Game of Thrones

[Tinker]

I just finished the 5th book, but I disagree with your perception of the plot. Though the thing about the cliffhangers thing is annoying. It pissed me off in the 5th book too.

There is a lot of resolution in the 5th book but a whole bunch of new open questions.

[I am ST]

[Tinker]

[I am ST]

[Tinker]

[cincinnatus]

Semi-spoiler (Book 3):

I just finished the wedding feast of book 3 at the Twins...was NOT expecting that...probably shouldn't have read that on a day in which I'm already sad/mad...literal heart palpitations. If there is a season 3 on HBO, dudes that were angry after Ned Stark's demise will set shit on fire. But, I can appreciate how intricate the cascading sequences of cause and effect led to that terrible crescendo.

Anyway, concur with Tywin (but, it's sad that the most realistic and brilliant strategic player is so damn amoral, or maybe a metaphor of our own reality), Tyrion (can't understand the loyalty to the family, considering how little he is appreciated, although the relationship with Jamie seems to be the glue), and I guess Littlefinger will play a large role in the rest of book 3 & 4(?).

I actually liked the Onion Knight. In a way, I can emphasize with his character more than the rest...tied to duty, but torn by knowledge of wrongs of his King. Plus, his always being willing to speak the uncomfortable truth is what I want to emulate, even though like most I probably fall short.

[Tinker]

Yes, the Red Wedding was pretty crazy. Just to warn you it continues to be dire and horrible and doesn't relent from there, it only gets worse and worse. So be warned.

Tywin is amoral, but he does value order. He isn't just randomly cruel.

[Ibrahim]

Tinker,

I'm about two thirds through the new book, and is it just me or can you really see that some portions were written years ago, and some more recently or even by another writer/editor. I'm thinking of some of the chapters pertaining to they Greyjoys, in which the word "cunt" appears 15 times a page. I'm a big boy and this doesn't particularly offend me, but its such a different voice than previously.

Also, the general decline in quality after the initial three books is noticeable and continues. Moreover, the tendency to include more POV characters (was Dorne really necessary?!) rather than tie things up indicates the (understandable) desire to milk the series.

This is why I stopped reading things of this nature, but I might as well finish this series as the investment in time and money is negligible.

[Colonel Sun]

[Tinker]

[Ibrahim]

[I am ST]

[YMix]

[Tinker]

[I am ST]

Ok, so finally finished the 5th book.

It was actually better than the first 400 pages led me to believe.

Complaints:
- FAR too many loose ends. At least books 1-3 seemed to give some closure. Two of the POV people who were journeying for the entire book never even met the person they were trying to reach.
- The few tied ends were, um, weird. It looks like one semi-dead character will likely walk as a puppy for a while, while another traveled so far only to end up as a human Paraffin stick.
- Another pretender popped out of Nowhere. With an Army. And a Navy!
- Still don't like Theon. Sorry.
- A particular blond princess seems protected by a thick layer of plot armor - she makes mistakes over mistakes, and will still likely only end up stronger in the end. Ugh.


Liked:
Pies. Delicious, yummy pies.
Tasty, tasty gold coins.
The singer Abel's name being an anagram of Bael. (although we never get to find out what came of the winter battle at Stannisgrad/Winterfell, aside from a very dubious letter)
Bad-ass Vikings.
Bad-ass cripple leveling up on tree-lore and warging.
The way some prophecies seem to be coming true: "Sun rising in the West and setting in the East (in a flamboyant flaming way, might i add)" "Under a (quite literally) bloody star"
WunWun (11) of the (NY) Giants slaughtering the Southron Ser Patrick -- with a bleeding star (of Dallas Cowboys). Neat.

[Tinker]

[I am ST]

Yup.

The sheer badassery prize must go to No One in Braavos. The gold coin and the cat-goggles parts were made of pure awesome.
And the Titus Andronicus pie prize must of course go to Lord Manderly.

Best two scenes in the book.

[Tinker]

My favorites were Janos Slynt and the Braavosi banker.

[Ibrahim]

As I've already said, you have to think of this one as part and parcel with the 4th book, and view the entire thing as the last big set-up for the finale. I'm still on board so far, but GRRM has to have some serious resolution in the next book or the weight of new POV plots and existing ones in holding patterns will drag down the whole edifice. At least in my view.

Still, I share Tinker's optimism that this is exactly what we are leading up to.


One gripe, there wasn't really any Dancing with Dragons, was there? I thought they'd be torching cities by now.

[Tinker]

[Ibrahim]

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