BalerionTheCat

I'm not sure there is such a Christian Religion's influence: Yeah: Jon resurrected as the Messiah, the son of God. The Promised Prince, maybe another son of the Lion of Night and the Maiden-Made-of-Light. But the story has a mythology. Some people are coming back from the dead. Events fated millennia before. Humans are not magicians. All their magic comes from sacrifice to dark (evil) entities. Or are achieved as agents of supernatural, more or less god-like entities. This is high fantasy. Not really religion stuff.

ADWD is by far my preferred. Then AFFC. They are the most meaningful of the series, so far. And the ones I never tire reading again. OK, I was a little bit disappointed at their first read, by the lack of progress. And it was not clear why Dorne and the Iron Islands had come to that importance. But I finally understood that everything was important with Georges. And Dorne and the Iron Islands will have their importance (if we see the end). Then AGOT, because of the shock of the discovery of this universe. ASOS and ACOK are last but equals to AGOT.

This is supposing the prophecy is stupid or there was a better way to do. So long as we have not the end of the story, we can't say for sure.

Yes. I read nothing more in these few lines. It perfectly describes his current situation. It's a seeing of the present. Prophecies stuff is weirder than that.

I'm neither a writer nor a physician. But I don't think it's a block. The story is just too complex. GRRM doesn't want his characters to act illogically or artificially, just because he needs the story to go that way. All consequences have causes. For example, maybe (idk) he needs Dany to fight Aegon, Cersei and the Others at the same time. But he doesn't see how realistically he can keep both Aegon and Cersei in power. Or how Dany and at least Aegon could ignore the threat of the Others and result in the events he needs. He simply raised his objectives impossibly high. IMHO.

Of course. In fact, I don't care for anything else but ASOIAF. I'm not watching HOD. And certainly will not watch any other spinoff. I can't like them while I'm waiting Winds. Maybe I'll buy new D&E if they are out before Winds. But it would be half against my resolution.

A: "Aegon Dead & YG Fake" YG is the son of Illyrio and Serra. Serra and Varys were the last Blackfyre. True Aegon's death has more to to with Varys than with the lack of luck.

At this point I would welcome GRRM giving up Dream (and even Winds, if he publishes it, as it is now). So long as he also publishes a note, a few pages, explaining what was his plans. The twists and plots he had in mind. So no one could finish his story and betray it by their own fiction, interpretation...

BTW, even if the gods exist in this world (not sure for the 7), they don't seem to care much for dealing justice in the place of men.

It is religious superstition. I imagine Lancel facing Ser Robert Strong...

The trial by the combat is a stupid thing. Even if it existed in real history. The stronger, more skilled win!

Tywin, Varys and Littlefinger

Yes. This place, from the dawn of history, from about every place in the world, has known only slavery. How could you change that with a war? If they know anything of Westeros, their kings and lords and knights must not look different of the masters and overseers. If not worse with their wars. That, incidentally Dany is importing. Yes. But I fear Meeren will not be spared by the war.

I don't like much this "collateral loss". That you die in war, whether it is your war, your choice, or not. I could, if the benefits really outweighed the costs. But if she is leaving, I don't see how Meereen can avoid the fate of Astapor.

I was meaning individuals, not whole society. You may have to kill someone because there is no other way for peace. Not because you don't like him. You can't kill everyone you dislike. You have to find deals accepted by both parties. Not push 100% your idea without compromise, because you have the power to incinerate your opponent. Try reasonable people. Hizdahr zo Loraq maybe.

Yes. But are they justified? Is there not another way? Yes, facing individuals like Ramsey, you have no choice. But is not peace and treaties better than war? You are strong in your rightfulness, your legitimacy. But what the other believes? Put yourself in his shoes before acting! GRRM story tells us, wars call for revenge. Violence brings only more violence. Why not? For people choosing this game. But for the others?

The conquest of the Iron Throne (or any other seat of power) kills innocent people. I don't care they are Slave or free men if they have not chosen this fight. Because the Iron Throne is her purpose behind all this.

I like the theories that sound right, and at the same time greatly modify the meaning of the story. The Blackfyre. Particularly if you think Varys engineered fAegon from the beginning. Ruining Aerys rule by his lies. Escalating Lyanna affair in a full rebelion. Sowing distrust with Dorne. Forcing Elia to KL while she was safe at Dragonstone. Finishing Gregor work so the true Aegon could not be identified... Not exactly a theory. A general direction. I would like the Others to be the punishment of the gods for the crimes and atrocities committed by men. They will leave only if men clean their mess. Or else everyone will die. And the threat of their return, the thing that will keep men returning to their "business as usual".

As you can imagine, there has been a long thread of the time of this video https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/142632-grrm-talks-about-what-it-means-title-ice-and-fire/#comments

I don't think it's "the timeline doesn't make sense". It's we don't know enough to draw a timeline. I believe she died right after Ned left her to return to Cat. It was the straw that broke the camel's back. After her brother and daughter's death. So her love was Ned not Brandon. At Harrendal Ned was free of engagement. Their marriage, between ancient and noble houses, would have been quite a match. An honor for both. If the daughter is born about the same time as Jon and Robb, she's definitely not Brandon's. She would have been conceived right before Ned's marriage with Cat. Maybe a last desperate attempt of Ashara to divert Ned from Cat. At a time when he may still believe he could avoid this awful deal with Hoster Tully. It would help to explain the difficult beginning of Ned and Cat marriage. All it needs is Ashara joining Ned before he reaches Riverrun.

This? I found it before, and it's about the same language. But I was remembering something a little bit different.

I'm not sure of the exact words. Ice and Fire were threats of total destruction. Not one to save from the other. And Dany was, as far as I remember, leading the Fire. I would not extrapolate meaning beyond these words. IMO, GRRM meaning was left to interpretation.

I remember this interview, or one such as that. But I can't find it. From memory: Georges was asked what was the main plot of the Story. He said the story was centered on KL, where different families were fighting for the throne. While they were facing destruction from 2 converging threats, Ice from the North and Fire from the East. And no one was taking care. He named Dany for the Fire threat.

Yes. There are hints, some intentionally to mislead. Some are coincidences only in the eye of the believer (a shitload of that, IMHO, the thinner the real evidences are). And seeds that will never grow.

Don't think it means anything other than having blue ice color eyes, cold temper and whatever. And the NK was maybe another Stark. So that with GRRM, nothing is as black and white as it may seem.