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shadowkatI didn't love this book as much as many people on my flist and elsewhere did, in part because I don't really find reading about warfare, battle strategy, and battle scenes all that interesting. And you sort of have to be into it - to love these books - because that's what the author/writer is interested in. He's done a lot of research in this field and is fascinated by battles.
My brother and my mother asked if they should read the Song of Ice and Fire Series.
My response?
Well, the writer is fascinated by warfare - so about 85% of the books is about medieval warfare. Characters die in gruesome ways, because hello, medieval warfare. However, he does write some of the most complex and diverse characters on the planet. And his female characters are diversified, well-developed, and complex - which is rare in the fantasy field.
Mom: or any field for that matter.
Me: Unfortunately, true. That said, the story is told in multiple points of view. Each book in the series has at a minimum 10 points of view. And he adds more points of view as he goes. A Dance With Dragons has over 20 points of view. Each chapter is a different point of view. And the points of view are not of characters that necessarily know each other or are even near one another. In some cases they may take place before the previous character's point of view. For example? In one point of view we're told the dragons have been released. The next chapter is in the point of view of the person who releases them. Then the next is in the point of view of someone halfway around the world who doesn't even know the dragons exist and could care less, and is busy plotting something completely unrelated. It's not until five or six chapters later that we get back to what happened after the dragons were released. Each chapter ends on a cliff-hanger or pseudo-cliffhanger. Which, if you are lucky, is resolved five - ten chapters later, with a new cliffhanger set up. But in most cases isn't resolved into the next book or the resolution happens off page, and is referred to briefly in another character's pov.
Add to this. There are about 1000 characters to keep track of. Some of which change their names or hide under aliases. There's subterfuge - where the writer is attempting to fool the reader regarding who the character is.
It's sort of like reading 10 epic fantasy novel serials at the same time. Oh, and you have to wait 5-7 years for the next book to come out, although if you start the series now - it most likely won't be an issue, since the next book will probably be published by the time you get to it. Unless you race through them and do a lot of skimming.
Mom: You do realize that you've managed to talk me out of reading these books, right?
Me: I'm not finished. The writer kills off favorite characters in gruesome ways, and allows nasty ones to succeed. Also, he's repetitious in places and likes to provide a lot of unnecessary back story.
Mom: Reminds me of John Jakes Bastard series, been there done that. I'll pass.
Me: I'm only reading them because he creates fascinating characters and I want to know what happens to them.
Mom: How long does it take for him to write a book?
Me: five to seven years.
Mom: Definitely pass.
Brother: The tv series is worth checking out though.
Now on to the spoilery review of A Dance with Dragons, which you should read at your own risk, although I don't really know how much it will spoil tv viewers, since the writers of the tv series may veer away from some of the plot lines.
Reading this book, at times, felt like watching Peter Jackson's The Hobbit. Too many pointless fight scenes and navel gazing. Not enough forward momentum on the plot. That said various characters remain fascinating and compelling - and well worth the effort.
I may have issues with the writing style and plot mechanics, but I adore his characterization. Also, he does manage to pull of something that is really hard to pull off well - which is multiple points of view. He tells the book in third person close or first person distant, however you wish to describe it, but the pov person changes each chapter. And there are over 20 changes. Also it's not really told chronologically, events happen out of order. For example - in one chapter, we're told dragons have been released. Then the next chapter we get the actual releasing. At least these two chapters were back to back, otherwise it would have been confusing.
Not a lot happens the first half of the book, most of the big stuff happens in the last quarter of the novel - so you have to plow through about 400 pages to get there. Also a lot of big things happen off-page, and are referred to in other chapters.
The book ends with approximately ten cliffhangers. This one was published July 2011 and the next book ...may not be published until 2016 or 2017...although he averages a book every 5-6 years, so I'm betting end of 2015, or 2016.
I have to admit I spent a good portion of the book worrying about the dragons.
