_DC_
July 4th, 2005, 09:19 PM
The usual fantasy story goes like this: an innocent peasant boy (who is still a virgin) is approached in his middle-of-nowhere village by a sage, who explains to him that he is Chosen to do battle with the Evil One. Now the boy must embark on a perilous journey, accompanied by the sage and a colorful group of comrades, to the scene for the great battle. During his journey he learns more about himself and his destiny (but never has sex), and when he finally stands face to face with the Dark One, whose powerful minions have all failed to stop the young boy, he knows how to defeat him. This is the story established by Tolkien's Ring trilogy, and it hasn't changed much since.
Until now.
George R.R. Martin has done what noone else had done before him: he has written an adult fantasy story. Fantasy worlds are feudal, and in feudal worlds, Martin rightfully concludes, the movers and shakers aren't peasant boys from the middle of nowhere, but men of the aristocracy.
A Song of Ice and Fire spans four novels so far, and more are to follow. In these we read of the fates of Eddard Stark, his wife and their children as Westeros, where the Seven Kingdoms have been united for many centuries under one royal bloodline, is thrown into civil war. The Starks rule the North, which is as large as all the Southern kingdoms combined, but less populous. The harsh climate of the North has shaped the strong House of Stark, the motto of which is "Winter is coming." Eddard and his family need all their strength to survive the dangers ahead.
There are many other characters: the eastern Baratheon lords, who overthrew the ancient bloodline together with the Starks some sixteen years ago, and have ruled Westeros since; the western Lannisters, wealthy from their gold mines and now seeking to take the throne for themselves through trickery and deceit; the Ironborn of the islands, whose longboats once again raid and take captives for their strange god; the Black Watch, who zealously guard the Wall in the north against the wildlings beyond; and young Daenerys Targaryen, Daenerys Stormborn, Daenerys Mother of Dragons, last of the old bloodline, who has been raised in the Eastern freetowns and empires across the sea, believing she must return to a home she has never seen in order to save the Seven Kingdoms from unlawful rulers. And she won't come alone. In the end, the peoples of Westeros will have to fight not only each other, but both Ice and Fire in order to survive.
George R.R. Martin weaves the fates of all involved into a rich web full of murder, treachery, love, cruelty, despair, laughter, sex, marriage, rape, plunder, war, politics, religion, heresy, loyalty, honor, cowardice, traditions, sadism, heroism, and all the other ingredients of a real world, not a make-believe one. This is not a story for children. In fact, it is very unsuitable for children. But for a teenager and older, it is great reading.
One detail: main characters die. That's right: they die, just like normal people. One man is executed, another loses his life in battle, and so on. That is one ingredient that finds its way into every review of ASoIaF, since it is so rare. There are characters you think couldn't possibly be killed, and then they are. Martin provides you with no safe anchors.
Readers are praising George Martin's novels, which are selling very well, as the best fantasy novels to date. Why would I recommend this series of novels to a White Nationalist? Because the story is realistic, and set in a world with no muds invading. That's a welcome break. Because it is a masculine, conservative world. That's also a welcome break. And because it is a well-written tale. If you want good entertainment, this is a story arc for you.
Until now.
George R.R. Martin has done what noone else had done before him: he has written an adult fantasy story. Fantasy worlds are feudal, and in feudal worlds, Martin rightfully concludes, the movers and shakers aren't peasant boys from the middle of nowhere, but men of the aristocracy.
A Song of Ice and Fire spans four novels so far, and more are to follow. In these we read of the fates of Eddard Stark, his wife and their children as Westeros, where the Seven Kingdoms have been united for many centuries under one royal bloodline, is thrown into civil war. The Starks rule the North, which is as large as all the Southern kingdoms combined, but less populous. The harsh climate of the North has shaped the strong House of Stark, the motto of which is "Winter is coming." Eddard and his family need all their strength to survive the dangers ahead.
There are many other characters: the eastern Baratheon lords, who overthrew the ancient bloodline together with the Starks some sixteen years ago, and have ruled Westeros since; the western Lannisters, wealthy from their gold mines and now seeking to take the throne for themselves through trickery and deceit; the Ironborn of the islands, whose longboats once again raid and take captives for their strange god; the Black Watch, who zealously guard the Wall in the north against the wildlings beyond; and young Daenerys Targaryen, Daenerys Stormborn, Daenerys Mother of Dragons, last of the old bloodline, who has been raised in the Eastern freetowns and empires across the sea, believing she must return to a home she has never seen in order to save the Seven Kingdoms from unlawful rulers. And she won't come alone. In the end, the peoples of Westeros will have to fight not only each other, but both Ice and Fire in order to survive.
George R.R. Martin weaves the fates of all involved into a rich web full of murder, treachery, love, cruelty, despair, laughter, sex, marriage, rape, plunder, war, politics, religion, heresy, loyalty, honor, cowardice, traditions, sadism, heroism, and all the other ingredients of a real world, not a make-believe one. This is not a story for children. In fact, it is very unsuitable for children. But for a teenager and older, it is great reading.
One detail: main characters die. That's right: they die, just like normal people. One man is executed, another loses his life in battle, and so on. That is one ingredient that finds its way into every review of ASoIaF, since it is so rare. There are characters you think couldn't possibly be killed, and then they are. Martin provides you with no safe anchors.
Readers are praising George Martin's novels, which are selling very well, as the best fantasy novels to date. Why would I recommend this series of novels to a White Nationalist? Because the story is realistic, and set in a world with no muds invading. That's a welcome break. Because it is a masculine, conservative world. That's also a welcome break. And because it is a well-written tale. If you want good entertainment, this is a story arc for you.