I was on a panel discussion with George RR Martin at a convention, and an audience member who asked about his next book… =refused= to be satisfied with his polite answer that he was still writing it. She also refused to cede the floor so someone ELSE could ask a question–such as a question that was actually relevant to the TOPIC of the multi-author panel discussion we were on.

This “fan” (short for “fanatic,” and certainly applicable in this case) just kept hammering at George, demanding that he answer her upcoming-plot-revelations questions, getting angry when he politely declined to reveal spoilers in advance of publication, and berating him (UNPLEASANTLY, not humorously) for making readers wait for those plot revelations.

George handled it well; but the incident, which took place in a large, well-attended conference session, was awkward and rude and bizarre.

Naturally, as a novelist, I think it’s wonderful that readers should become so absorbed in a novel. But one is nonetheless tempted to say to such a “fan”: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GO GET A LIFE!!!

Or at least: Go read a few hundred other good books while waiting for this author’s next, for goodness sake! I don’t know about YOUR house or YOUR library list, but mine are both filled to overflowing with good books I intend to read.