A Blog of Ice and Fire

Explanatory apology/apologetic explanation

2006-10-26T06:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it looks like we're not posting anymore. Or so infrequently that the whole point of the blog is lost. For both Nate and I this blog has become a bit problematic. So in answer to the commenters who are wondering where we've been and whether we're going to resume blogging, the answer is . . . um . . . I dunno. I haven't consulted with Nate on this, but I do know his access to the the Internet is limited these days. So: will we post again? Maybe. Probably. But when? Who knows. People did seem to like tracking with us through these books . . . as far as we got . . . for which I'm grateful. But I don't want to keep you all in suspense. Speaking for myself, posting is probably going to be quite infrequent for a while. But I'm still reading!

Arya Escapes

2006-10-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

Arya's chapter in which Yoren's band is attacked had me truly saddened. Perhaps it's because I had grown to like the not so likable Black-Brothers-to-be, or maybe that I saw Yoren as a true hero. Anyway, this leaves Arya in her usual, vulnerable, frightened, unsupervised position of being on the run with only her wits and Needle to protect her. Thus far in the series, I feel like Arya has had a divine protection over her. Her innocence and her canniness make her someone that would be hard for Martin to knock off. She increasingly becomes one of my favorite characters, I think because she views the world so vividly in her innocence, and she...well...survives. I can't begin to imagine where the next leg of her journey will take her, but I know she won't be wandering around without a sharply determined aim. Quite an 8-year-old.

3 Chapters

2006-09-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

Allright, it's high time I got back to at least semi-regular commenting on the book. I set it aside somewhere in the middle of the Theon Greyjoy's chapter, which I found kind of disgusting. Aside from the pornographic content, I just couldn't believe Martin was introducing yet another grumpy old power-hungry codger greedy for a kingdom. Not to mention the son, Theon, who harbors his own lust for power. Jeez, this makes the War of the Roses look like a game of checkers. And as much as Theon is a rather interesting character, I mean, just how many sides can one war have!? I just had to lay the book aside for a while, muttering a frustrated "oh c'mon..."

But getting through that chapter finally, we arrive at the Daenerys chapter, which seemed to me to have all the usual Martin brilliance with none of the tawdry excess that occasionally intrudes on his writing. I love this chapter. I love the way Daenerys seems to be growing before our eyes. I love the utterly believable description of the three young dragons, the vivid depiction of the endless desert, the deserted city, and finally the three strange characters that show up in the last paragraph. Fine writing throughout.

Jon's chapter, which follows, perhaps doesn't extend the story all that much, but it's interesting to note that Jon, in the far north, finds himself, along with his band of warriors, in an utterly deserted and fear-stricken land. And that Daenerys, in the far south, along with her own band of followers, finds herself in an equally deserted place. They are at the edges of the story, these two, while seemingly more powerful and influential combatants crowd to the center of the stage. Yet I have the feeling that Jon and Daenerys will wind up being far more influential to the outcome of things than their present condition would indicate.

[Ha! I just read your recent post, Deserted Cities, which draws the same parallels that I do, so I see now that I'm simply following in your footsteps, dude! But it's kind of interesting to see how we each expressed the same thought in different ways.]

Yeah!

2006-09-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

Oh my, now that we've driven off all our kind readers (by means of a solid month of neglecting to post to this blog) Nate and I are back at it. Well, Nate is, anyway. Me, I haven't picked up the book in some time, but I promise to get back to it really really soon. The Blog of Ice and Fire LIVES!

Deserted Cities

2006-09-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

to page 210

Daenerys' first chapter, followed by Jon's chapter having gone beyond the wall pose some striking similarities. The forlorn barrenness of their environments for one thing. The fear of unseen enemies. They travel to to a destination not yet discovered. They even stumble upon abandoned settlements, neither knowing why they've been abandoned. And there's a Mormont in each!

I enjoyed learning Ser Jorah's story. It picks up where his father left off with Jon, and gives us the prequel to his service to Dany. I guess I'm wondering for the Night's Watch, do the Others fear numbers? Oddly, the Black Brothers, even having watched two of the wights come to life and kill a dozen of them or so, are not articulating any fear of the Others specifically. Jon seems to be the only one, and he keeps it to himself. I guess this adds to the ominousness of it...the unspoken suggestion that the Others are the least of their worries. Even Mormont seems to overlook the obvious with his question: "the wildlings burn their dead...now I wish I'd asked them why."

