I would say that the first three books do stand alone to a certain extent. Characters are left 'plateaued' at the end of Book 3 (in stable situations, not in imminent danger of death) and there are no immediate cliffhangers. That's why people bore five-year wait for Book 4 quite stoically, whilst they're moaning a lot more now, as Book 4 ended on a ton of cliffhangers (most of which won't actually be resolved until Book 6).
And I would say the even greater annoyance now has more to do with how DwD was supposed to follow aFfC rather quickly, but then didn't, and with the lack of certain characters' appearances in aFfC, so that fans have been waiting for new story in those plotlines (including as you know of course many of the most popular ones) for quite a long while now.
And yes, for many of those reasons

So... A Game of Thrones
04/09/2009 03:52:25 PM
- 1373 Views
Re: Meh. *NM*
04/09/2009 03:54:32 PM
- 381 Views
What a scintillating contribution you've made
04/09/2009 03:58:55 PM
- 1052 Views

Re: It was an excellent summation of my feelings on the matter!
04/09/2009 04:50:15 PM
- 1118 Views
I've missed you, Mr Darcy. <3
04/09/2009 05:21:05 PM
- 1004 Views
Re: I love you, Sir Lucas whose first name I have forgotten. (William?)
05/09/2009 12:31:20 PM
- 988 Views
'Game' was good. The rest go downhill fast, though.
04/09/2009 04:53:57 PM
- 926 Views
I always like it when people post this.
04/09/2009 05:52:50 PM
- 910 Views
Oh alright, so there was a bit of exaggeration.
(very slight real spoilers)
04/09/2009 06:18:13 PM
- 797 Views

If you keep up the 15-year delay, you may not have to wait to read the fifth book...
05/09/2009 01:28:52 AM
- 801 Views
Just to ask.....are the first 3 books essentially a trilogy?
05/09/2009 05:47:14 PM
- 755 Views
More or less
05/09/2009 06:59:53 PM
- 689 Views
You were that "kind poster!"
06/09/2009 04:09:53 AM
- 661 Views

A few moments like that, yes.
06/09/2009 01:16:06 PM
- 758 Views
Very cool, after Warbreaker, I may give GRRM a shot.....thanks! *NM*
06/09/2009 07:37:47 PM
- 357 Views
Quite stoically? That's not how I remember it.
06/09/2009 07:57:56 PM
- 739 Views

Okay, more stoically than now.
06/09/2009 09:10:31 PM
- 792 Views