A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE

I just found out today my sitter's summer vacation schedule. We usually take the same time off. And it is the last week of july/first week of August.

I will be able to attend Tri-Noc Con

As Ser Scot pointed out, GRRM is the literary guest of honor

August 3rd-5th. Con admin is really cheap, and the rooms are reasonable, especially if people share.

It's just a 5 hr drive for me, less than one tank of gas.

So sound off if you think you can make this one.


Definates
Lany (Fri afternoon)
Kiddy (Friday)
Michal (my best friend) (Friday afternoon)
Grey wolf (Friday)
Ambyr (Friday)
Angie (Friday)
Fitz Chivalry's Lover (Friday)
Quoth (Friday)
Bana (Friday)
Lucky Pierre (Friday)
Ser Scot (Sat Morning)
Dornish Prince (Sat)
Jagged (Sat)
Platypus

Maybe
Nora Stark
LacyB
Ser John
Matrim Fox

Just curious as to why the Kingslayer fans adore him so? I'm not gonna argue any of your reasons but I want to know what people think is so great about him, besides being a well written character.

If there's a group to solicit recommendations from, this is it. Yes, I'm aware of the numerous recommendation threads and have perused them, but I have a specific need and was hoping you all could help.

I'm researching the later part of the 15th century (Renaissance specifically) for a book series I'm planning. The first book is centered in northern Italy, but the rest of the books can take place any where in Europe. My series will border on historical fantasy, but will not dip so far as not alternative history.

Having immersed myself in the history of this time period, I also need to read up on the current novels to know where my own books would fit in to/add to it.

Do you all have any fiction recommendations set in this historical time period? (preferably 1450-1500, but can stretch into the 1530's)

Thanks.

One of GRRM's many very good qualities is is willingness to kill any character, anytime. For me, this has created some of the most crushing or extremely satisfying moments while reading the series. What are your thoughts as to which if these were the:

most crushing (ie you loved the character, and although the chapter may have been compelling you were sad that it had to happen)

most satisfying (ie ohh, yeah, he/she got what they deserved, and good)

most hoped for (ie ohh, i so hope he/she gets an axe in the brain, and soon)

For me, there were a lot of crushing deaths, but i have to play captain vanilla here and say that the bloody wedding and robb's death there was one of the most crushing of my reading career (i was happy to see catelyn go tho...) i have seconds and thirds, but i'll save those for anyone that cares to respond

As for most satisfying, I'd have to go with Tywin more because of how hosed Tyrion got at his "trial" after saving that darned city- all the bs washed away for me as the bolt went in

As for most hoped for, I want that sweetrobin John Aryn dead, hopefully painfully, maybe if alayne/sansa were to suffocate him with a lemoncake or drown him in sweetmilk that would be good

Locus magazine reports this month that "she has sold three books in her Sword of Shadows series to TOR".

Presumably this means a 4th, 5th and 6th book. I didn't know the series was planned to be that long. No word that I have seen on whether she has also sold them to Orbit.

This cannot be a re-selling of the first two or three books because they are already in print with TOR, plus the third one was announced to be due in November many months ago.

Jones will probably update her website with this news sometime in 2013

Secondly they report that Stephenson is writing a six hours miniseries adaptation of his Hugo award winning novel "The Diamond Age" to be aired by the Sci Fi Channel.