* The cliff-hangers:
1. So, is Jon Snow dead? I don't see how he could have survived - he was stabbed multiple times, in multiple places by the Brothers of the Night Watch. Why they felt the need to stab him to death, I've no clue. But I found their timing highly irritating. For one thing - I'd just begun to like the character. Also, he was going after the grating and annoying Ramsey Bolton, who needed to be killed off about five chapters ago. That character is annoyingly difficult to kill or defeat.
Couldn't the Night's Watch have let him go after Ramsey Bolton? Seriously, it would have been easier.
Okay, I take that back - I do know why they felt the need to do it. It's because they disagreed with the direction he was going. He was bringing in the wildlings, who were admittedly dangerous and they'd fought this whole time. And sending people off to bring in more, while going off with another contingent to save Mance Raider, who they hated.
Still, seemed to be a stupid move, stragetically.
Also - if he's dead, why is the fandom still obsessed with the whole Rhaegar+Lyanna=Jon Snow? How can it possibly matter now that he's dead? Seems sort of pointless to me. Another plot-thread that goes nowhere, except that it does explain how we got here or provides ironic context and motivations for various characters. There's a lot of time expended on the whole Rhaegar bit, and how the first war came about, except this round we get from the opposite side. I honestly think the information is there - to provide motivations for various characters, not for any other reason.
Have to say - I was surprised by the stabbing of Snow. I honestly thought this character would make it to the end. And he was just grievously injured or in jeopardy at the end of the novel. Maybe he is? But multiple stab wounds seem to be bit difficult to survive.
2. Jon isn't the only one who is the victim of multiple stab wounds. Ser Kevin Lannister and Grand Master Purcell - get whacked at the end of the novel by Varys, the Spider, who had disappeared. Varys actually provides context and credence to the incredibly dull Connington chapters and the whole subterfuge with Lord Aegon, Rhaegar's son - who Connington smuggled to Braavos and raised to become king.
Can't say I was all that upset with the stabbing of Ser Kevan and Purcell, except it was a bit on the gruesome side and a tad overkill. Just slice their throats and be done with it. Varys shows up with an army of child assassins. And he does it - because Ser Kevan was plotting to undue various things, and taking out Connington. When he wants the Lannisters and Tyrell's to continue to implode, so that Connington can easily take over.
At this point, I'm wondering if there will be much left.
3. Cersei and Margary Tyrell are both getting trials. Cersei has requested trial by combat, with the silent giant Ser Robert as her champion. (I'd bet money he's Ser Gregor Clegan...a psuedo Frankenstein). So, she's probably safe. But has no real power after her public humilation by the High Septon. Cersei is cleverly biding her time and working hard to survive and keep her remaining kids alive. Margery has requested a normal trial - and most likely will be pardoned since her father returned with his army and declared himself Hand, and with Ser Kevan's death - is now most likely the ruler.
4. Dany flew off with Drogon. Everyone thought she died, except her faithful. Her husband, Hazzadar, who she should never have married - tried to poison her but was unsuccessful. He also tried to kill her dragons - did not succeed there either. Now - finally - Ser Barriston imprisoned him and is about to go to war with the annoying Yunki, and the Harpy. Dany however is off with Drogon, her dragon, and finally after much struggle, figured out how to make peace with him and have him fly her back towards home - also get her something to eat on the way. She runs into the Khal, with Drogon by her side. She's also come to the realization that her noble husband tried to have her killed and staying in Mereen was a huge mistake.
Meanwhile Quentyn Martell released her dragons. He dies horribly attempting to tame one and fly it. Stupid boy. He's not been cast in the tv series, which means they most likely will combine two characters. Now the dragons are fine, thank god. I spent a good portion of this book - worrying over the fate of Dany's dragons. I'm not sure I'd forgive Martin for killing off the dragons.
Cliff-hanger: Will Dany make it back to Mereen in time to save Daario, and the others?
