May 11, 201115 yr I thought I'd start a separate thread for the books, for those who have read them, to discuss without worrying about spoiling it for others. I'm nearing the end of A Clash of Kings right now...the Battle of the Blackwater is just beginning. I can't believe how much of the story I had forgotten in the years since I first read these books. I'm even more excited about the upcoming book now that I've refreshed my memory. I always wanted to re-read these books so I wouldn't be lost when the new one came out, but I had dreaded the thought of reading through that many pages again. Turns out, I've been just as captivated by them the second time around. That's definitely a sign of a good book, IMO. What do you expect will happen in the new book? I'm really curious to see where Martin takes several of the characters...
May 11, 201115 yr A friend of mine read a theory online about where the story will likely go, but I am not sure if I should post it. It makes sense though especially considering some of the character backgrounds.
May 11, 201115 yr Author Post it. That's why I put spoilers in the thread title...fair warning for anyone venturing in. I haven't read much about the overall direction of the story or how it will end, but I did read an interesting theory about Jon Snow that never occurred to me, but seems very possible in my re-read paying attention to things that didn't catch my attention before. Did your theory involve him? I have always felt like Jon Snow had a significant role to play in the story overall. I've always got that impression from him in reading the books for some reason.
May 11, 201115 yr Post it. That's why I put spoilers in the thread title...fair warning for anyone venturing in. I haven't read much about the overall direction of the story or how it will end, but I did read an interesting theory about Jon Snow that never occurred to me, but seems very possible in my re-read paying attention to things that didn't catch my attention before. Did your theory involve him? I have always felt like Jon Snow had a significant role to play in the story overall. I've always got that impression from him in reading the books for some reason. Actually it centers around Jon Snow... I found this posted by someone online and it fits in many ways: What if Eddard isn't Jon's father? A lot of stuff starts making sense then: The urgency of which Eddard has to tell Jon... something. Why Eddard elevates Jon beyond the treatment of a normal (child of unwed parents, filter violation otherwise). Why Eddard, a man of stubbornheaded honor, would come back with a (child of unwed parents) child after newly being married to Catelyn (who, by all accounts, is beautiful). If Eddard isn't the father, then that doesn't make sense because he claims Jon is his blood in A Game of Thrones. Jon also looks like Eddard (more than his other male children), so Jon must be closely related. The two most closely related people to Eddard are Brandon, Benjen, and Lyanna. Brandon is dead over a year prior to Jon's birth and little is known about Benjen in this time period, but Lyanna is involved in the story around the time of Jon's birth. So, working on the premise that Jon is Lyanna's child, does it fit? Eddard is haunted by the words "Promise Me, Ned" which Lyanna utters (in Eddard's memory). If Lyanna was Jon's mother, this line begins to take on more weight and explains why it haunts Eddard so. Now, if we try to determine who the father is - the only person who we know for sure that had sex with Lyanna is Rhaegar Targaryen who kidnapped and raped her. (It is unknown if Robert Baratheon, known to sleep around, who was engaged to Lyanna, had the opportunity to father a child through her.) If we accept that Rhaegar may be the father, then the phrase "Promise Me, Ned" is even more haunting. Not just "raise him as your own" but "protect him for he has not only your blood, but the blood of kings". The plea is that much more urgent given Robert's proclivity toward killing (murderering) Targaryens. My guess is extra weight is added to the plea because Lyanna utters it while dying - of giving birth to Jon Snow. Once I thought about this - it all starts to make sense. Jon's increasingly important role in the tale and even the title of the series - A Song of Ice and Fire. Ice and Fire. Stark and Targaryen. Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen (equals Jon Snow)? This would also explain why three of the Kingsguard were protecting Lyanna, they were guarding Rhaegar's child. Also it makes "Song of Ice and Fire" make more sense: Stark and Targaryen= Ice and Fire.
May 12, 201115 yr Ill give a response when I finish the book series again. This time around I'm reading them so much more thorough, and in depth. I think another question will be, how long will take for book number 6 and 7 to come out? I'm thinking the 7th and final book will come out in about 5-6 years, AT LEAST.