I have a feeling Samwell Tarly will end up being a hero somehow.

Davos

2006-08-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

I'm really liking Davos. A humane pirate, with a distinct sense of fealty to his lord. Already the character seems unlike anyone else we've yet encountered, and full of potential. Stannis seems quite mad, of course, and Davos will probably have his loyalty tested, and soon. Anyway, this chapter, the first to feature Davos, begins with a memorable sentence that I just have to honor by repeating: "The morning air was dark with the smoke of burning gods." Good stuff.

Catching Up

2006-07-24T13:53:00.000-07:00

So it's about time we caught up with events in Clash of Kings, don't you think? I've read through the chapter where Tyrion disposes of Janos Slynt. Clearly Cersei is not going to tolerate this indefinitely. I anticipate a counter-move or two on her part.

Robb is holding together his warhost with difficulty. I anticipate trouble within his own ranks. He is, after all, like Joffrey, a boy king. Many of these men will not necessarily remain loyal through thick and thin. I suspect deep trouble for Robb ahead.

Arya is headed home, but she's definitely not going to make it there. The confrontation between the gold-cloaks and Yoren was really cool. Interesting that this gang of ne'er-do-wells banded together against the gold-cloaks. But they're not out of the woods yet either. I don't anticipate Arya getting through this challenge unscathed. And I don't see her cooling her heals in Winterfell either. I'm really curious to see what will happen in her next chapter, which happens to be coming right up!

Just south of Robert Jordan

2006-07-21T04:45:00.000-07:00

Go to Literature-Map.com and type in George R. R. Martin. Find Martin on an author-map. Pretty cool.

The Maesters

2006-07-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

I like the maesters. I like that there is a profession dedicated to wisdom and learning that has high respect from the power hungry and the just, the high-born and the low-born. I may be leaving something out, but I think so far the Westerosi people seem to hold the position of maester in unbesmirched esteem. (Possibly the exception being Stannis' treatment of Cressen, and that was under the influence of a conniving priestess.)

They are not apolitical, like the Night's Watch(which, for their troubles of remaining neutral have little respect from anyone, and are mostly laughed at). They do conspire with kings and with power, but in such a way, so far, that is practical and not self-aggrandizing. Whatever the nature of the ruler, it seems the maester attached to him serves to apply doses of rationality and reality, untainted by the lust for fame, power and riches. The jury is still out on Maester Pycelle, as he shared in the betrayal of Ned Stark. But I don't know that he was unjustified- his loyalty was at stake, he acted on what he knew(I think), and so far it has not been shown that personal profit or outright cruelty were at the root of his motives.

In my estimation so far, the maesters serve as, not neutral but objective and rational players in the game of thrones and the clash of kings. They are frank about the stupidity or sense of those they advise, a valuable credit to have attached to their office. They are one of few people who can critique power(again, notwithstanding Cressen's demise) and get away unscathed.

My question is, will meet any bad maesters? Is there somewhere a cruel, conniving, selfish man with the collar? Or is the office relatively free of these?

LibraryThing

2006-07-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

The 15 most popular authors in LibraryThing:

J. K. Rowling
Terry Pratchett
Stephen King
Neil Gaiman
C. S. Lewis
William Shakespeare
Anne McCaffrey
Isaac Asimov
Jane Austen
Orson Scott Card
Douglas Adams
Robert a. Heinlein
Anne Rice
Mercedes Lackey
Kurt Vonnegut

Interesting, isn't it, that 14 out of 15 have written at least some fantasy fiction, and maybe 11 of those are noted for writing primarily fantasy fiction. Incidentally, Martin is #72.

Stannis et al.

2006-07-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

I've delayed getting started on "Clash" for various reasons (there are other books to be read, you know). But now I've read the prologue and see also that the next chapter is Arya's. Yup, I'm excited.

The prologue displays Martin's typical story-telling genius. The portrait of Maester Cressen is intimate (as are all Martin's characterizations) and sad. Generally speaking, the maesters seem to represent scholarly wisdom and philosophy in Martin's world. In the prologue this is set against the "priestly" function of Malisandre, which seems more potent and mysterious. Lots of fantasists have made use of the sinister priestess trope, and to tell you the truth I've never really liked it. I'm will ing to give Martin the benefit of the doubt, though. Even Malisandre's name connotes evil, and she seems to function somewhat like the sorceress-like woman who "danced with the shadows" near the end of the first book. Perhaps the "shadows" are the real story here..

