Maybe this didn’t go through, sorry if I’m asking twice: Does it seem like wars in Westeros are extremely short compared to actual medieval wars? Other than the First Dornish War, I can’t think of a war in the Targaryen era that’s lasted more than three years. Am I way off base with this or is Martin just trying to keep events focused and manageable?

Yeah, he goes for a lot shorter wars in general – and a lot less sieges than in most of medieval warfare.

Could Jorah become Lord of Bear island again if Daenerys becomes Queen given he survives to see Daenery’s ascend that is?

Nah, I’m thinking he honors his father’s words.

That last question on Maekar got me thinking: ever consider doing a article ranking/overviewing all the Targaryen kings as politicians? I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but it would be fun/interesting. Jaehaerys I seems like a shoo-in for the top spot, but worst definitely has a lot of contenders: Maegor, Aegon IV, both Aerys, Baelor, Daeron.

Down the line, I probably will do this. Right now, I’m pretty well booked.

What’s your opinion on Maekar?

I find myself confused by Maekar. On the one hand, he’s a proto-Stannis; overlooked middle child, bitter man saddled with resentments, a competent warrior overshadowed by his flashier older brother, guilt from kinslaying, etc.

On the other hand, he probably got the most retconned of anyone from his generation by the WOIAF. He goes from despising and resenting Bloodraven (where do you think Egg got his anti-bastard prejudices from?) in Sworn Sword and Mystery Knight to the point where people expect him and Bloodraven to go to war the moment Aerys I dies and Bloodraven subtly tries to make Egg a hostage for his good behavior, such that pre-WOIAF it was Maekar who put Bloodraven in the Black Cells, to having Bloodraven as his Hand.

On the other hand, the WOIAF does make mention that Maekar won a lot of plaudits for his actions in the Third Rebellion, so we get the sense of why he was accepted as King in ways that Aerys I wasn’t.

There’s maturation and then there’s character derailment because of the insertion of Aenys (HAR!) Blackfyre into the Great Council of 236 AC requiring Bloodraven to be Hand and not a prisoner of the state.

Ultimately, I feel that Maekar was a deeply unlucky man – a warrior-king who ruled in times of peace without accomplishing much, who died from a freak accident in a totally unmemorable local uprising, and whose children brought on yet another succession crisis rather than any semblance of peace.

Whether this seems ludicrous or not, do you think the Faceless Men would ever agree to wipe out house Frey? It’s been said they act according to religious intentions, and what better than punishing those that insult the gods? Your opinion? and the likelihood it could happen?

I think it depends on whether someone was willing to sacrifice enough to make it happen – killing an entire House would not come cheap.

That being said, while the Faceless Men’s motivations are primarily religious in nature, they have their own unique religious ideology – especially when it comes to questions of death. They don’t necessarily see things the way that Westerosi do.

That being said, I do believe House Frey is going to be wiped out. I just think it’s going to be the Brotherhood Without Banners that does it.

“So the stone dragon under Winterfell could well be real. It may be the case that one of Dany’s dragons doesn’t make it to the final battle either because of Victarion…” You don’t really think the horn works do you?

I don’t think it works as intended, no. That doesn’t mean it might not make one of the dragons go haywire.

Would you say there was ever a chance of a Hisahide Matsunaga figure in Westeros? I mean someone manipulating the powers manipulating the throne, as the true power, or is that specific more for Japan’s culture than the Western European one that ASOIAF is based on. The Sengoku era and the court at Kings Landing do have similarities, although the former were probably even more vicious than the latter, IMO.

Varys? Littlefinger? Book’s not exactly lacking for schemers.

Hello! I have two questions for you; I apologize in advance if either have already been addressed. The first would be if you have any thoughts as to why in AWOIAF so many of the most isolated civilizations exhibit non human features and cannot reproduce successfully with the people of Westeros/Essos? (e.g. Ibbanese, Sothoryi, Thousand Islanders, etc.) The second is, do you have a map that you recommend that incorporates Ulthos and the cities listed in AWOIAF, like Saath, Far Ib, & Mossovy?

1. The Deep Ones. Ask Sean T. Collins.

2. The Lands of Ice and Fire has the best world map.

Love the blog and especially the what if sections. I have a counterfactual that I’ve been thinking about for awhile. What if before the start of the story Littlefinger lost his seat on the council. Lets say he was caught doing or saying something bad enough to cost him his position, but not his life. What do you think is LF’s next move and what do you think becomes of the realm.

Thanks!

That’s an interesting question. If LF loses his post, then he’s kind of screwed – he doesn’t have the leverage yet to be made an important enough Lord to move to Stage 2. On the other hand, with that deep a position in the bureaucracy, he could do a lot of damage to the monarchy.

Not sure.

I was reading over your fantastic analysis of Bran II in ACOK (and it was very illuminating, as I learned I overlooked quite a number of things). Out of curiosity, how would you solve the Hornwood crisis if you were Robb/Bran? I get the feeling that you support a Beren claim or a Rodrik Cassel regency.

Mix of both, actually. Having Rodrik as regent until majority puts the Stark name there up front and keeps the Manderlys mollified. Then it’s a choice between Beren and the Tallharts or Larence and the Glovers, which you could probably finesse with a promise of a marriage alliance with either Eddara Tallhart (oy, that name) or Erena Glover.