The Works of George R. R. Martin

[kostgard]

Totally newbie here -- On the fan theory/speculation front - I've just started the first book and I've just read scraps of the stories here and there on the internet, and of course seen the show. I'm with those who suspects that Ned is actually Jon's uncle rather than his father, and now I'm wondering about Cersei.

She heard some sort of prophecy when she was a kid, right? And part of that was something about a younger brother killing her (I think)? I don't know why they haven't mentioned it on the show, because it seems to be the reason why she hates Tyrion (in addition for him "killing" their mother in childbirth). But who is the older twin? Is Jaime technically younger than her? I just wonder if she's been hating the wrong brother all along and I just can't see Jaime maintaining his devotion to Cersei after all is said and done.

[Babycakes]

Hmmm....I just googled it, and apparently she is older than Jamie by mere moments. Here's the passage from her wiki page, ahoy major spoilage:

Cersei has been haunted since childhood by a prophecy made by a wise woman, Maggy the Frog, who was reputed to have magical powers. The woman correctly predicted Cersei's marriage and mutual infidelity with a king. She went on to prophesy that Cersei would outlive all her children, who would die as kings and queens, and that after everything she had was taken away by a younger and more beautiful queen, the valonqar (High Valyrian for “little brother”) would come to end her life. Young Cersei was so terrified by this prophecy that she murdered her close friend Melara Hetherspoon, who had been present, shortly afterward to prevent her from speaking of it. She has always identified the valonqar as Tyrion, and eventually comes to worry that Margaery Tyrell might be the younger and more beautiful queen.

[kostgard]

I didn't know about that "more beautiful queen" part, and I guess Margaery would fit the bill (unless that is another misdirection and another queen will pop up).

I just figured Jaime had to be technically younger, and also the one the prophecy meant all along. Otherwise it's pretty boring. It's "Yeah, she was right to hate Tyrion all along." Just like Jon can't just be Ned's bastard son, because otherwise it's pretty boring to find out, "Yeah, Jon is just the off-spring of Ned and some lady. No reason why he was all cagey about it, really. He just felt really, really bad about cheating on his wife."

[Coffeecakes]

Since the last two books have hammered home just how beautiful Dany is, Im thinking she's the queen from Cersei's prophecy.

[Babycakes]

A question for the book readers out there: What is Margaery's opinion of Sansa, or the rest of the Starks for that matter? I was rewatching this scene, and the look she and Loras give Sansa (at 4:20) is very puzzling. Was it smug that she/they (the Tyrells) one upped her and her family and usurped her/their place? That the Tyrells were moving up in the world? That she was free to leave, and they had no quarrels with Sansa? I don't know anything about Margaery's motivations except that she wants to be queen, and she'll do anything to make it so. She's a liar no doubt, but she doesn't come off as cruel or malicious, or vindictive. Is she unprepared for what she walked into? Dammit, this is making me want to become a book reader even more.

[Coffeecakes]

I think she liked her well enough, but she wanted to marry her off to her brother so they can also take power of the North and as a big fuck you to the Lannisters.

[kostgard]

Feb 21, 2013 8:51:43 GMT -4 Coffeecakes said:

Since the last two books have hammered home just how beautiful Dany is, Im thinking she's the queen from Cersei's prophecy.

Good point, there. I didn't consider Dany at all I guess since she's not in King's Landing (yet).

[Coffeecakes]

So I just finished reading a Dance with Dragons and want more dammit. There was a mention when Kevan Lannister is thinking to himself that no gold was found in Dragonstone because the place had been built by Valyrians that most likely the place was enchanted with spells, etc. I was thinking Dany is probably heading there first as when she was with Drogon, she called his cave Dragonstone and she kind of considered it home. She then goes on to have a vision of Quaithe telling her to move forward she must go back. So all this thinking she had of not really having a home, etc makes me think she's going to unlock something there to truly dominate the dragons. There was a mention somewhere else in the book that the Targaryans and other Valyrians dominated them with sorcery. So yeah that's my theory.

[sumire]

I was sort of interested in Game of Thrones, but I wasn't sure if I should approach the TV show or the books first, and the library waitlists for both were insanely long. I got to see a couple of Season 2 episodes on a plane one time, and sometimes something on the internet would pique my interest and I'd go read some wiki entries. Finally, last summer, I scored some of the books at a rummage sale, and that prompted me to complete the collection on Kindle, and I've been working my way through them ever since.

Even though I'm spoilered like crazy, I find them totally engrossing and readable. Early in the series, it was great to gorge myself on reading, knowing there was still plenty more to be had. As of A Feast For Crows, I had to cut back, stop reading and get into something else for a while, because I so don't want to run out of book. I'm 40% of the way through A Dance of Dragons and dreading reaching the end.

I've read some criticisms that Martin's writing is getting sprawling and indulgent and could really use an editor, and yeah, at the rate he's going, I can't see this thing getting all wrapped up nicely in two more volumes. Hell, I can't even see Sam finishing his Maester's degree in two more volumes. But it's such a rich world, I love all the different parts of it we get to explore. Dorne! The Rhoyne! The Citadel! Moar Citadel plz! Oh, so this is Davos! Hi, Asha! ILU, Asha! I'm on Melisandre's chapter now, and how neat to see her point of view.

Also, I play make-a-word flash games (lately, WorDrop), and I have no idea how I ever got by before I knew that the words "leal" and "vair" existed. Seriously, I use "vair" so damn much. (On the down side, I keep losing time trying to spell "fray" with an E.)

[Ninja Bunny]

I'm poaching this from another site. Predictions for what will happen in The Winds of Winter. Here are my answers.

Which POV Starks will be left standing?
All Starks will survive.

Which POV Lannisters will be left standing?
Tyrion, maybe Jaime

Which POVs are most likely to die?
Cersei, Barristan, JonCon

Will Dany have reached Westeros by the end of TWOW?
Barely

Will The Others have invaded Westeros by the end of TWOW?
Breached the wall but not much farther.

Who will be on the Iron Throne by the end of TWOW?
fAegon

Who will hold Winterfell by the end of TWOW?
Rickon

What mysteries will Sam uncover in Oldtown?
Why the seasons are so wacky. More of the real history of Westeros. What the maesters did to kill off the dragons; more practical dragonlore.

Will Cersei win her trial?
No, but somehow she'll live. Maybe to be killed by Jaime later.

Is Aegon fake?
Yes

Is Jon still alive?
Yes

If so, will Jon have found out his true heritage by the end of TWOW (and how)?
No

What role will Dorne play?
They'll disrupt King's Landing, side with fAegon, undermine Tommen, and use the Faith and the Citadel to cause further chaos.

What role will the Iron Islands play?
Victarion and Jorah will mortally wound each other in battle. Dany will steal Victarion's fleet to sail her troops and followers to Westeros (finally)

Which mystery/theory would you most like to be solved in TWOW?
What happened to Benjen.

Will any Starks be reunited in TWOW?
Rickon and Jon. Maybe Sansa too.

Will Jaime help Stoneheart bring down the Lannisters/Freys?
Maybe he'll kill Cersei in exchange for Brienne's life.