Lady Selyse is yet another power-lusting woman manipulating her husband. I was a little disappointed with Martin here, because this is another stock female character. Still, the interwoven backstories of Ser Davos, Stannis, and Cressen are brilliantly uncovered here. I've been expecting to discover that Stannis has some sort of ace-up-his-sleeve that would really shake things up, but it's not clear how Malisandre provides that advantage. If indeed she does wield power and place it at the disposal of Stannis, it will not ultimately be for his sake. He is but a pawn in some larger game, I suspect.

Predictions, continued

2006-07-06T16:10:00.001-07:00

Robb: Right now, Robb is in a pretty good position. I don't think his comfort will last long. I would almost say that opposition will come from within, if not for the rousing show of support that AGOT ended with. But anything is possible. Robb will need to use Jaime Lannister as a bargaining tool to get Sansa, and as far as he knows Arya, back. He may come to a point of treaty with the Lannisters over this, although the issue of his fealty will cause continued struggle. He will face opposition from Renly and Stannis as well. He will make mistakes of passion and of inexperience. His alliance will at least threaten to break up because of this. He seems like one who could be marked for death, if not in Clash.

Bran: Bran presents a problem-- his position makes him not eligible for many scenarios that one might surmise. His youth prevents him from command or influence, at least directly(although is he is the sitting lord of Winterfell.) His crippled condition prevents him from much physical contribution to the plot. His position at Winterfell seems rather quiet, being to far south for the problems of the Wall, and to far north for the problems of the war. Could this be a opportunity for Martin to really delve into the person of Bran in a way that doesn't drive the plot forward? He is a master of this, although he simultaneously makes every chapter count, if sometimes not until the very end. In other words, there is never a chapter that is strictly character sketch. The other thing to note is that his killer failed the first time, and he is still capable of recalling his secret and damaging the Lannisters. With a green boy in command and all the veterans dead or with Robb, Winterfell is relatively undefended, especially from the type of covert action that once tried to take Bran's life. I'll go with this thread. There is a more serious attempt, not only to kill Bran, but undermine the very existence of Winterfell, and Bran must become a problem solver, or lose what little he has left.

Catelyn: Finally, the lady of Winterfell. I fear this may be another who will not survive the series. Yes, I think Catelyn and Robb are potential crow-food. Tyrion does not forget his grudge and sends vengeance calling. She has a daring last stand on a cliff, perhaps in the Vale of Arryn, and bravely takes down many of the enemy as she plummets to her death. But not before she has helped Robb wreak considerable destruction on Lord Tywin and Joffrey.

Hee hee, some of these are pretty simplistic, I know, and probably nowhere near the truth.

2006-07-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, I accept the challenge. With the understanding that all these predictions are probably going to be blown out of the water (after all , everyone keeps saying these books are full of surprises), here goes:

Arya I don't know who Yoren is working for but I think he can be trusted (more or less). Arya is destined for great things, but not in the company of her brothers. She becomes a guerilla leader, harrassing the Lannisters from behind their lines. She's a survivor. When the Stark fortunes are at their lowest ebb, she will be the source of hope.

Robb A likeable kid, trying to be a man, this looks like a setup for disappointment. Although AGOT ended with Robb in a militarily strong position, some new surprise is going to mess this all up big time. Something from an entirely new and unforeseen direction. Perhaps having to do with Stannis!

Daenerys Who knows? This character is the most unpredictable. With her dragons accompanying her she will win the allegiance of the heretofore women-despising Dothraki. But a Pandora's box has been opened, and she will have to contend with dark forces before turning her attention to her ultimate goal, which is to lead an invasion of Westeros.

Jon Something is going to happen to him which will separate him once and for all from the Black Brothers, who will be overwhelmed by the coming of Winter and its associated supernatural terrors. Jon becomes the defacto leader of a handful of survivors. I think we're going to be greatly surprised by what Jon discovers about Mance Rayder and about Benjen. Jon will find Benjen of course, but dying. His last words will send Jon on a mission that will put him right in the center of events to the south.

Bran Bran is destined to greatness also, but not as a warrior. He will pursue the life of a maester, and will gain great knowledge, which will be crucial when it comes to face the Others.

The long and the short of it is this: something really weird is going on in the north, and something else really weird is going on across the sea, and these two weirdnesses, forces of the supernatural, are inevitably moving toward the center, which is where the Starks and Lannisters are facing off. That little conflict will soon seem narrow and petty in the face of the cataclysm that is to come.

