The Silver Otter Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 As you re-read books and sort through interviews, patterns -- these rules start to emerge. All of these rules are flexible obviously, absolutes are usually avoided. Actually, they're more like guidelines. Lots of these rules er, guidelines deal with eschewing stereotypes, writing what is taboo, and keeping the reader off keel. Some of these rules are based off of George's prejudices, some of them are to keep the story moving, and some I'm not quite sure about. If you have some rules that apply don't mind setting examples or sources but don't feel that they're necessary. So here are some of the rules. 1) Predictable is boring a) Everyone was rooting for Ned, so he had to turn to Poor Dead Ned. Afterwards the predictable thing was for Robb to avenge his father, so he had to die too.2) Beauty, Purity, Ugliness, Stench don't mean jack a)Yoren was dirty, smelly, and one of the more honourable people out there b. The Hound is a tortured, hateful ugly man but he does have a certain morality c) Cersi is a gorgeous psychopath3) Black and White aren't good and evil a) Kings Guard all in white beat Sansa b. Necromancer Qyburn dresses all in white c) Tyene Sand, the expert poisoner; everyone thinks is the picture of purity4) Twins will Suffer a) Full House beat out George's Beauty and The Beast so he hates twins - http://www.screenjunkies.com/tv/tv-news/george-r-r-martin-rails-on-the-olsen-twins-mid-lecture/%C2'> b. Twincest & The Jousting Dwarves5) Magic is unpredictable a) 1+1 ≠2, that's not magic, that's Science!6) They're only dead if a POV sees them die on stage a) Ned was clearly beheaded b. Bran and Rickon - killed off stage, not dead c) Ser Davos - "killed" of stage, not dead d) Shadow Assassin kills Renly7) If the POV ends with a kill them cliffhanger - they are not dead a) Tryion on the bridge of ships b. Arya & The Hound's Axe c) Ser Jaime's behanding (?)8) Plans laid out on screen don't succeed. Most of the time in a spectacular fashion.- Joffrey and Sansa marrying- Ned taking over the city with the Gold Cloaks- Viserys invading with Drogo's khalasar- Tywin beating Robb at the Red Fork- Davos on the Blackwater- Robb liberating the North after the RWand a thousand more examples. Which speaks volumes about LF's plan to marry Sansa to Harry the Heir and replacing Sweetrobin. 9)People seeking vengeance rarely get it, and if they do, the price is normally ridiculously high. Arya, put your list away girl. So, based on the above I'd say it's probable that The Hound is alive on the Quiet Isle, The Green Grace - an image of peace and wisdom - may be the Harpy, Ser Barristan is in danger for being a person. What are your thoughts? Can you think of any trends that may point to what we will see in TWoW? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.Grumpy Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Cripples, bastards and broken things are tend to be super badass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bringer of Rain Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Agree with OP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alienarea Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 And because predictable is boring:- Jon Snow died to stay dead at the end of ADwD- Tyrion Lannister will die in the battle of Mereen- Daenerys Targaryen will stay in Essos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Blue Eyes Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Plans laid out on screen don't succeed. Most of the time in a spectacular fashion.- Joffrey and Sansa marrying- Ned taking over the city with the Gold Cloaks- Viserys invading with Drogo's khalasar- Tywin beating Robb at the Red Fork- Davos on the Blackwater- Robb liberating the North after the RWand a thousand more examples. Which speaks volumes about LF's plan to marry Sansa to Harry the Heir and replacing Sweetrobin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Silver Otter Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 And because predictable is boring:- Jon Snow died to stay dead at the end of ADwD- Tyrion Lannister will die in the battle of Mereen- Daenerys Targaryen will stay in Essos Addendum:Thou Shalt Love Tyrion You forget, The George loves Tyrion so I don't think he'll be killed off until A Dream of Spring. And wouldn't Dany staying in Essos be equally as boring? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Silver Otter Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 Plans laid out on screen don't succeed. Most of the time in a spectacular fashion. - Joffrey and Sansa marrying - Ned taking over the city with the Gold Cloaks - Viserys invading with Drogo's khalasar - Tywin beating Robb at the Red Fork - Davos on the Blackwater - Robb liberating the North after the RW and a thousand more examples. Which speaks volumes about LF's plan to marry Sansa to Harry the Heir and replacing Sweetrobin. Good one Blue Eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordStoneheart Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 And because predictable is boring:- Jon Snow died to stay dead at the end of ADwD- Tyrion Lannister will die in the battle of Mereen- Daenerys Targaryen will stay in Essos Hasn't he basically confirmed these aren't true? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gneisenau Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Those who have great sex tend to suffer misfortune later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maester Pedant Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Wouldn't following those rules be considered being predictable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Blue Eyes Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Wouldn't following those rules be considered being predictable? Actually, GRRM is rather predictable. Especially Ned's and Robb's death were visible from a thousand pages off - if you read the books with an eye on the older literature (Shakespeare etc.) instead of modern fantasy mainstream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Silver Otter Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 Wouldn't following those rules be considered being predictable? And they're more like guidelines anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maester Pedant Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Actually, GRRM is rather predictable. Especially Ned's and Robb's death were visible from a thousand pages off - if you read the books with an eye on the older literature (Shakespeare etc.) instead of modern fantasy mainstream. I'm not sure about that. I've never read modern fantasy mainstream and I've read tons of older literature and I didn't find any of that predictable. I think those plot points are well prepared in advance, but you can only easily identify that preparation in hindsight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Creighton Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Plans laid out on screen don't succeed. Most of the time in a spectacular fashion.- Joffrey and Sansa marrying- Ned taking over the city with the Gold Cloaks- Viserys invading with Drogo's khalasar- Tywin beating Robb at the Red Fork- Davos on the Blackwater- Robb liberating the North after the RWand a thousand more examples. Which speaks volumes about LF's plan to marry Sansa to Harry the Heir and replacing Sweetrobin.Jon marching south. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crow's Third Eye Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Quentyn's chapter ended onba cliffhanger. He died. Ammendment ofbthe OP :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Silver Otter Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 Quentyn's chapter ended onba cliffhanger. He died. Ammendment ofbthe OP :P But he didn't die until Ser Barristan's POV, so the rule guideline remains, and only POV deaths are more assured. The exception being Dondarrion and later UnCat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnief Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Plans laid out on screen don't succeed. Most of the time in a spectacular fashion. - Joffrey and Sansa marrying - Ned taking over the city with the Gold Cloaks - Viserys invading with Drogo's khalasar - Tywin beating Robb at the Red Fork - Davos on the Blackwater - Robb liberating the North after the RW and a thousand more examples. Which speaks volumes about LF's plan to marry Sansa to Harry the Heir and replacing Sweetrobin. Thank you Blue Eyes. That's my guess too. Of course, that logic also doesn't bode well for Davos's hopes of rescuing Rickon, so Lord Manderly can rally the North behind him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tellus Explorer Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I honestly think we are reaching in our asses and seeing what comes out, because Mr. Martin seems to hate cliques.So that could leave a lot of people dead or seriously depressed in the end.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Human Abstract Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Don't agree that George is that unpredictable or that predictability is that bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Creighton Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 But he didn't die until Ser Barristan's POV, so the rule guideline remains, and only POV deaths are more assured. The exception being Dondarrion and later UnCat. And Sixskins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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