Aebram

Fled in fear of his life ... and took his entire fleet with him, and set himself up as lord of the Stepstones. He must have been really scared. :^) My personal hunch is that he and Cersei were having an affair; or if not, there was at least some sexual chemistry and/or flirtation going on. As you say, we don't know much about him. But his appearance reminded her of Rhaegar; and when talking to Jaime, she described him as "strong and vigorous." Maybe she was feeling neglected by Jaime, and wanted to stir up a little jealousy in him. But she's quite the free spirit; besides Jaime, there was Lancel, and then a couple of the Kettleblacks ... I get the feeling that there have been other times when Cersei used her body to persuade men to do her bidding; and she may do more of that before the story ends.

I wouldn't bet against the dragons in this scenario. Casterly Rock may be huge, but many of its most-used spaces are probably close to the surface, for easy entrance and exit, as well as access to fresh air and light. A dragon might be able to breathe enough fire and smoke into them to kill the occupants, or force them to leave. And it could melt rock at some entrances, forcing occupants to leave through others where they can easily be ambushed.

He could.... but I'm glad he didn't. I recently reread 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea for the first time since I was a kid. I had forgotten that there are places in that story where Verne wrote multiple pages that are little more than lists of all the different animals, plants, and even rocks and minerals that M. Arronax saw during his travels. It was boring to me then, and it still is. But in the 19th century, I think that sort of thing was more common. People didn't have as much access to information about faraway places, or as much ability to travel to them. I imagine many readers would have found those pages fascinating, thinking, "Oh, I had no idea there was such a variety of life outside my village."

I'm afraid that your question is too vague to elicit a clear answer. We have enough trouble around here deciding the value of a single coin, much less the net worth of a high lord. We know that some of these lords live in big castles, and they rule over populations large enough that they can summon thousands of men for their armies. From Jorah Mormont's description of his marriage to Lynesse Hightower, it seems clear that the life of a Northern lord is not as luxurious as in the other six kingdoms. Of course, House Mormont is probably less prosperous than others in the North, because of Bear Island's small size and remote location. At the other end of the scale, Winterfell is large and wealthy enough that it was able to host King Robert and his entourage. The other lords are probably somewhere in between those two. Here's an interesting video by a reader who has created a detailed description and images of what Winterfell might actually look like. Perhaps that will help us determine its value.

Maybe I'm just in a curmudgeonly mood tonight, but this looks to me like a textbook example (if you'll pardon the expression) of what's wrong with colleges and universities today. If they were going to use ASOIAF as a gateway to studying actual medieval history, that might make sense to me. But in this case, they're doing the opposite: they're going to use real history as a way to "explore" a work of fantasy. The fact that the blurb specifically mentions race, sex, and "social hierarchies" makes me wonder if there's a political or ideological agenda here. Is some professor using a popular work of fiction as a device to attract students into what will actually be a session of political indoctrination? Also, I see that this course is being offered by a French Department, but all the work will be done in English. How does that make sense? Seams, would you mind telling us what university this is? A college catalog is obviously public information; there's no need for confidentiality.

Clearly not ... Cersei.

