Maybe my favourite book series! Intelligent dialogue dealing with consequences of even minor decisions. The hierarchy is criticised constantly, shown for being trivial, hypocritical and based almost entirely in violence and threats based on strength in numbers (implied and real).

I can't choose a favourite character or arc, but I really love ADWD for really elaborating on and setting up new goals for stories that had more or else finished their first act.

I also enjoy that while GRRM indulges in 'pure evil' characters such as Joffrey, The Mountain, Ramsay and Euron (Read that TWOW preview chapter- it's Godly!) he still establishes that most people commit horrific acts while being actual complex people in a shit system (Theon, Jamie, Stannis).

Main two characters also should be noted are a staunch abolitionist (Dany) and a man who sacrifices himself for refugees who he successfully migrated (Jon). Considering the ramifications they both faced for their decisions they both managed to be awesome, intelligent and compassionate, despite the consistently horrific implications and threats.

What are your favourite characters, arcs, worldbuilding or quotes? Any real life political figures you'd like to compare to ASOIAF characters?

  • a_jug_of_marx_piss [he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    I'm kind of glad Winds of Winter is taking forever, I don't think I would have the energy to pick it up yet, after the TV show fiasco.

    • RNAi [he/him]
      ·
      edit-2
      4 years ago

      It's so amazing for such an enormous cultural thing to be destroyed and dissapear completely overnight. Like, it's like it never happened! But three stupid space slavers movies from the 1970 still haunt us todsy with shitton of ramifications and bullshit.

        • RNAi [he/him]
          ·
          4 years ago

          If I was Bezos, after solving poverty and lack of infaestruxture in the world, and before beheading myself, I would pay for the remake of seasons 7 and 8 and the necessary seasons 9, 10 , 11 and 12.

      • emizeko [they/them]
        ·
        edit-2
        4 years ago

        that whole mythos is so fucking dead to me

        I will never forget that midnight showing of Phantom Menace on opening day in 1999 and the way everyone cheered at the beginning and the crowd slowly got quieter during the film until at the end everyone filed out depressed and making excuses

        • RNAi [he/him]
          ·
          4 years ago

          I never watched the originals, was the phantom menace THAT bad?

            • RNAi [he/him]
              ·
              4 years ago

              What was the thing that made you say "this is bullshit"? I never watched any of the movies

              • emizeko [they/them]
                ·
                edit-2
                4 years ago

                you could sense a physical reaction in the crowd about twenty minutes in when it became clear that Jar-Jar was going to be a major character not an incidental one

                • RNAi [he/him]
                  ·
                  4 years ago

                  What was so bad about that character? He was silly and had a funny voice, no?

                  • emizeko [they/them]
                    ·
                    edit-2
                    4 years ago

                    racially coded as an afro-caribbean analogue, bad sambo vibes

                    portrayed as a buffoon or sap the whole time

      • kilternkafuffle [any]
        ·
        4 years ago

        three stupid space slavers movies from the 1970

        Sorry, what's this a reference to?

          • kilternkafuffle [any]
            ·
            4 years ago

            There's slavery in original Star Wars? Elaborate if you care please. I just feel like it's going over my head.

            • RNAi [he/him]
              ·
              4 years ago

              Wasn't the Habba the Hut guy a slaver?

              Anyways: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Slavery