400 replies to this topic

[Knight ofthe Laughing Tree]

Alarum, on 08 August 2012 - 06:15 AM, said:

I remember circa Heresy 7 reading a theory suggesting the WWs were icy avatars being projected from The Thing Beyond the Curtain but don't recall it necessarily being connected to the mists that follow us everywhere and associated spectral residue. I realize my thoughts on the matter aren't radical by any means but the crux of what unsettles me most about our conventional wisdom at this point is regarding the WWs as their own proper race. I agree that they have clear connections to the Children and the fuzzy conception of Wood Dancers but even in a fantasy world where nothing is entirely bound by physical or logical principles, a nascent culture of ice/water-made flesh beings still seems like too far a departure. I think the idea that GRRM is taking an eastern construct of the universe possessing a singular cosmic wash of spiritual energy and then applying it to the climate conditions already present in his world you have a rather simple, plausible explanation.

I realize there remains severely loose ends. Principally, how do we resolve the Craster's sons/half human dilemma? Honestly, I don't know. I don't know what the hell they would want with sheep, either (companionship? half-sheep children? The Lhazareen/Great Shepherd reborn?). It's difficult to reconcile these kinds of pragmatic questions when we're dealing with something this far out in the ether, but when we are given a modest pile of evidence defining what exactly these things are and then toss half of it aside in favor of an existing archetype from outside the books' jurisdiction, my panties start to bunch up.

I don't get that-- icy avatars being projected-- as in inanimate?  In the very first encounter we have with Others they actually fight (with blades and seem to be intelligent) the arrogant son of (Royce?) a lord.... so if this theory refers to an inanimate projection, how does an avatar do that?  Great point regarding Craster's sons, exactly-- it doesn't fit.  The Craster brothers are referred to as coming for them when Sam is at Crasters--- and those brothers are definitely not wight infants..... lol  

I think that we have enough evidence to say that the Others are not inanimate avatars.  Are they beings or hybrids controlled by the Great Other?  Death?  Perhaps.... but I dunno.... if we use their opposite which seems to be the thing in George's Universe, the dragons, to try to make sense of the Others, then they're independent beings/creatures that could be controlled (by what?  The Horn of Winter as no doubt has been suggested by more than a few).  Thoughts?  Isn't the Great Other's counterpart simply R'hllor?  Is that spelled right?  And is The Great Other simply the Weirnet like Mel thinks?  George says that evil is ambiguous-- we know R'hllor is capable of some good things (healing Victarion's arm, saving him from death-- is that good?-- warning Jon of daggers in the dark) as well as all the nasty.... and the Weirnet is the same isn't it?  Capable of nastiness (the red paste perhaps....).   So you know, we can figure out what the Others are if we figure out how they are opposite of the dragons, can't we?  They are dangerous like dragons.... but are they evil?  I'm sure this is elsewhere.... sorry if I've drifted off topic

I likey this:  "I agree that they have clear connections to the Children and the fuzzy conception of Wood Dancers but even in a fantasy world where nothing is entirely bound by physical or logical principles, a nascent culture of ice/water-made flesh beings still seems like too far a departure. I think the idea that GRRM is taking an eastern construct of the universe possessing a singular cosmic wash of spiritual energy and then applying it to the climate conditions already present in his world you have a rather simple, plausible explanation"

Edited by seanettlesoup, 30 August 2012 - 02:01 PM.