Will Ser Barriston manage to defeat the Harpy and Yunki. Will Daario get killed? Will the dragons kill everyone in Merreen and the Yunki? (Unlikely, the dragons just want to be left alone to kill sheep - they are the most harmless and nicest characters in that city.) Will the Yunki and Harpy kill the dragons? Personally I'm rooting for the dragons to kill everyone but Barriston, Daario, the Second Sons (Ser Jorah and Tyrion), Dany, and Missandra. We can get rid of a whole slew of annoying characters in one fell swoop.
5. Tyrion and Ser Jorah have teamed up. Took a while - Jorah enslaved him first. Then they had a shipwreck, and both got enslaved. Now, Tyrion has managed to free them from slavery and convinced the Second Sons to take them on as part of the team, in exchange for a lot of Lannister gold. Where we ended - Tyrion was going to convince the leader of the Second Sons to abandon the stupid Yunkish, and join up with Barriston and Dany, who were the winning team. Meanwhile, the dwarf, Penny, is being a drip and keeps whining about leaving their former master, where they were taken care of. Tyrion realizes that Penny is the sort who will always want a master and wants to be a slave, she wants to be taken care of, have her decisions made for her, have her little pets, and make people laugh at her. It drives him crazy, since he's the opposite. Also, what she doesn't know is their master had sent them into the ring to be slaughtered by lions, the queen saved their lives. (Mainly because Dany didn't find the prospect of lions killing drawves to be all that funny.)
6. Asha manages to survive Stannis's camp and her men are returned to her. As is, her brother and Jeyne, who they found freezing in an snow drift. Theon and Jeyne, with not all that much help from Mance, manage to escape Ramsey Bolton. We're not sure what happens next. Since Asha is still a prisoner of Stannis. They are snowed in. And starving. And having difficulty figuring out how to take out Winterfell.
7. According to the letter Ramsey sends Jon Snow - Mance and his washerwomen are captured. Bolton skins them alive and puts Mance in a cage. Poor Mance. And has managed to defeat Stannis, and now has possession of Light-Bringer.
How much of this is true, we don't know. Last we saw, the Bolton's and Frey's were racing out into the snow to fight Stannis, after having various people in their party mysteriously killed. And having killed some of their guests. Nasty bunch. Tired of reading about them. Also they appear to be un-killable.
So is Stannis really dead? If so, what then for Melissandra?
8. Ayra is well on her way to becoming a faceless assassin, who someone who can change her face at will. She just killed her first assignment, and has had her first face change. She's rapidly losing her identity as Ayra Stark.
9. Jamie vanished with Brienne, who had met with Lady Stoneheart and may now be like her, a walking undead.
10. Meanwhile in Doran - Martell has plotted to send Mrycella and Trystan with Obarra to Kings Landing, to ensure that nothing amiss occurs. While he waits for Dany to show up with her dragons.
* The whole Rhaegar back story makes it very difficult to like Robert Barratheon, who basically killed a lot of people for no good reason. Rhaegar would have been a better king. A lot of characters muse on what might have been. Barriston muses on how things would have been better if Rhaegar had never noticed Lyanna, and if he'd won the jousting instead. Kevan muses on how it would have been better if Rhaegar married Cersei instead of Elia who was too weak. Connington muses on how it would have been better if he'd supported Rhaegar over Aerys and had not egotistically gone after Barratheon, or had been more monsterous like Tywin Lannister and burned the entire village that Barratheon was hiding in.
It's made clear that the killing of Rhaegar's children was upon Barratheon's orders.
Not supported by either Barriston or Ned Stark. This killing - resulted in various people hating Barratheon and the Lannisters - for a good reason.
It's also rather clear, that Jon may well be Rhaegar and Lyanna's child. Either that or Aegon is. Could be Aegon. Although that is just wild speculation on my part. Honestly I don't think it matters that much. They didn't have paternity tests. The Rhaegar/Lyanna romance is important - because it motivated Barratheon to go after the Iron Throne, and gave Tywin the opportunity he craved for power. A lot of characters blame Rhaegar for this, but the subtext blames Barratheon, whose jealousy and pride caused him to destroy a lot of lives, and the Starks for their pride, ego and blind loyalty.