May 12, 201115 yr Author Actually it centers around Jon Snow... I found this posted by someone online and it fits in many ways: What if Eddard isn't Jon's father? A lot of stuff starts making sense then: The urgency of which Eddard has to tell Jon... something. Why Eddard elevates Jon beyond the treatment of a normal (child of unwed parents, filter violation otherwise). Why Eddard, a man of stubbornheaded honor, would come back with a (child of unwed parents) child after newly being married to Catelyn (who, by all accounts, is beautiful). If Eddard isn't the father, then that doesn't make sense because he claims Jon is his blood in A Game of Thrones. Jon also looks like Eddard (more than his other male children), so Jon must be closely related. The two most closely related people to Eddard are Brandon, Benjen, and Lyanna. Brandon is dead over a year prior to Jon's birth and little is known about Benjen in this time period, but Lyanna is involved in the story around the time of Jon's birth. So, working on the premise that Jon is Lyanna's child, does it fit? Eddard is haunted by the words "Promise Me, Ned" which Lyanna utters (in Eddard's memory). If Lyanna was Jon's mother, this line begins to take on more weight and explains why it haunts Eddard so. Now, if we try to determine who the father is - the only person who we know for sure that had sex with Lyanna is Rhaegar Targaryen who kidnapped and raped her. (It is unknown if Robert Baratheon, known to sleep around, who was engaged to Lyanna, had the opportunity to father a child through her.) If we accept that Rhaegar may be the father, then the phrase "Promise Me, Ned" is even more haunting. Not just "raise him as your own" but "protect him for he has not only your blood, but the blood of kings". The plea is that much more urgent given Robert's proclivity toward killing (murderering) Targaryens. My guess is extra weight is added to the plea because Lyanna utters it while dying - of giving birth to Jon Snow. Once I thought about this - it all starts to make sense. Jon's increasingly important role in the tale and even the title of the series - A Song of Ice and Fire. Ice and Fire. Stark and Targaryen. Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen (equals Jon Snow)? This would also explain why three of the Kingsguard were protecting Lyanna, they were guarding Rhaegar's child. Also it makes "Song of Ice and Fire" make more sense: Stark and Targaryen= Ice and Fire. Pretty much what I read. And, it makes sense to me as I re-read it. As it states, Jon Snow has always seemed like a very important character in the story. I've always got the impression that he could very well end up being the most important of the Starks. With regards to the theory... I believe there is a possibility that Rhaegar and Lyanna were lovers, instead of him kidnapping and raping her. Or perhaps, he did kidnap her to keep her from marrying Brandon Stark because they were in love. Also, Jon Snow has to be a Stark because the book makes too much note of him looking like a Stark. It explains a few other things as well, several that you noted...why Ned was so haunted by her saying promise me. Also, Ned has a dream about facing three knights of the Kingsguard at the Tower of Joy when he came to rescue Lyanna (Ser Arthur Dayne, Oswell Whent, and Gerold Hightower). And, Ned seems to hold them, particularly Arthur Dayne, in high esteem. The question is, why would the Kingsguard be there guarding Lyanna? Perhaps the answer is that the child was a possible heir to the throne? I didn't think too much about it, but I always thought it a bit strange that Ned was always so haunted by Lyanna's death. This theory makes sense to me.
May 13, 201115 yr Pretty much what I read. And, it makes sense to me as I re-read it. As it states, Jon Snow has always seemed like a very important character in the story. I've always got the impression that he could very well end up being the most important of the Starks. With regards to the theory... I believe there is a possibility that Rhaegar and Lyanna were lovers, instead of him kidnapping and raping her. Or perhaps, he did kidnap her to keep her from marrying Brandon Stark because they were in love. Also, Jon Snow has to be a Stark because the book makes too much note of him looking like a Stark. It explains a few other things as well, several that you noted...why Ned was so haunted by her saying promise me. Also, Ned has a dream about facing three knights of the Kingsguard at the Tower of Joy when he came to rescue Lyanna (Ser Arthur Dayne, Oswell Whent, and Gerold Hightower). And, Ned seems to hold them, particularly Arthur Dayne, in high esteem. The question is, why would the Kingsguard be there guarding Lyanna? Perhaps the answer is that the child was a possible heir to the throne? I didn't think too much about it, but I always thought it a bit strange that Ned was always so haunted by Lyanna's death. This theory makes sense to me. I agree with you about Lyanna and Rhaegar, it makes perfect sense.
