[SPOILERS] AFfC General Discussion

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by neal

i havnt read this book and it may be good but the list on this web site is pointless banks harrison this is sci fi and if its fantasy china wossis name but this list is wrong

Sorry? Does anyone know what this guy's about?

[Lord of Winterfell]

I think it VERY unlikely that the Hound is dead. Here are some points that would argue against it:

1) No way that GRRM would kill a popular character off-screen - and dying of a fever no less. Not GRRM's style.

2) The big gravedigger on Quiet Isle is probably the Hound. He was a large man who was lame in his leg. Also, the Hound's horse Stranger was in the stable. It is common knowledge that no man can handle this animal. How the hell could a bunch of monks tame this beast? One of the monks lost an ear to the animal. Also, the gravedigger reached down to pat Dog... this is obviously a clever trick by GRRM... of course a man named the Hound might be fond of dogs. And those of you who think that the Hound, because of his facial scars would be easily noticed, remember that all the monks on the isle wear a scarf over their face to symbolize the fact that they have all taken vows of silence.
There are a few more clues that the Hound is not only alive, but is probably the big gravedigger.

I'm telling you, the Hound lives... although he may be a changed man.

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by Lord of Winterfell

I'm telling you, the Hound lives... although he may be a changed man.

Hmmm. You argue a good case, LoW. Then there's the fact that I've been saying he's dead for the last five years, so that would also point to his being alive...

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by cacotopos

...and also the intriguing master from the Citadel going to see her.

Yeah. I can't decide whether Marwyn is one of the good guys or the bad guys - as much as anyone can be either, in Martin's world. That he is taking Aemon's words seriously, and heading off to help Dany (or so we assume) seems to put him more in the good camp. But from what we've learnt of the order of Maesters from Luwin in particular, as well as Pycelle and others, he is very 'out there' - almost on a par with Qyburn. And what is going on with Pate the Pig Boy? Did he die and was he 'reborn', or has he merely been the victim of some brain-washing sorcery? Something not right there.....

[Winters_Sorrow]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

And what is going on with Pate the Pig Boy? Did he die and was he 'reborn', or has he merely been the victim of some brain-washing sorcery? Something not right there.....

I kind of construed it as A Faceless Man being put into the Citadel (not sure about the reasons). A bit like the trick Jaqen (sp?) pulled.

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by Winters_Sorrow

I kind of construed it as A Faceless Man being put into the Citadel (not sure about the reasons). A bit like the trick Jaqen (sp?) pulled.

Very possibly. I hadn't thought of that, but it makes a certain sense with the prologue - asking to see the alchemists face, and saying he didn't know him...

[cacotopos]

I'm wondering about what Jaime's gonna do, I couldn't decide whether he threw the message to the fire so the contents couldn't be read, because it was personal (with the "I love you I love you I love you" being incriminating), or whether he's not going to go to King's Landing, and is giving Cersei the brush off, or if he's undecided about what to do.

Any thoughts?

[Winters_Sorrow]

I understood it to have meant he's finally severed his ties with Cersei and won't bail her out this time. Having said that, he's Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and his place is with Tommen, so I would have thought he'd be glad of the excuse to go back to KL.

[cacotopos]

Originally Posted by Winters_Sorrow

I understood it to have meant he's finally severed his ties with Cersei and won't bail her out this time.

That's what I thought at first, but then I remembered all the training he's been doing with Ser Illyn, and the fact that he's been chaffing to go back anyway. It's also hard to think where else or what else he could do, although he might have an encounter with Brienne and undead-Catelyn, because he's in that general geographical area, ain't he?

[Winters_Sorrow]

Unlikely really, as he's in charge of a large force of soldiers. The outlaws won't raid a force that large. I'm not sure what his next move will be (and we'll have to wait for 2 books to find out!). He may go to the Twins as I'm thinking Walder Frey will either be killed by Black Walder or die very soon, pre-empting a power struggle at the Twins.

[Culhwch]

He may meet up with Brienne, seen as though the only way she'll live (and I think more importantly to her save Pod and Ser Hyle) is to accept the task of killing Jaime.

At face value I thought the burning of the letter was a severing of ties, too, but then he was headed back anyway. And he still has some feelings for Cersei, mixed though they may be. If he does take up the challenge, who will his opponent be? One of the church's knights - Lancel, perhaps? That would almost be an even match... Now that Lancel is so pious, he could bring evidence against Cersei, too, adding regicide to the standing charges...

[The Blackfish]

Don't forget the Blackfish, he's lurking around the Riverrun area somewhere too ...
It was a nice surprise to see him, but he's not my favourite character - I just like the name.

I'm a little bit concerned about all this talk of the next books (PLURAL!) I was led to believe that the series ended at a DwD - and was therefore a little mystified when the was no conclusion at all with AFfC. Wanna fill me in?

Yes, I too sorely missed the presence of Dany, Jon, Tyrion and his acerbic wit, and all the others. I did enjoy the Iron Islander POV's more than I thought I would though - especially with the Crowseye knowing so much of the wider world and going to "get" Dany for himself.

Also has anyone noticed that both Sansa and Arya are being "forced" to give up their identities as Starks? I really enjoyed the time in Braavos, especially when Sam and Arya crossed paths. But it would be sad if Arya ceased to be Arya at all - I really like her gutsy determination.

To be honest I found the Brienne POV's really boring - for me they were more of a filler, much like Arya's POV in earlier books - wandering in circles through the riverlands. There were tidbits of info, like the Hound and the way that unCat took the life from Dondarrion - I guess it was just a bit slow for me.

I'm liking the change in Jaime too - maybee the Kingslayer does have a soul after all ...

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by The Blackfish

I'm a little bit concerned about all this talk of the next books (PLURAL!) I was led to believe that the series ended at a DwD - and was therefore a little mystified when the was no conclusion at all with AFfC. Wanna fill me in?

There was always going to be six books. Now that Feast has been split in two, we're lucky enough to be getting seven. But who knows, maybe The Winds of Winter and A Time for Wolves may exceed expectations, too, and be split into four books! All the GRRM goodness you can handle!

[The Blackfish]

Gosh, that many to go? No wonder nothing finished. Lets hope the next don't take as long ... although waiting does makes the read that much sweeter!

[Winters_Sorrow]

Isn't it weird how this series is running into as lengthy as Jordan's.
Infinitely more enjoyable, however.