The back story also makes you sort of root for Connington (although his chapters are dull), Dany, Ser Jorah, Tyrion, Varys, Aegon, Doran, and Jon Snow.
* New favorite characters?
- Ser Jorah
- Daario
- Asha
- Jon Snow (whose most likely dead)
* Characters that I could do without...
- Connington
- Ramsey Snow
- Roose Bolton
- Lady Dustin
- Penny
- Quentin
Overall, not a bad read. Enjoyable in places, deathly dull in others. A bit repetitive. Too many battle scenes. And I'd have cut about 75% of it.
[ETA: apparently I'm in the minority regarding the speculated fate of Jon Snow.
Me:Okay, he's dead.
GOT fandom: No, he's not. He's a key player - the whole story centers on him.
Me: He was stabbed five or six times in major arteries.
GOT fandom: Doesn't matter - key prophecies center on him. He may have merged with Ghost.
Me: But they were major arteries...and he was unconscious...and Ghost was penned up elsewhere.
GOT fandom: No, everything points to him being alive.
Me: Okaay, whatever you say. ]
My brother and my mother asked if they should read the Song of Ice and Fire Series.
My response?
Well, the writer is fascinated by warfare - so about 85% of the books is about medieval warfare. Characters die in gruesome ways, because hello, medieval warfare. However, he does write some of the most complex and diverse characters on the planet. And his female characters are diversified, well-developed, and complex - which is rare in the fantasy field.
Mom: or any field for that matter.
Me: Unfortunately, true. That said, the story is told in multiple points of view. Each book in the series has at a minimum 10 points of view. And he adds more points of view as he goes. A Dance With Dragons has over 20 points of view. Each chapter is a different point of view. And the points of view are not of characters that necessarily know each other or are even near one another. In some cases they may take place before the previous character's point of view. For example? In one point of view we're told the dragons have been released. The next chapter is in the point of view of the person who releases them. Then the next is in the point of view of someone halfway around the world who doesn't even know the dragons exist and could care less, and is busy plotting something completely unrelated. It's not until five or six chapters later that we get back to what happened after the dragons were released. Each chapter ends on a cliff-hanger or pseudo-cliffhanger. Which, if you are lucky, is resolved five - ten chapters later, with a new cliffhanger set up. But in most cases isn't resolved into the next book or the resolution happens off page, and is referred to briefly in another character's pov.
Add to this. There are about 1000 characters to keep track of. Some of which change their names or hide under aliases. There's subterfuge - where the writer is attempting to fool the reader regarding who the character is.
It's sort of like reading 10 epic fantasy novel serials at the same time. Oh, and you have to wait 5-7 years for the next book to come out, although if you start the series now - it most likely won't be an issue, since the next book will probably be published by the time you get to it. Unless you race through them and do a lot of skimming.
Mom: You do realize that you've managed to talk me out of reading these books, right?
Me: I'm not finished. The writer kills off favorite characters in gruesome ways, and allows nasty ones to succeed. Also, he's repetitious in places and likes to provide a lot of unnecessary back story.
Mom: Reminds me of John Jakes Bastard series, been there done that. I'll pass.
Me: I'm only reading them because he creates fascinating characters and I want to know what happens to them.
Mom: How long does it take for him to write a book?
Me: five to seven years.
Mom: Definitely pass.
Brother: The tv series is worth checking out though.
Now on to the spoilery review of A Dance with Dragons, which you should read at your own risk, although I don't really know how much it will spoil tv viewers, since the writers of the tv series may veer away from some of the plot lines.
Reading this book, at times, felt like watching Peter Jackson's The Hobbit. Too many pointless fight scenes and navel gazing. Not enough forward momentum on the plot. That said various characters remain fascinating and compelling - and well worth the effort.