Predictions

2006-07-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

In keeping with the advice I give third graders-- always make predictions! So here are my predictions for our beloved(or not) characters for A Clash of Kings and beyond:

Arya: Given her penchant for exploration, curiosity, mystery, going solo, and getting away at the last moment, I think I can generalize a few things for her. She will get away from King's Landing.(Ok, so I read the first chapter of Clash already.) She will return to Winterfell, or perhaps join Robb and Catelyn. Vowing to stay out of trouble, she will unintentionally stumble upon some mystery or truth that is crucial to....something. Maybe Robb's cause. She will play a major part in bringing to light this important information, though perhaps going unnoticed and unbelieved for a time. Maybe it will involve books. Or skittering around in a castle basement. Anyway, she will probably have hunters and would-be killers or kidnappers on her heels, and it will be a race against the clock.

Daenerys: (This could be most interesting to see if I'm anywhere near the truth.) Dany is the last Targaryen, believing in her right to the throne of the Seven Kingdoms. She has three baby dragons, where dragons were thought to have been dead for centuries. Aegon the Conqueror had three dragons. Aegon was the first Targaryen. Will Dany name her pets Vhagar, Meraxes, and Balerion(I love those names)? Will she style herself conqueror and wreak fire across the hosts of Westeros? Dany also has a band of straggler Dothraki at her beck and call. She is able to win their affection, and wily enough to use them to her advantage. This will be the beginning of an army she raises to cross the sea and confront the "kings," if not in this book. What the heck, I'll get specific. By the end Clash she will have a vast army at her back and be preparing to sail for her native land.

Sansa: Seven hells, have you learned your lesson yet, girl? Sansa will remain a prisoner of the boy king and sink into deeper and deeper misery. We may even see a barely stymied wedding, a la Princess Bride. Or we may just see a wedding, plain and simple. Ooh, I know. Arya will have a nagging conscience and find it in her to go and rescue her sister against all odds. Or maybe she'll just end up drowning herself in a river.

Tyrion: Tyrion will take the king in hand, and the council, and his sister. Perhaps all of King's Landing. He will do everything his lord father wanted and more. And he will come out smelling remarkably like a rose. He will discover the truth abou Jon Arryn, and his knife, and there will be retribution. He will attempt a rescue of Jaime, but if it succeeds, there will be a great cost to House Lannister. Perhaps their hold on the throne.

Jon: I have believed, since Jon took the black, that his story would somehow wind back around and intertwine with Robb's and the other kids'. This sweep of the land north of the wall will prove Jon a true hero, moreso than already, and his duty with the watch will take him, at some point, to a position of help to Robb and the Starks. I am convinced, whatever the Old Bear says, the Watch, the Wall, and their concerns of the coming winter are not independent from the war, the throne, and the Starks. Perhaps this is where Arya will end up, given her love for Jon. Finally, Jon will find and liberate Benjen Stark, a prisoner of Mance Rayder.

I will have to continue this later, but this is shaping up to be pretty fun. I haven't predicted anyone's death yet, I suppose I shouldn't leave out that possibility!

2006-06-30T04:53:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd better change the title of this blog, since after all we've now moved beyond "the game of thrones" to "clasing kings." I guess it was pretty thoughtless of me to name the blog after the first book in the series. Anyway, as you see, I've changed it, for the time being, to A Blog of Ice and Fire. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

BTW, I've run into a couple of interviews with Martin lately. One of them is at a site called SFF World. And Jay at Fantasy Book Spot provides another.

The Final Page

2006-06-29T17:58:00.000-07:00

That final scene sure was a hot one! But what a closer- the image of Khal Drogo, legendary, undefeated Dothraki warlord, consumed on a funeral pyre. A great event to save for the last scene of the book. I must say I had to read the part about Dany being buried in the burning logs a couple times. Did she really not get burned by the fire? This is some interesting development. If it's as I read it, she seems to truly have dragon-like imperviousness to fire. Is this something she was aware of, or something new, perhaps having to do with her entering the tent as the maegi woman performs her spell? She is not even surprised by it. Or maybe I shouldn't be approaching it too scientifically.

