One hopes that the last two episodes of season three thins out a few Game of Thrones characters (I hear you snickering, smug book readers!) because if you think it’s difficult to keep up with the existing roster of major characters, George R.R. Martin revealed at ConQuesT in Kansas City the addition of three new characters for season four.

First of all, what are you doing in ConQuest in Kansas City and not home in New Jersey working on a new book? Oh, wait. There IS new book coming out in the spring. It’s called The GRRM-arillion, and it’s co-written by Martin and fansite Westeros’ Elio M García. It’s a coffee table book that will contain “never-before revealed details of Aegon’s Conquest, the War With the Faith, The Dance of the Dragons, the Paramours of Aegon the Unworthy, etc.” Martin has already written 250,000 words for it, which — if you’re curious — is length of about three average sized, non George Martin novels. So, that’s what Martin has been doing. A COFFEE TABLE BOOK, which should look great on your coffee tables while you’re staring at a blank screen because Martin fell behind the HBO series, that is assuming the weight of it doesn’t crater your coffee tables.

Oh yeah. The characters, per I09:

The Magnar of Thenn. Styr isa major part of Mance Rayder’s Wildling army — although a lot of his part in the book has already been given to Tormund Giantsbane. In the book, he leads the scouting party that climbs the wall, which Jon Snow and Ygritte are part of. But presumably he’ll play some other huge part in the Wildling attack on Castle Black. Mace Tyrell. The son of Lady Olenna and father of Margaery and Loras — we’ve already heard from Lady Olenna that he’s a disappointment. Presumably coming to town for Margaery’s wedding. Oberyn Martell. The first person from Dorne we’ve really met — he comes to King’s Landing to take a seat on the Small Council, and winds up playing a huge role in Tyrion’s storyline.

Apparently, these additions aren’t a surprise to book readers, but personally, I can never get enough of the Tyrells. There’s some good breeding over there.

(via The Mary Sue and I09)