I may have issues with the writing style and plot mechanics, but I adore his characterization. Also, he does manage to pull of something that is really hard to pull off well - which is multiple points of view. He tells the book in third person close or first person distant, however you wish to describe it, but the pov person changes each chapter. And there are over 20 changes. Also it's not really told chronologically, events happen out of order. For example - in one chapter, we're told dragons have been released. Then the next chapter we get the actual releasing. At least these two chapters were back to back, otherwise it would have been confusing.
Not a lot happens the first half of the book, most of the big stuff happens in the last quarter of the novel - so you have to plow through about 400 pages to get there. Also a lot of big things happen off-page, and are referred to in other chapters.
The book ends with approximately ten cliffhangers. This one was published July 2011 and the next book ...may not be published until 2016 or 2017...although he averages a book every 5-6 years, so I'm betting end of 2015, or 2016.
I have to admit I spent a good portion of the book worrying about the dragons.
* The cliff-hangers:
1. So, is Jon Snow dead? I don't see how he could have survived - he was stabbed multiple times, in multiple places by the Brothers of the Night Watch. Why they felt the need to stab him to death, I've no clue. But I found their timing highly irritating. For one thing - I'd just begun to like the character. Also, he was going after the grating and annoying Ramsey Bolton, who needed to be killed off about five chapters ago. That character is annoyingly difficult to kill or defeat.
Couldn't the Night's Watch have let him go after Ramsey Bolton? Seriously, it would have been easier.
Okay, I take that back - I do know why they felt the need to do it. It's because they disagreed with the direction he was going. He was bringing in the wildlings, who were admittedly dangerous and they'd fought this whole time. And sending people off to bring in more, while going off with another contingent to save Mance Raider, who they hated.
Still, seemed to be a stupid move, stragetically.
Also - if he's dead, why is the fandom still obsessed with the whole Rhaegar+Lyanna=Jon Snow? How can it possibly matter now that he's dead? Seems sort of pointless to me. Another plot-thread that goes nowhere, except that it does explain how we got here or provides ironic context and motivations for various characters. There's a lot of time expended on the whole Rhaegar bit, and how the first war came about, except this round we get from the opposite side. I honestly think the information is there - to provide motivations for various characters, not for any other reason.
Have to say - I was surprised by the stabbing of Snow. I honestly thought this character would make it to the end. And he was just grievously injured or in jeopardy at the end of the novel. Maybe he is? But multiple stab wounds seem to be bit difficult to survive.
2. Jon isn't the only one who is the victim of multiple stab wounds. Ser Kevin Lannister and Grand Master Purcell - get whacked at the end of the novel by Varys, the Spider, who had disappeared. Varys actually provides context and credence to the incredibly dull Connington chapters and the whole subterfuge with Lord Aegon, Rhaegar's son - who Connington smuggled to Braavos and raised to become king.
Can't say I was all that upset with the stabbing of Ser Kevan and Purcell, except it was a bit on the gruesome side and a tad overkill. Just slice their throats and be done with it. Varys shows up with an army of child assassins. And he does it - because Ser Kevan was plotting to undue various things, and taking out Connington. When he wants the Lannisters and Tyrell's to continue to implode, so that Connington can easily take over.
At this point, I'm wondering if there will be much left.
3. Cersei and Margary Tyrell are both getting trials. Cersei has requested trial by combat, with the silent giant Ser Robert as her champion. (I'd bet money he's Ser Gregor Clegan...a psuedo Frankenstein). So, she's probably safe. But has no real power after her public humilation by the High Septon. Cersei is cleverly biding her time and working hard to survive and keep her remaining kids alive. Margery has requested a normal trial - and most likely will be pardoned since her father returned with his army and declared himself Hand, and with Ser Kevan's death - is now most likely the ruler.
4. Dany flew off with Drogon. Everyone thought she died, except her faithful. Her husband, Hazzadar, who she should never have married - tried to poison her but was unsuccessful. He also tried to kill her dragons - did not succeed there either. Now - finally - Ser Barriston imprisoned him and is about to go to war with the annoying Yunki, and the Harpy. Dany however is off with Drogon, her dragon, and finally after much struggle, figured out how to make peace with him and have him fly her back towards home - also get her something to eat on the way. She runs into the Khal, with Drogon by her side. She's also come to the realization that her noble husband tried to have her killed and staying in Mereen was a huge mistake.
