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You know, now that I think on it more, your theory that Daemon Blackfyre was the brother Bloodraven admired makes a lot of sense. Yes, it could be Daeron (I share Dunk’s frustration about how they’re so similarly named), but with Bittersteel being the “brother I hated” and Shiera Seastar being the “woman I loved,” it makes narrative sense that Daemon — the remaining Great Bastard — be the “brother I loved.” It also fits GRRM’s taste for tragedy.

Agreed. When in doubt, go for “the human heart at war with itself.” If Bloodraven loved Daeron and hated Daemon, then there’s no conflict. If he loved Daemon and killed him anyway for the good of the realm, conflict. 

Also, reading your series on the Tower of the Hand, I’m coming out of this with a healthy respect for Bittersteel. Fandom likes to portray Bloodraven as this all-knowing grey eminence, but MAN. It takes serious political, diplomatic, and martial skill not only to foment a rebellion like he did for Daemon, but to CONTINUE IT for years — with the support of various Essosi cities — despite rather Daemon’s lackluster heirs and the gradual wearing away of Daemon’s memory in the Westerosi populace.

You’re really going to like The Blacks and Reds Part IV, because it’s all about Bittersteel’s vision for the Golden Company. 

Re: Yunkai’s Peace Offer

Man, I’m annoyed when I miss a quote that could have been in an essay. From ADWD, Ch. 24:

“The Yunkishmen. The envoy they sent to woo Volantis…wishes us to be the fourth and offers twice what Myr was paying us, plus a slave for every man in the company, ten for every officer, and a hundred choice maidens all for me.”
“That would require thousands of slaves. Where the do the Yunkishmen expect to find so many?”
“In Meereen.”

Yeah, something tells me Yunkai’s peace offer wasn’t genuine when they were paying their sellswords with the proceeds of sacking Meereen. 

joannalannister:

“[Wildfire] flows through my veins, and lives in the heart of every pyromancer. We respect its power. But the common soldier, hmmmm, the crew of one of the queen’s spitfires, say, in the unthinking frenzy of battle … any little mistake can bring catastrophe. That cannot be said too often. My father often told King Aerys as much, as his father told old King Jaehaerys.”

I was stuck on a train earlier and I need to go lie down, but I’m wondering if they used wildfire during the War of the Ninepenny Kings?? Considering that was a “low magic” period of ASOIAF, I’m not talking ACOK levels of wildfire, would it be possible to transport wildfire to the Stepstones? Or transport pyromancers to the Stepstones to manufacture it there? Is this possible? Why else would pyromancers need to warn Jaehaerys about soldiers using wildfire?

Giving the timing of when Jaehaerys came to power, I think it’s more likely they were covering their ass after Summerhall. 

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion VII

racefortheironthrone:

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Tyrion VII

“This was what I was made for, and gods forgive me, but I do love it…and her.”

Synopsis: Tyrion breaks Lancel like a blond teenage toothpick.

SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain spoilers for all Song of Ice and Fire novels and Game of Thrones episodes. Caveat lector.

(more…)

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Reblogging for the afternoon crowd.

In terms of Machiavelli’s influence, do you feel GRRM having a revisionist approach, that The Prince, as Rousseau pointed out, was the book of Republicans? I mean the real Machiavelli was closer to Ned Stark than anyone else (corruption free government, crushed by invaders, tortured by strapado and exiled from Florence) but everyone sees The Prince as a handbook of power-players rather than a parody of the existing “ruler’s advise” book that Machiavelli explicitly mentions.

I think you might be very interested in my essay on “Machiavellianism for a Purpose,” in the forthcoming Tower of the Hand: Hymn for Spring…

Related to the courtesan historical parallel, there are also the Japanese geisha, they were not prostitutes but women of the arts that normally had a sponsor who would request their services (serving tea, playing music, dancing, etc) and they in turn sponsored merchants whose goods they deemed good enough and it was a great honor to be sponsored by geisha (it also attracted more costumers I supose) but the Venetian courtesans seem closer to the Braavosi ones :)

Yes and no. If I recall my Japanese history courses from a decade ago, geisha also lived in walled-off red light districts known as the “land of falling noses,” due to the horrific rates of STIs, and weren’t allowed to leave unless their contract was bought by a wealthy sponsor. 

‘Lady Stoneheart and the Weirwoods’ is my personal favorite 70’s era concept rock band name from the possibilities. I am also amused, not musically, that House Tully boasts the grandfather Ser Grover, his son Ser Elmo and a further generation, Ser Kermit.

boiledleather:

In terms of the ’70s, I could see “Jenny of Oldstones & the Prince of Dragonflies” being a kind of hippy-dippy California duo.

Complete with their own guru. I imagine Aegon thought Jenny was a total Yoko Ono.