Magic is an important and intriguing part of A Song of Ice and Fire. Many of us have speculated on what it can do, and how it may affect the story in the future. My own musings have gone in a slightly different direction. I've made some attempt to find the broader patterns, the fundamental principles or laws of Nature by which magic operates. (TLDR: scroll down to the Summary.) A sword without a hilt The phrase "a sword without a hilt" also appears four times in Dance (chapters 28 and 39). And there are other characters, including some skilled sorcerers, who warn us that the use of magic is fraught with uncertainty Passages such as these led me to believe that the First Law of Magic -- or perhaps we should call it the Zeroth Law -- is: We will never know all the laws. The first page of Winds may contain some magical event that wasn't predictable by studying all the magic in the first five books . Stepping out-of-universe for a moment, I found confirmation for this in a quote from a 2017 interview with the George (referenced in the wiki article about magic): The same wine in different bottles During my re-reads, I'm always intrigued by the pattern in these events: Four different events, conducted by four different sorcerers, in four different lands, using three different potions, all producing the same effect. I infer from this that all magic is powered by the same metaphysical force or energy. The books mention blood magic, fire magic, and water magic as if they are three different arts. Some readers have gone on to suggest the existence of other types of magic such as ice- or earth -based. But it seems likely to me that fire, ice, water, blood, etc. are merely different methods or tools for manipulating the same basic force. For example, some sorcerers use glass candles to see faraway events. but the red priests accomplish the same feat by gazing into a fire. Life magic When I read those last two sentences, I sometimes wonder if "bloodmagic" is actually a nickname for what might better be called "life magic." It seems that life itself is a sort of energy or essence that can be manipulated by magical means. It can be moved from one body to another. The statement that "only death may pay for life" even suggests that there is a sort of "conservation of energy" -like rule in effect: to save one life, you must destroy another. This principle is also mentioned in Arya's conversation with Jaqen H'ghar after she saves his life To the sorcerer, life is not an absolute; it can be measured or divided in various quantities. In other words, some creatures are more alive than others. This is demonstrated most vividly by Ser Beric Dondarrion, who thinks, speaks, and leads the Brotherhood Without Banners in ways that are largely normal, despite having been killed several times. But he no longer eats or sleeps; and he remarks that each time he is revived, some pieces of his personality are lost. Coldhands and Lady Stoneheart seem to be in a similar condition. Further down the "aliveness scale" is "Ser Robert Strong" (the reanimated Gregor Clegane), who never eats or speaks, but has some ability to follow instructions; and finally the wights, who seem to have lost all capability for communication and higher-level thought. The story contains some examples of "bloodmagic" that involve actual blood, such as Melisandre's use of Edric Storm's blood to kill Stannis's enemies, or the fortune tellers who read someone's future from a drop of their blood. But perhaps the power is not in the blood itself; it's in the life force that the blood carries. If that is true, we might expect that other types of living or formerly living flesh can also be used for magic. And indeed, that seems to be the case. Similarly, the Faceless Men use the faces of the dead to create powerful, long-lasting glamors. Transcending space and time Magic users and communicate across great distances, and even across time, with the past and the future. For this essay, let us define "communication" broadly, to include actions such as prophecy, where the magician is able to receive information, even though there is no specific transmitter. Prophecies are about the future, of course; but from Bran's experience with the Children of the Forest, we know that magic can allow one to see the past as well. From Sam's conversations at the Citadel (Feast 45), we know that glass candles can be used to converse with people far away, and also to observe distant activities. So magic can be used to transmit and receive information through space, over great distances. It can also be used to receive information through time, from the past and the future, but apparently not to transmit. Bloodraven tells Bran as much: However, there are a few hints that it might be possible, both in the text and. if memory serves, in comments by the author. To summarize all of these powers, we can say that magic can be used to move information around the universe in ways that transcend space and time. But can it move physical objects, as well as information? Have we seen any examples in the story of teleportation, telekinesis, or time travel? The firemage in Qarth (Clash 40) was apparently able to levitate; but it's possible that he was using a powerful glamor to conceal a wooden or rope ladder, as well as himself when he reached the top. The geometry of the House of the Undying seemed to defy the laws of