Game of Thrones theory

[Rhun]

Well, I guess that settles it!

 

[invokethehojo]

Another thread dies at the feet of deft google-fu ;-(

 

[El Mahdi]

Well that just changes my entire view of the story-world. That means no dyson-sphere or ring-world, but it also means no natural reason like an elliptical orbit or a star with variable output.

Soooo...

I guess I'll just have to wait until I can read the last book...in 2025!

 

[Starman]

I'm actually a little disappointed that Martin intends to explain this. Sometimes keeping things like this mysterious make the story more interesting.

 

[Cor Azer]

I'm actually a little disappointed that Martin intends to explain this. Sometimes keeping things like this mysterious make the story more interesting.

For some perhaps. The key for me - if it was going to be a science fiction explanation, the explanation needed to explain how the uneven seasons work. Unless the how then is central to one of the plots, then it doesn't really matter, and the uneven seasons are interesting background that would only need explaining if the audience required "proof" that it has a science fiction explanation.

However, with it being a magical or supernatural explanation, the how can be thrown out the window ("A Wizard Did It"), but then we get a much more interesting question of "why?" And, in my opinion, particularly in an epic series such as this, all why questions must be answered for a satisfactory ending.

 

[Starman]

For some perhaps. The key for me - if it was going to be a science fiction explanation, the explanation needed to explain how the uneven seasons work. Unless the how then is central to one of the plots, then it doesn't really matter, and the uneven seasons are interesting background that would only need explaining if the audience required "proof" that it has a science fiction explanation.

However, with it being a magical or supernatural explanation, the how can be thrown out the window ("A Wizard Did It"), but then we get a much more interesting question of "why?" And, in my opinion, particularly in an epic series such as this, all why questions must be answered for a satisfactory ending.

Well, since I don't see it as being central to the story I'm content not having an answer for "how" or "why." I like it when stories leave some questions unanswered because it lets me fill in the blanks.

This particular question ("why are the seasons out of balance?") has been fun to think about. I keep coming back to some ancient order of wizards back when magic was in full swing attempting to permanently rid the world of the Others by eliminating winter. Unfortunately, they only managed to knock the seasons out of whack.

 

[invokethehojo]

I agree that explaining something like this with magic might not be as good as just leaving it to imagination, but not in this case. Martin has done a great job of tying everything together, and something tells me he will fit this in nicely as well. I have gotten the feel that since dragons have returned to the world magic is becoming more powerful or easier to tap into, also the others seem to be injured only by "dragon glass", and if the seasons are tied to this, then this might be a very earnest attempt by a writer to actually tie magic into a world in a somewhat believable way, instead of just saying, "ya, there is magic and dragons". I will follow down that rabbit hole.

 

[Starman]

I disagree because I see it as "Just the Way Things Are" and not "Crucial Plot Point."

 

[Cor Azer]

I disagree because I see it as "Just the Way Things Are" and not "Crucial Plot Point."

I don't recall if it was a throwaway line or something from one of the So Spake Martin Q&As, but I'm pretty sure there was a mention of the seasons being normal far in the past and only being unpredictable more "recently", with recently still being described as centuries if not millennia.

Thus, it's not strictly a "just the way things are" because they haven't always been this way.

 

[Starman]

I don't recall if it was a throwaway line or something from one of the So Spake Martin Q&As, but I'm pretty sure there was a mention of the seasons being normal far in the past and only being unpredictable more "recently", with recently still being described as centuries if not millennia.

Thus, it's not strictly a "just the way things are" because they haven't always been this way.

I don't recall anything in the books, but it has been a few years since I've read them. If Martin was going to make it important, you'd think he'd have Old Nan or one of the Maesters mention the seasons being normal "back in the day" or something.

If someone knows where this is referenced in the books or has a link to Martin talking about it, I'd like to see it. I've googled a bit, but only been able to find other people mentioning Martin saying something about it.