May 13, 201115 yr Pep I thought you would like this. I took this from GRRM's blog. It further increases the dislike I already have for the guy. I just think the guy should be doing all he can for/with his fans because we are what made him what he is today. "It will, alas, be a shorter tour than the ones I did for A STORM OF SWORDS and A FEAST FOR CROWS. (Although we all expect that the crowds will be bigger). As much as I love meeting my readers and signing their books, I still have a lot on my plate just now, and I can't afford to take off a month for travel. So we'll likely be limiting the US book tour to no more than eight to ten cities."
May 13, 201115 yr Author Another interesting thing I read was the vision Dany had in the House of the Undying...she was told that the dragon had three heads. She is one. If the Jon Snow theory is true, he would be another. Who is the third? I really have no idea how the story is going to play out and resolve itself. I'm interested in pretty much all the Starks, but Arya and Bran in particular. Arya especially. She was one of my favorites from early on and her story has been unique to say the least. And, Theon Greyjoy...what is going to happen with him?
May 13, 201115 yr Another interesting thing I read was the vision Dany had in the House of the Undying...she was told that the dragon had three heads. She is one. If the Jon Snow theory is true, he would be another. Who is the third? I really have no idea how the story is going to play out and resolve itself. I'm interested in pretty much all the Starks, but Arya and Bran in particular. Arya especially. She was one of my favorites from early on and her story has been unique to say the least. And, Theon Greyjoy...what is going to happen with him? My buddy that put me on to this theory mentioned that to me as well, I have no idea.
May 21, 201115 yr As I'm half way throught A Feast of Crows I have the same attitude towards it as I did the other times I read it. I wish Martin wouldn't have gone away from the characters that we grew up with in the series. I honestly didnt like the chapters labeled "The Prophet" "The Kracken" and others. Maybe its just me though.
May 26, 201115 yr Author I'm nearing the end of A Storm of Swords. I'm getting really excited for the new book to see what happens with some of the characters that weren't featured in the last book. Martin gave some information about the new book, A Dance with Dragons, in a recent blog post. Here's a few of the highlights... This book is just slightly shorter than the longest book in the series, A Storm of Swords. This one came in at 1510 manuscript pages (Martin's count) vs. 1521 manuscript pages for Swords. It will be 73 chapters told through 16 different viewpoints, with a one-off prologue (as usual) and an epilogue. I don't think they're included in the character count, so it would actually be 18 counting those two. The prologue is Varamyr Sixskins, the wildling skinchanger that rode with Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-The-Wall. Sansa Stark, Samwell Tarly, Aeron "Damphair" Greyjoy, Arienne Martell, and Brienne of Tarth are not featured in the upcoming book. Martin said several of those characters had chapters written and completed from their POV that were cut from the book and moved to the sixth book, The Winds of Winter. Of the 73 chapters, 35 of them are taken up by three characters, Danaerys Targaryen, Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister. So, those three make up roughly half the book. The next biggest chunk comes from what Martin describes as an old POV that has been missing for a couple of books...and is worse for the wear. That means it is very likely Theon Greyjoy, who is a captive of the Boltons at the Dreadfort and is supposedly being tortured. A few of the characters from A Feast for Crows will also be in the new book. He said Cersei and Jaime will have chapters as well, but warned that they won't have a lot. I assume they'll be late in the book since the timing overlaps the previous book. Also, he said there are 4 brand new viewpoints introduced in this book. Taking what Martin has said in his blog, this is believed to be the lineup of characters for A Dance with Dragons... Prologue (Varamyr Sixskins) Danaerys Targaryen Tyrion Lannister Jon Snow Bran Stark Arya Stark Davos Seaworth Asha Greyjoy Theon Greyjoy (Reek) Victarion Greyjoy Quentyn Martell Cersei Lannister Jaime Lannister Barristan Selmy Melisandre (The Red Priestess) Areo Hotah ??? New POV Unknown Epilogue (Unknown)
June 10, 201115 yr Author For those who have read the books, what questions do you currently have? I know one that I'd love to know is what Brienne of Tarth said. Any guesses?
June 10, 201115 yr For those who have read the books, what questions do you currently have? I know one that I'd love to know is what Brienne of Tarth said. Any guesses? I think she might have said Jaime, just my guess. Another thing is if Arya is really blind or just another one of those things that Martin does. I also very much hope the new POV is "Littlefinger." I think its about time we see him, and since Sansa isnt there it might fit.
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.