. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/9 "2011-04-01T16:22:53Z")
Almost…you almost got me. Then I realized that seven new characters was entirely too paltry an addition to be true with Martin. ETA: Actually, I think it scares me that my very first thought on reading the thread title in the forum list was, “I KNEW IT! I TOLD THEM!” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/10 "2011-04-01T16:32:44Z")
The name of Martin’s alleged editor is “April Fulls.” Subtlety of a jackhammer, but I guess this would just be way too believable if the OP didn’t put a clear reveal in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/11 "2011-04-01T16:50:38Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > ETA: Actually, I think it scares me that my very first thought on reading the thread title in the forum list was, “I KNEW IT! I TOLD THEM!” THIS. Except that you suckered me completely. Well done! ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/12 "2011-04-01T17:37:38Z")
It ought to be 3500 pages as long as it’s taken. If the not-so-subtle indications that this was a joke weren’t included, I’d have believed it. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/13 "2011-04-01T18:00:33Z")
Dang, I was just going to start a SoIaF Fool’s thread entitled “Dance With Dragons to have new POV: HODOR!”. Now you’ll all be on guard. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/14 "2011-04-01T18:12:02Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Dang, I was just going to start a SoIaF Fool’s thread entitled “Dance With Dragons to have new POV: HODOR!”. Now you’ll all be on guard. Hodor! Hodor hodor hodor HODOR! Hodor? HODOR! ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/15 "2011-04-01T18:29:09Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Mixing it up, are we? Hey, I wanted to keep with tradition. It’s GRRM that’s mixing things up! > [@robardin](#): > > Dang, I was just going to start a SoIaF Fool’s thread entitled “Dance With Dragons to have new POV: HODOR!”. Now you’ll all be on guard. Heh. Check the first link 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/16 "2011-04-01T18:31:52Z")
You got me last year, but not this year, damn you! Hahaha! (I was expecting to come here and see a prank thread about GRRM, even.) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/17 "2011-04-01T18:41:54Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Hodor! Hodor hodor hodor HODOR! > > Hodor? HODOR! Hodor. A pox upon the OP. I believed it without hesitation. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/18 "2011-04-01T21:06:38Z")
So, I read the thread title, and my heart sinks. Then I click. Then I quickly skim about 1/4 of the first few lines in disbelief. Then I remember the joke and check the poster’s name. Then I recover. Then I read more of the thread and see Dio’s comment. Then I go back and re-read the entire OP, more carefully this time. Bravo, sir. Love the last line. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/19 "2011-04-01T21:08:53Z")
Does it count as a joke if it’s true? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797/20 "2011-04-01T21:22:04Z")
Bravo. Of course, the joke will be on you in a month when he announces it IS being delayed. \>\_\> [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-rr-martins-a-dance-with-dragons-is-delayed-until-2013/576797.md?page=2)