Meanwhile Quentyn Martell released her dragons. He dies horribly attempting to tame one and fly it. Stupid boy. He's not been cast in the tv series, which means they most likely will combine two characters. Now the dragons are fine, thank god. I spent a good portion of this book - worrying over the fate of Dany's dragons. I'm not sure I'd forgive Martin for killing off the dragons.
Cliff-hanger: Will Dany make it back to Mereen in time to save Daario, and the others?
Will Ser Barriston manage to defeat the Harpy and Yunki. Will Daario get killed? Will the dragons kill everyone in Merreen and the Yunki? (Unlikely, the dragons just want to be left alone to kill sheep - they are the most harmless and nicest characters in that city.) Will the Yunki and Harpy kill the dragons? Personally I'm rooting for the dragons to kill everyone but Barriston, Daario, the Second Sons (Ser Jorah and Tyrion), Dany, and Missandra. We can get rid of a whole slew of annoying characters in one fell swoop.
5. Tyrion and Ser Jorah have teamed up. Took a while - Jorah enslaved him first. Then they had a shipwreck, and both got enslaved. Now, Tyrion has managed to free them from slavery and convinced the Second Sons to take them on as part of the team, in exchange for a lot of Lannister gold. Where we ended - Tyrion was going to convince the leader of the Second Sons to abandon the stupid Yunkish, and join up with Barriston and Dany, who were the winning team. Meanwhile, the dwarf, Penny, is being a drip and keeps whining about leaving their former master, where they were taken care of. Tyrion realizes that Penny is the sort who will always want a master and wants to be a slave, she wants to be taken care of, have her decisions made for her, have her little pets, and make people laugh at her. It drives him crazy, since he's the opposite. Also, what she doesn't know is their master had sent them into the ring to be slaughtered by lions, the queen saved their lives. (Mainly because Dany didn't find the prospect of lions killing drawves to be all that funny.)
6. Asha manages to survive Stannis's camp and her men are returned to her. As is, her brother and Jeyne, who they found freezing in an snow drift. Theon and Jeyne, with not all that much help from Mance, manage to escape Ramsey Bolton. We're not sure what happens next. Since Asha is still a prisoner of Stannis. They are snowed in. And starving. And having difficulty figuring out how to take out Winterfell.
7. According to the letter Ramsey sends Jon Snow - Mance and his washerwomen are captured. Bolton skins them alive and puts Mance in a cage. Poor Mance. And has managed to defeat Stannis, and now has possession of Light-Bringer.
How much of this is true, we don't know. Last we saw, the Bolton's and Frey's were racing out into the snow to fight Stannis, after having various people in their party mysteriously killed. And having killed some of their guests. Nasty bunch. Tired of reading about them. Also they appear to be un-killable.
So is Stannis really dead? If so, what then for Melissandra?
8. Ayra is well on her way to becoming a faceless assassin, who someone who can change her face at will. She just killed her first assignment, and has had her first face change. She's rapidly losing her identity as Ayra Stark.
9. Jamie vanished with Brienne, who had met with Lady Stoneheart and may now be like her, a walking undead.
10. Meanwhile in Doran - Martell has plotted to send Mrycella and Trystan with Obarra to Kings Landing, to ensure that nothing amiss occurs. While he waits for Dany to show up with her dragons.
* The whole Rhaegar back story makes it very difficult to like Robert Barratheon, who basically killed a lot of people for no good reason. Rhaegar would have been a better king. A lot of characters muse on what might have been. Barriston muses on how things would have been better if Rhaegar had never noticed Lyanna, and if he'd won the jousting instead. Kevan muses on how it would have been better if Rhaegar married Cersei instead of Elia who was too weak. Connington muses on how it would have been better if he'd supported Rhaegar over Aerys and had not egotistically gone after Barratheon, or had been more monsterous like Tywin Lannister and burned the entire village that Barratheon was hiding in.