physics (Clash 48), but it's possible that Daenerys' perceptions were distorted by the shade of the evening that she had drunk. And in their war against the First Men, thr Children of the Forest reportedly used magic to create massive upheavals of the earth and sea. But that was thousands of years ago; and some maesters believe that the causes were natural: sinking land or rising sea levels. So telekinesis may be possible in this world; but so far. it hasn't figured prominently in the story. Magic and heredity Certain magical abilities , particularly greensight (prophecy) and skinchanging, seem to have a biological or genetic component. The Children of the Forest recognize greenseers by their unusual eye colors, which suggests a genetic connection. And of course, the Valyrians were known to marry family members "to keep the bloodlines pure." We don't know exactly why they considered this purity to be important; but it seems that anyone with Targaryen ancestry has some possibility of being able to bond with and ride a dragon. And again, eye color is a common marker of this ancestry. So genetics can influence magic; and the reverse also seems to be true. The tide in magical energy These passages, and some others, suggest that dragons are the source of magic, or of the energy that powers it. But are they? Magic was once more common in this world, but it somehow faded away over time, while the Targaryen dragons were also becoming smaller and fewer. Now the dragons have returned, and so has the magic. But are the dragons the cause, or just an effect? Daenerys's dragons hatch at the end of Game (chapter 72). but there are a number of magical events that occur before then. Ser Waymar Royce is killed by an Other in the Prologue; and from the words of Osha and some other wildlings, we know that their activity had been increasing beyond the Wall for some time before that. Also, the Starks' direwolves appear in chapter 1 of Game. The "bleeding star," the red comet, first appears in the story in Game 66, when Maester Luwin is observing it. We read about it again in Game 72, when it rises just as Daenerys is starting the ritual that hatches her dragon eggs. The queen of magic From the forum: "U. B. Cool" Posted February 16 According to a YouTube video by "Bridge4," the George has said that "Targaryens are not immune to fire." The fact that Daenerys survived Drogo's funeral pyre was "unique, magical, wondrous, a miracle;" and she will "probably not" be able to do it again. it's interesting that, in the above quote, Quaithe tells Daenerys, " ... his powers grow, Khaleesi. And you are the cause of it.” Not the dragons, but Daenerys herself. is this possible? I don't think we know exactly when the tide turned, and magical energy started to return to the world. We first see it at the very beginning of the story, in the prologue of Game. But later, we learn from the wildlings that the Others had been increasingly active beyond the Wall for some time. Quaithe tells us that the firemage's powers had grown considerably in half a year; but that's just one point on the graph that we're trying to draw. Daenerys married Drogo on her 14th name day (Game 23). So she must have been born about 14 years before the start of Game. It seems plausible that that's when the magical energy started to return: when she was born. But even if it did, again, let's not confuse cause with effect. It's possible that the birth of Daenerys herself -- if she is indeed the one to fulfill the ancient prophecy -- was brought about by by magical forces. in other words, Daenerys, like her dragons, is not the cause of the return of magical energy; she is merely another of its effects. Summary Here, then, are the seven principles or Laws of Magic that I have been able to identify. 0. The true nature of magic is somewhat elusive. We don't understand it completely, and perhaps we never will. 1. All forms of magic are powered by the same basic forces or energies. Characters may speak of blood magic, fire magic, and other types as if they were separate arts; but actually, it's just their words, potions, etc. that vary. 2. Life force can be manipulated with magic. Sorcerers can take the force from a living creature, and use it to reanimate a dead one, or for various other purposes. 3. Magic can be used to send and receive information in ways that transcend space and time. Sorcerers can see distant events and communicate with distant people. They can also see events in the past or future, although they probably can't communicate with people in different times. 4. Some magical abilities are hereditary, and can be passed in varying degrees from parent to child. Conversely, magic can be used to manipulate genetics, e.g. to mate humans with other creatures and produce half-human offspring. 5. There is a "tide" or cycle in magical energy. When the cycle is at its low point, sorcerers' abilities are limited, and magical creatures such as dragons and Others become scarce. When the energy returns, sorcerers' powers increase, and magical creatures return to the world. 6. Daenerys has a special and unique relationship with magic. She has abilities that are not well understood, and that may extend beyond what other sorcerers can do. I welcome comments from other readers who may have discovered additional Laws, or found flaws in my clumsy reasoning. Your humble scribe, Aebram of Underhedge

