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'''A Dance with Dragons''' is the fifth of seven planned novels in the epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire by American author George R. R. Martin. Despite original predictions of possible completion in late 2006, Martin has, as of February 15, 2007, ceased to offer an expected publication date[1]; his blog [2] features regular updates on his work, including ´A Dance of Dragons´. Anne Groell, ASoIaF's editor, has recently stated that they're hoping the manuscript will be in this fall. That would lead to a publication date of somewhere in Spring of 2008.
'The Dance of the Dragons' is the name given to a civil war in the prior history of Westeros, leading to much speculation that the novel will feature the long-awaited invasion of Westeros by the army of Daenerys Targaryen. However, at ComiCon 2006, George R. R. Martin says that is not necessarily what the title is referring to.[3]
''A Dance of Dragons'' was originally the title of the second novel in the sequence, when Martin still envisaged the series as a trilogy. Some early US editions of ''A Game of Thrones'' list ''A Dance of Dragons'' as the forthcoming second volume in the series. It was also the original planned title for the fourth novel.

Contents

Plot summary

Characters

Split in publication

External links

Plot summary

''A Dance with Dragons'' picks up where ''A Storm of Swords'' left off and runs simultaneously with events in ''A Feast for Crows''. The War of the Five Kings seems to be winding down. In the North, King Stannis Baratheon has installed himself at the Wall and vowed to win the support of the northmen to continue his struggle to claim the Iron Throne, although this is complicated by the fact that much of the west coast is under occupation by the ironborn. On the Wall itself Jon Snow has been elected the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, but has enemies both in the Watch and beyond the Wall to watch for. Tyrion Lannister has been taken by ship across the Narrow Sea to Pentos, but his eventual goals are unknown even to him. In the far east, Daenerys Targaryen has conquered the city of Meereen, but has decided to stay and rule the city, honing her skills of leadership which will be needed when she travels on to Westeros. But Daenerys' presence is now known to many in Westeros, and from the Iron Islands and Dorne, from Oldtown and the Free Cities, emissaries are on their way to find her and use her cause for their own ends...
Some excerpts are currently available as sample chapters on George R. R. Martin's website:

★ Daenerys

★ Tyrion

Characters

The tale is told through the eyes of 9 POV characters and, as with previous volumes, a one-off prologue POV.

★ Prologue: Varamyr, a skinchanger and one of the surviving wildlings north of the wall.

★ Jon Snow, the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.

★ Tyrion Lannister, a fugitive wanted for kinslaying and regicide, lately fled from the Seven Kingdoms.

★ Lord Davos Seaworth, King's Hand to Stannis Baratheon.

★ Daenerys Targaryen, sole heir to the Targaryen dynasty who ruled Westeros for 300 years until their deposition 15 years prior to the first novel. Called Stormborn, the Unburnt, the Mother of Dragons, and self-proclaimed Queen of Westeros, now ruling the city of Meereen.

★ Bran Stark, rightful heir to the late Robb Stark, hiding while seeking an old power beyond the Wall, and believed dead by his own family.

★ Arya Stark, hiding in the Free City of Braavos, where she is also called 'Cat of the Canals' and continuing her training by the House of Black and White.

★ Asha Greyjoy, the niece of King Euron Greyjoy of the Iron Islands, lately fled from the isles.

★ Quentyn Martell, the eldest son of Prince Doran Martell of Dorne, travelling into the east on a mission for his father.

★ An old, or "retired", POV will be returning.

Split in publication

When the fourth novel in the series, ''A Feast for Crows'', was published it was missing many of its key characters. This was because the book had gotten far too large to publish as one volume. Rather than simply split it in half and publish it as 'Part 1' and 'Part 2', Martin decided to split the book by character and location. This decision was apparently inspired by a conversation with Martin's friend and fellow writer Daniel Abraham. Thus, characters in the South of the Seven Kingdoms and in the new locations of the Iron Islands and Dorne appeared in ''A Feast for Crows''. Characters in the North and across the sea were held back for ''A Dance with Dragons''. Arya Stark and Asha Greyjoy will appear in both volumes.
Approximately one-third of the published ''A Dance with Dragons'' will consist of material that had been written for the pre-split ''A Feast for Crows'', although much of this has been rewritten by Martin. Martin has also promised to try and include some 'catch-up' chapters at the end of the novel to reveal what happened to some of that novel's characters after the cliffhanger endings of ''A Feast for Crows'', such as Brienne of Tarth, Jaime and Cersei Lannister.

External links

★ GeorgeRRMartin.com - official website of the author.

★ The Citadel at www.westeros.org - extensive archive about the series, including detailed thematic notes, timelines, artwork & heraldry, and correspondence from the author.

★ Tower of the Hand - A comprehensive treatment of A Song of Ice and Fire with chapter summaries and individual pages for every character, location, historical event, noble house, etc. from the series all thoroughly cross-referenced and hyperlinked.

★ Song of Ice and Fire books at Amazon.com

★ Message Board - extensive topical theory discussion about current and upcoming books.

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★ A Wiki of Ice And Fire Wiki dedicated to A Song of Ice and Fire