The whole mood of the chapter had a sadness and finality, even something like nostalgia. Nostalgia for Dany's homeland, for her marriage to Drogo, her child, and the child that she once was. The phrase "if I look back I am lost" permeates the chapter, giving a hint of melancholic onwardness of life despite wounds old and new. Truly, these are words that are meant for many characters in this book. Arya and Sansa having witnessed the public execution of their father. Catelyn as she watches her son, thrust into a young manhood, lead an army against the enemies of her house. Jon as he finally(?) lays down his devotion to family and realm for the commitment of the Night's Watch, the taste of his father's death still on his tongue.

I would never have guessed that this book would end with the Starks and the seemingly just cause in such an advantageous position. The Kingslayer, a prisoner of the Stark/Tully forces? Martin did an excellent job at making the underdog's victory believable. No hint of a deus ex machina. Another stroke of brilliance was to write A Game of Thrones without any heavy action taking place Beyond the Wall. Only talk and a few episodes that hint at terror. This ignites the thrill, but only allows it to burn low and slowly. It's as if there's a campfire(if you'll indulge me in a metaphor), and everyone knows there's a gasoline can nearby and someone will probably do the inevitable later on. But no one will even mention it until deep into the night. Learning of Lord Mormont's intentions to take a great host in search of Benjen had me saying "YESSSSS!"

Another YESSS! moment: Robb, The King in the North. Robb seems to have gone from green boy to noble lord and warrior. There is an allusion to the history of this phrase, which only left me wondering about it more. Robb's reaction to his liege lords' shouts is not recorded. What on earth does he think of all this? Another awesome scene, with the various lords tossing their weapons, one by one, at Robb's feet.

I think I will post my predictions for each of the major characters for the coming books. I am definitely caught up in these characters' lives. Some predictions will be more general, some specific. I'm interested to see how on track I am with Martin's plans for the characters.

Whoa!

2006-06-29T04:09:00.000-07:00

I finished the book! A couple of days ago, actually. I've kind of been digesting that final scene. In a way, it stands out from the rest of the book much like the opening scene does, as an invasion of the supernatural into a book that is relatively bereft of that sort of thing. So at either end of the book, and also at the geographic extremes within the book, there invades a shocking "otherness," and we are reminded that there is more to this world than men and women and what they do to one another. There is an "outside" to this drama, remnants of which persist in the tales of Old Nan, or in the dragonheads stored in the deep cellars of the castle at King's Landing, or in the petrified dragon's eggs that hatch so preposterously in the final scene, and of course in the appropriately named "Others" and their walking-dead victims.

Anne McCaffrey called these books "fantistorical." A combination, in other words, of fantasy and historical writing. I had gotten so comfortable with the "historical" aspect of these books that when the "fantasy" breaks in, it is truly shocking. I must say, I think this is rather brilliant of Martin. That final scene, with Dany walking into Drogo's funeral pyre, is so totally off-the-charts bizarre, drawing on imagery from the old lurid fantasy mag covers, but lifting it all to the level of nightmare . . . well, to finish on such a note puts to silence all my wondering if I really want to read on. Yes, I've purchased the next book. But I can't go on without hearing from Nate. Dude, what are your thoughts on this final scene? How would you sum things up so far?

A Masterful Chapter

2006-06-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes Martin puts together a chapter that is quite simply a little masterpiece. I am speaking now of Arya's chapter, in which we find ourselves with Arya amidst the taunting crowd that witnesses (and revels in) the execution of her father, Eddard Stark. This is so well-done, and by the way so exemplary of the best way to handle gruesome violence in a novel [my opinion: would that Martin were as nuanced and humane in certain other scenes], that it should be studied in creative writing classes. I confess that the entrance of Yoren at the end of the chapter had be stumped. I had to look him up here. Oh yeah, THAT Yoren!

Now For the Final Battle

2006-06-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

Will we see the redemption of the Stark "cause" in the final pages of this book? Tywin Lannister certainly seems over-confident enough to make the mistake of celebrating before the battle is over. I can only hope that Robb will prove that Stark blood truly runs hot (cold?) in his veins.

As for the Dothraki hordes, I wonder about the rift growing between them and Daenerys as well. Specifically, I wonder what is keeping her so married to the idea of retaking the Seven Kingdoms and having a dragon sit on the throne once again. With Viserys gone, and Khal Drogo only casually interested in said conquest(at least until recently), it seems she would have turned her mind to other things. Returning to the land of her infancy I suppose might hold some appeal, although she has no remaining relatives...except Maester Aemon I guess(will they ever meet, and how closely related are they, I wonder). Now with the "stallion that mounts the world" on his way, I suppose she a slightly more solidified intention.