More specifically: when the king laughs, it might be considered discourteous not to laugh along with him.

I missed the joke too. I think the problem is that you weren't extreme enough; the things you wrote are all too typical of what the real haters write. Next time, you might try accusing the Starks of something that's really over the top, like being communists, or climate-science deniers. :^)

My own hunch about this is that sorcerers receive their prophecies in different ways. The red priests see images; but maybe Quaithe receives the information as words that she hears in her mind. Instead of trying to decipher the words herself, she may have found that it's best to simply pass them on to others, and let them draw their own conclusions. Or perhaps there's something darker going on. People from Asshai may know more about magic, and the events to come, than anyone else in the Known World. They may have some subtle plot under way thar requires Daenerys to take certain actions later on; and the cryptic prophecies are intended to prepare her or nudge her in the direction they desire. I don't really think so; if that were the case, Quaithe would probably be more direct and specific in her instructions to Daenerys. But I can't rule it out.

Yes, I was going to write something to this effect. People who live in small island communities, far removed from their main society, often develop a somewhat eccentric subculture. My family used to live in Maine, and I've heard some stories about the people who live on small islands like Vinalhaven off the Maine coast. I imagine the same is true in many other places around the world. I will guess that GRRM has visited some of those places, and decided to include one in his story as a bit of comic relief

That's a lot of questions, about one of the most mysterious characters in the entire story. I have a few thoughts about these two: She doesn't seem to be a representative of the city. Qarth is governed by the Pureborn, and neither she nor her two companions identified themselves as representing them. The way they introduce themselves suggests that they are representing other groups: Pyat for the warlocks, Xaro for the traders, and Quaithe for the shadowbinders. As the story unfolds, we find that the first two are motivated by self-interest. The warlocks tried to kill Daenerys, and Xaro tried to persuade or deceive her into giving up one of her dragons. But Quaithe's motives are more mysterious. She appears to Daenerys several times, to give instructions and advice; but her words are so cryptic, neither Daenerys nor we know exactly what they mean. Quaithe is aware of the rising "tide" of magic in the world, so it seems likely that she wants Daenerys to play some important part in what's happening. But she hasn't asked Daenerys to do anything specific, except to "remember who you are." On the question of why she is in Qarth: she clearly has some ability to communicate telepathically with Daenerys. Perhaps she is in contact with other shadowbinders the same way. There may be a network of shadowbinders that are working behind the scenes to influence world events.

Very nice analysis by Evolet. I will suggest a couple of alternative ideas. By Westerosi law and tradition, a king's sons are first in line to succeed him. So if a king's son is absent from a kingsmoot, is can be overturned. But does a king's brother enjoy the same protection? Perhaps not; the text doesn't go into a lot of detail. But it seems possible that a valid moot could be held with Theon and Asha present, but not Euron. In that case, a new king could be declared while Euron is thousands of miles away. As you pointed out, there are a couple of prominent Northmen who know the truth. So depending on how the story unfolds, it's possible that Theon might survive.

That's correct. In fact, he specifically said that it would take some time.

"... in that vein," indeed ... :^)

I don't know anything about Zoroastrianism, but this quote reminds me very much of Taoism: Yin and Yang, the eternal opposites, of which the whole universe is made.

Planetos is hollow! :^)

Well, yes, we've seen a number of discussions here about what the Others really are, how they were created, and whether they are truly evil or just misunderstood characters with shades of gray like everyone else. I'm somewhat skeptical, mainly because I don't think there's been any foreshadowing for that; and that would be one heck of a surprise to spring on the readers at the 11th hour. But it's possible.

