SeanF

A very nice essay, LongRider. Why would secular institutions like the NW, the Citadel, or the Kingsguard insist on celibacy? Presumably, so their members can dedicate their lives to public service, unencumbered by any ties to family. But, it's a hard sacrifice, especially if you're given no choice in the matter; a criminal sent to the Wall, or a noble younger son, sent to the Citadel. "Fat Pink Mast" is funny. Martin's sex scenes aren't written as erotica. They're meant meant to be awkward, funny, incongruous, and this one works well.

I'm having the same issue with notifications.

It's common in historical novels (and of course Braveheart) to portray Edward and Piers as "mincing faggots" (Martin's own words). Of course, they weren't. Both were tough warriors, as any knight or king had to be. Edward was a disastrous king, but his personal courage is not in doubt. I suspect Renly would have been a bad king, but he's clearly pretty tough. I'm glad Martin has actually gone behind the historical novels to portray Renly and Loras in a credible manner.

Gaveston's real offence (in the eyes of the English nobility) was probably not so much that he was Edward's lover (if indeed he was). It was more that he was a minor nobleman who was greedy, arrogant, and who failed to treat them with the deference which was their due. In the Show, it's very much Ser Loras who prompts Renly to make his bid for the Throne with his family's backing. That's not made clear (as you say) in the books. Nonetheless, the Tyrells are a very close and loving family, so Loras's advocacy must have been a factor in their decision to support Renly. And with the backing of the Tyrells comes the backing of most of the leading families of the Reach.

That's very good, Dog Lover. One difference between the two is that Loras seems to be completely unambitious, whereas Gaveston was greedy for titles and wealth. Loras wants to be a great knight, but doesn't seem interested in lands and power (he resembles Jaime, in that way). Loras is, as you say, arrogant, but it's different to Gaveston's arrogance - Loras doesn't mock the high nobility of Westeros, of which he is one, after all. Gaveston comes over as more of a parvenu, who had to flaunt his wealth and power in a way that completely irritated the English nobility. Kathryn Warner argues convincingly, in my view, that Edward's "neglect" of Isabella was not so strange. Edward was 23 when they married, she was 12. It would generally have been considered medically dangerous to begin sexual relations with such a young girl. Indeed, it may have been a term of the marriage agreement that sexual relations would not begin until Isabella was 15 or 16. Edward actually fathered a son outside marriage, Adam, around this time. After 1310, court records show that Edward spent most of his time with Isabella. For a time, their marriage actually seems to have been quite successful (the final breach came after 1322, Edward fell under the influence of the Despensers.) Martin draws heavily on this period of history. Isabella has more than a few similarities with Cersei, and Tywin with Philip the Fair. Cersei's attempt to frame Margaery for adultery has echoes of Isabella's plot to bring down her sisters-in-law, Marguerite and Blanche, through allegations of adultery with two knights in 1314.

If you're interested, there's a superb edwardthesecond.blogspot.com , by Kathryn Warner, who's about to publish a biography about him. Loras must have realised that if Renly became King, he'd have to fade into the background. Renly would have to produce children, to secure his dynasty. And, he could hardly shame Margaery, by appearing to be uninterested in her. I wonder what future Renly intended for Loras. Would he just be the Lord Commander of his Kingsguard, or did he intend that Loras (like Gaveston) should marry and become a great lord?

Dog Lover, that's a very interesting and well-written account of Renly and Loras. I see echoes of the relationship between Edward of Carnarvon and Piers Gaveston. Unfortunately, in popular imagination, Edward and Piers are regarded as a pair of mincing, preening, cowardly fops, who get put to flight by brave and manly Scotsmen (who paint their faces blue). In reality, Edward was a fine athlete and warrior (but a bad general). Gaveston, like Loras, was an outstanding tournament fighter and knight.

Well, you'd think her brain would have started to decompose.

She's in worse shape than Beric, though, after spending three days in the water.

I like your theory. Killing Lady Stoneheart would indeed be an act of mercy. I can hardly imagine a worse fate than being trapped forever in a rotting body, unable to experience any form of pleasure, feeling nothing but anger, hate, grief and despair. People who accuse Martin of being soft-hearted in bringing Catelyn back from death are entirely missing the point IMHO.

I haven't yet seen Series 3, but in series 1 and 2 we got to see Loras as being quite a shrewd politician, which doesn't come through in the books. Essentially, he takes the roles of Ser Garlan and Willas as well as his own.

Not many people in Ros' position would know how to read and write, but it's certainly not out of the question. There were and are people who are functionally literate, because they need to study accounts/inventories etc., even if they never read for pleasure. If she's running a brothel, it would be a useful skill. Ros is highly ambitious, and might well have paid someone at Winterfell to teach her to read and write.

I've just got the DVD of Season 2, and I've watched it twice. I'd have to give it a 10. Martin is absolutely right in his commentary about how the bells ringing wildly ratchet up the tension. You can feel the panic and fear sweeping the City, and imagine women and children seeking refuge in the Septs. The Highlights:- 1. Varys' rather moving comments about his hatred for the Dark Arts, and how Tyrion is their only hope. 2. The dialogue between Davos and Matthos. .3 The wildfire explosion. 4. Stannis's response. "Hundreds of men will die." "Thousands." 5. Tyrion's coolness under fire, as he successively plays each card in his hand. 6. The fighting scenes. 7. Cersei's dialouge with Sansa. 8. Tyrion's speech to rally the soldiers, followed by "Oh. Fuck. Me." 9. Cersei and Tommen is an incredible scene. Cersei is on the verge of tears, as she prepares to kill Tommen and herself, and tries to keep his courage up. 10. Old Dubrovnik.

It would have been nice for ADWD to end with the battle in Mereen - but I think it ended up in just about the right place in the North. It probably is best not to reveal how much of the Pink Letter is true or false until TWOW.

I expect she'll end up with some of the Volantene Navy. I suppose much depends on how many soldiers she intends to bring to Westeros, and whether she wants to head directly for Westeros, or conquer Volantis and/or Pentos along the way. If she can win over some of the Dothraki, that would allow some of her men to march overland, though the Dothraki Sea, towards the Free Cities. I enjoyed reading about this, but do wonder if Martin is starting to give away too much.

I imagine that if Doran does decide to throw in his lot with Aegon, he'll give Nymeria plenty of warning.