It's made clear that the killing of Rhaegar's children was upon Barratheon's orders.
Not supported by either Barriston or Ned Stark. This killing - resulted in various people hating Barratheon and the Lannisters - for a good reason.
It's also rather clear, that Jon may well be Rhaegar and Lyanna's child. Either that or Aegon is. Could be Aegon. Although that is just wild speculation on my part. Honestly I don't think it matters that much. They didn't have paternity tests. The Rhaegar/Lyanna romance is important - because it motivated Barratheon to go after the Iron Throne, and gave Tywin the opportunity he craved for power. A lot of characters blame Rhaegar for this, but the subtext blames Barratheon, whose jealousy and pride caused him to destroy a lot of lives, and the Starks for their pride, ego and blind loyalty.
The back story also makes you sort of root for Connington (although his chapters are dull), Dany, Ser Jorah, Tyrion, Varys, Aegon, Doran, and Jon Snow.
* New favorite characters?
- Ser Jorah
- Daario
- Asha
- Jon Snow (whose most likely dead)
* Characters that I could do without...
- Connington
- Ramsey Snow
- Roose Bolton
- Lady Dustin
- Penny
- Quentin
Overall, not a bad read. Enjoyable in places, deathly dull in others. A bit repetitive. Too many battle scenes. And I'd have cut about 75% of it.
[ETA: apparently I'm in the minority regarding the speculated fate of Jon Snow.
Me:Okay, he's dead.
GOT fandom: No, he's not. He's a key player - the whole story centers on him.
Me: He was stabbed five or six times in major arteries.
GOT fandom: Doesn't matter - key prophecies center on him. He may have merged with Ghost.
Me: But they were major arteries...and he was unconscious...and Ghost was penned up elsewhere.
GOT fandom: No, everything points to him being alive.
Me: Okaay, whatever you say. ]
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no subject
Date: 2014-08-04 10:33 pm (UTC)Although...if GRRM wants to be unpredictable, killing off Jon Snow would certainly be unpredictable.
Personally? I think he's going to warg into the wolf and eventually warg into someone or something else. That fits the story thread the best.
no subject
Date: 2014-08-05 05:57 pm (UTC)Jon Snow generally bores me, but I cannot think of any good reason for that long prologue except to foreshadow. And Warging seems to be not just a Bran trait but a family one as basically Blind Arya warged into the cat when she was being tested (and I don't think that her doing that was what was intended by the Faceless Men. I think it was just an innate Stark talent. Although I think it'll bypass Sansa because her direwolf died. Not that I think that the direwolf was necessary, just that the direwolves are metaphors for... something. That's why Arya's direwolf wanders the wilderness. Sansa's was taken by the Lannisters and cut off from its pack forever. Rickon's is the most wild of the lot, etc...)
no subject
Date: 2014-08-06 12:55 am (UTC)Snow didn't get mildly interesting into GRRM decided to stab him to death, or mostly to death.
Will state that Martin likes to tease the reader about character deaths. Have figured out the pattern, so he can't fool me any longer. If a major pov character's death is reported in someone else's pov, someone who wasn't any where near the character at the time - then the character is most likely not dead.
Examples: Davos - he's reported dead in Cersei's chapters in Feast, but we discover in Dance that he is still alive, and this was subterfuge. Bran and Rickon - reported dead in Robb and Catelyyn's chapters, but in Bran's - still alive. Ayra reported dead in Jamie's chapter, still alive in Arya's. Stannis - reported dead in Jon Snow's - he's definitely still alive.
Martin reminds me of various tv writers who seem to think being unpredictable means randomly killing off characters or pretending to do so. What they don't realize is after a while, the audience starts to expect it and doesn't care. I'm at that point in the Song of Ice and Fire - I only cared if the dragons survived, which is a problem.