It looks like two of the more admirable characters-- Robb, and the Stark family, and Dany-- might enter a collision course with each other. Depending of course on the outcome of the coming battle with the Lannisters. It seems strange that these two, should they meet, would be enemies, although Robb's father did help usurp her own father's throne.

Now that we've met Lord Tywin, it seems that Tyrion has little more love for his father than for the Starks. I wonder how he will end up, considering he "never bets against his family."

We're Back!

2006-06-21T04:18:00.000-07:00

Oh my, it has been too long of course. What sort of bloggers are we, to let so much time go by! Ah well, in answer to Ben, no we have not given up on this. But for both of us other things have taken precedence lately.

We're moving into the homestretch of this book, though. I have read through Tyrion's chapter (to p.695). The first battle has taken place along the kingsroad, and Robb & Catelyn's "stunt" has clearly worked, misdirecting the enemy. BTW, note the contrast between the way the 7 Kingdoms folk plan for war (intense conferencing, endless discussion and negotiating between factions) and the way the barbarian horseman do so ("Aaargh, let's go kill their men and rape their women, who needs a plan!").

The Daenerys chapter (beginning at p.665) shows us something new. A rift has opened between Daenerys and her adoptive people. This is going to turn out to be very significant, I think.

In Praise of Mr. Martin

2006-05-25T06:40:00.001-07:00

Having criticized (mildly) Martin's writing in my last post, I want to praise it this time around. One of his many gifts is to place his characters against a rich and believable backdrop. The backdrop can be cultural, geographical, even temporal. To give the story's setting a temporal depth, so that you have the sense of the remaining vestiges of bygone times, that is a wonderful aspect of Martin's writing. You have the sense that the present has developed out of a rich and living history. I like that very much.

You hear evidence of this in the old remembered and only half-believed stories and in the often-mentioned memories of the various characters (Daenerys remembering the particular flavor of the sausages she loved as a child), and in the family and tribal histories that are referred to in passing, as if they were common knowledge. In the names of places, vestiges of olden times, ancient battles, etc., and in the ruined fortress of Moat Cailin, for example, which speaks somberly of another time, another race of men, and other gods.

For tasty writing of this nature, just re-read the sales-pitch of the wineseller who tried to poison Daenerys:

"Sweet reds," he cried in fluent Dothraki. "I have sdweet red from Lys and Volantis and the Arbor. Whites from Lys, Tyroshi pear brandy, firewine, pepperwine, the pale green nectars of Myr. Smokeberry browns and Andalish slender sours, I have them, I have them."

For some reason I just love that last repeated, "I have them, I have them." I love the sound of place names that seem to carry with them a flavor of the exotic, even though in fact they mean nothing to me. All this has such a ring of authenticity to the reader, and gives a sense that the time in place of story is embedded in a larger and a vibrant context.

Now look at this example from Catelyn's chapter (p. 597 in the paperback), the description of Moat Cailin:

The Gatehouse Tower looked sound enough, and even boasted a few feet of standing wall to either side of it. The Drunkard's Tower, off in the bog where the south and west walls had once met, leaned like a man about to spew a bellyful of wine into the gutter. And the tall, slender Children's Tower, where legend said the children of the forest had once called upon their nameless gods to send the hammer of the waters, had lost half its crown. It looked as if some great beast had taken a bite out of the crennellations along the tower top, and spit the rubble across the bog. All three towers were green with moss. A tree was growing out between the stones of the north side of the Gatehouse Tower, its gnarled limbs festooned with ropy white blankets of ghostskin.

Now that's good, rich writing. The mention of ghostskin at the last finishes the passage on an appropriate note of strangeness, reminding us that this is another world than ours. Very nice.

Chaos and Trouble

2006-05-25T04:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the infrequency of postings here. I have had to get some other reading done so have neglected Thrones. But I'm back to it now and I think on my end--I don't know about Nate--things will move along quickly. I've just read about the assassination attempt on Daenerys. Hmmmm. It seems a little coincidental that she should happen to stop at the one booth in a busy marketplace at which waits a paid assassin with poisoned wine. But okay . . .

These chapters about Daenerys and the horselords are both intriguing and a little funny to me. Have you ever noticed that Mongol warrior types never come across as quite believable in the movies. I think it is so here as well. Daenerys is a very well-rounded character, but khal Drogo is a papier mache caricature. We only see him fighting, feasting, and coupling. He seems hardly more than an animal, which I suppose may be Martin's point. All I can say is I'm getting a little weary of references to his glistening "manhood."

