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?
The artist is dead, long live the art! Kipling's stories for children are beautiful, even though he was a racist/imperialist/militarist. Lots of artists are imperfect people that nevertheless produce good art.
The exception I'd say is a living artist who has abhorrent views and you'd support them by buying their stuff. That's fair. And if support for Biden makes someone dead to you - boycott away. But GRRM is no Orson Scott Card.
ASOIAF has lots of things to criticize from a socialist perspective. For example, his fantasy world has a lot more Whites and a lot fewer Blacks than our world (there are presumably a lot of Asians, but they live too far away to matter) - though most fantasy universes are even more White. But I don't think it preaches some evil centrist doctrine at its core. Tolkien's work has a more conservative philosophy ingrained.
Fair point. I enjoy the books, and I think the show kind of soured me to the series, which probably shouldn’t be the case.
I really don’t see the series ever being finished though so the show ending is what we’ll be left with.
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