That's an intriguing idea, that the confusion over dates might be due to differena cultures using different number systems. It's entirely possible ... but I don't think there's any evidence for it in the books. We know that a lot of elements of the story are taken from real life, but amplified or exaggerated. Westeros is basically England, but enlarged to the size of a continent. The Wall is Hadrian's Wall, but four times as long, and 5 to 10 times as high, with monsters living on the far side. Similarly, the history was stretched from centuries to millennia, to make it more fantastical. I will guess that the importance of the numbers 3 and 7 was driven by the story line. Once you've created a religion with seven gods, it's just human nature that the people will think that seven is a lucky number. I think the George has acknowledged that he's not real good with numbers; and in this low-tech society, the characters don't deal with them very often. So it seems unlikely that there's any complex "numberplay" in the story. But now that you've mentioned it, I'll keep an eye out for it during my next reread. :^)

Yes, I think he has said this in interviews. And indeed, he has created many characters with both vices and virtues; and he has killed off some of the Good Guys. But how far will he go in breaking stereotypes? Will the Others win the Battle for the Dawn, and destroy all life on Planetos? Will the prophecies of the Last Hero turn out to be empty superstition, leaving the characters to fight the battle without the aid of magical destiny? ... Hmmm, that second one actually seems possible; but not the first one. After 5,000 pages, the readers have a sense of where the story is going. If it deviates too far from that path, it will leave many of us disappointed. So I think the story will have an essentially "happy" ending. The Others will be defeated, the Dawn will return, and at least a few of the major characters will survive. But this will not be a fairy-tale, "happily ever after" ending. It wouldn't surprise me to find much of Westeros in ruins, its population decimated, and many of the most heroic characters brought down by their enemies, or fled, or caught up in internal squabbles with people who should have been their allies.

This question has come up before. It always gets a number of different answers. There's a lot of food for thought in a story of this size and complexity. I think that each reader's opinion of "what it's really about," its main theme or message, is a reflection of their own personality and opinions. Whatever is most important to you in your own life, that's the thing that will seem most prominent to you in the story. The basic story line is a classic epic fantasy: ultimate battle of good and evil, fate of the world hanging in the balance, ancient prophecies being fulfilled. But in a story this long, with a dozen different POV characters, there's room for a lot of subplots, Eeach of which can be as long and richly detailed as a standard novel. So the story explores a number of different themes or messages. One of the most prominent is the conflict between love and duty, between one's personal desires and the promises they have made. The theme that is most prominent to me is the way that the lords of Westeros are caught up in their political squabbles, regional conflicts, and personal dramas, while completely ignoring the much larger threats presented by coming of Winter, the Others and possibly another Long Night. It reminds me of some things that are happening here in the U.S., and to some extent in the rest of the world as well. But that's just me; other readers have different ideas. Other than the fantasy storyline, I don't think there is any one answer to the question of what the story is "really" about.

How do you figure half a pound? I don't recall seeing the actual weights or sizes of the coins mentioned in the story.

The wiki tells us that Egg was crowned in 233 AC, and: I'm sure Egg named Dunk to the KG at the first opportunity, because of his long friendship and loyalty, similarly to how Young Griff named Rolly Duckfield. (Dunk / Duck, similar nicknames) But of course, the KG is limited to seven men, and they served for life (until Joffrey fired Ser Barristan). So Egg would have had to wait until someone died -- unless there were already less than seven at the time of his coronation. Sorry, I'm not sure if we know the complete history of the KG at that time.

I was wondering about this myself. It occurs to me that, because this discussion is specifically for comparing the show to the books, it's not completely off-topic. Also, the show has been over for, what, 3 years now? It's not as popular a subject for conversation as it was when it was running. Maybe there isn't so much need to have a hard prohibition on mentioning the show here.

I agree with this. I found the first two seasons to be pretty faithful to the books. In seasons 3 and 4, things started to get different; but they mostly seem like reasonable changes, to simplify the story and reduce the number of characters. But in season 5, when they killed Ser Barristan, that was the last straw for me. I did watch the rest of the series, but I did what I call "putting my brain in 3-year-old mode." I enjoyed the acting, scenery, special effects, etc.; but I really don't remember anything about the plot. The show did have a few clever lines, such as in season 1 when Ned Stark says, "War is easier than daughters." Also, I loved that moment in season 4 when Jaime uses his golden hand to block an attacker's sword. I hope he does that in one of the books.