There, now that I've got that off my chest, onward. It looks like the horselords are going to cross the sea and rape and pillage the land of the Starks and Lannisters, et al. So, big trouble coming from the across the sea. Big trouble coming from the North. And chaos prevailing in the land between!

A Heroic Generation?

2006-05-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've read through page 582, Bran's chapter, in which Robb leads the warhost south. This series of 4 chapters, following hard upon the betrayal of Ned, catch us up on the situation of first Arya, then Sansa, Jon, and Bran. This is a wonderful series. Again and again I am impressed by the way Martin is able to keep all these balls in the air at once, and still keep the underlying story moving along. But I guess I've said that already a couple of dozen times!

I love the Arya chapter. I love Syrio Forel facing off six Lannister swordsmen with nothing but a wooden stick, utterly cool and collected, swift and sure and unafraid to die. The last we see of Syrio he is facing Ser Trant, who is fully-armored, and Forel's stick has been splintered. If he dies in this encounter, he will have bought precious time for Arya in any case. But I do hope that we will see him again.

And I love Arya remembering the teaching of her "dancing master," especially of course the refrain, fear cuts deeper than swords. I love Arya walking across the bailey, under the eyes of hundreds of alert guardsman, hiding in plain sight. Arya is a hero. Arya has the right stuff.

Jon as well. Yes, what a chapter. I wanna tell ya, Nate, I completely forgot that the victims of the Others come back to life. It was with a shock of recognition, not of surprise, that I realized the intruder was Ortho, the dead man. I can't imagine what's going to happen now in Jon's piece of this story, however I feel certain Jon is not going to be much longer guarding the wall or serving as Mormont's steward.

Sansa. What can we say about Sansa? This book, have you noticed, has its share of spoiled selfish children. There's Lyssa's brat, what's-his name, and there's Joffrey of course, and Sansa, who at least is not bloodthirsty like the other two. But a fool. Such a fool.

Finally, Bran. You feel as if the story of this book is essentially the story of the decline of the Stark fortunes to the bitterest bleakest point, but you also feel that in Arya, Jon, and Bran (and Robb) you have the makings a remarkable generation, a generation of heroic proportions. Maester Luwin's suggestion that Bran might pursue the life of a learned Maester may not be only a passing fancy, but a hint concerning Bran's future. Anyway, we already know that these three--Arya, Jon, and Bran--are capable of rising to any occasion, finding strength they did not know they had, and growing in wisdom. If the seven kingdoms have any future at all, it lies with them I suppose.

Checking In

2006-05-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

I'm playing catch-up. Have read through the chapter ending at Littlefinger's betrayal. What a creep, eh? But then who could be surprised? Back later this weekend with a more "considered" post (mehopes).

Gas on the Fire

2006-05-09T14:55:00.000-07:00

I have read up through the chapter where Jon is put in custody for his outburst, and the horrific finally happens...(read no more if you have not gotten this far)

First, I will discuss the chapter with Ned's "betrayal" and the ensuing violence. It seems that the underdog is not getting any less "under." Has house Stark seen its last days as a prominent fixture in the Seven Kingdoms? I can't say that I'm surprised that Littlefinger(the true rat) threw honor out the window and sold Ned out to the Lannisters. It did surprise me that Varys, Pycelle, and Ser Barristan, as well as Littlefinger, all stood with the Lannisters. I suppose that they, in the tiny window they had to act, ran to the side of the winner. This might be a clue to Varys' loyalties(to the realm?). If his mind is the same as Littlefinger, that Stannis as king would bring bloodshed, therefore conceal the truth of Joffrey's heritage in order to keep the peace, then that would explain his loyalty to Cersei. It certainly proves that he doesn't give a flip for the traditions of heritage(Assuming he knows the secret, which he intimated in a talk with Ned). My prediction here is that many of the houses will not stand for Joffrey as king, and will rally for war. The die is cast.

As for Jon, all I can say is what a downright gothic chapter. The blue eyes gave it away from the beginning that the corpses would be walking again at some point. What a masterfully written chapter...the details, the suspense, the eerie cold of the forest beyond the Wall. The way the men slowly put the pieces together had me nearly screaming at the pages. Looks like being the Old Bear's personal steward won't be so boring after all.

In addition to being such a well thought out plot, Martin makes everything so plausible. Not a trait common to fantasy writing.