And the ADWD prologue character is...

Werthead

Werthead

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GRRM attended InConJunction last week and read out the ADWD prologue, a chapter he's apparently struggled with for some time.

Obviously, MAJOR SPOILERS:

The POV character is Varamyr Sixskins, the wildling skinchanger who caused some trouble for Jon in ASoS. He is recovering from his wounds in a hut somewhere north of the Wall, tended by a wildling woman. We learn a lot about Varamyr's life, how he started warging, his tutor Haggen and so forth. We also learn that a lot of the wildlings who fled north after the Battle at the Wall are divided over what to do, whether to raid the Shadow Tower or find ships and go around Eastwatch or go north to Thenn. A commotion breaks out and Varamyr attempts to investigate, but he is too ill. The wildling woman returns, but she is now a wight. Varamyr tries to skinchange to escape his predicament, but is unable to do so, although he has a brief vision of Bran, Meera, Jojen and Coldhands. He finally slips his skin and his soul escapes into his wolfe, One Eye, whilst his body dies. The wolf sees many men surrounding the hut. But they are not men, for they are not living and have glowing blue eyes...

:eek:

Awesome.

Much more detailed information here.
 
Nice indeed, especially since i thought he would not be giving away new chapters, since he felt that he had given half the book already of some earlier volumes because of it
 
Right when I was beginning to become complacent(sp?) with my wait for Dance, we find out Winter may be here. God's be good, I need a beer.

delayed gratification is a good thing (breathe and repeat the mantra)
 
I haven't read the spoiler yet. What do you suppose are my chances of getting to publication day without finding out about it? Given that I would like to continue reading and occasionally contributing to this forum?

Why is everybody laughing....
 
well it wont be a total spoiler, since he is still tweaking it, like a 90% spoiler
 
This was posted on his Not a Blog on July 17th:

And I've been working on A DANCE WITH DRAGONS too. Just finished revising the prologue a few hours ago. As I mentioned last post, after reading it at the Indianapolis convention, there were aspects of it that I was not happy with. The new version is a page shorter and much stronger, I think, with a better flow and crisper transitions. I also punched up one element that somehow had gotten lost before... but it was an important element, I believe, so I'm pleased that I was able to strengthen it.
 
Right, he'd just forgotten about that one element, good one GRRM:rolleyes:
 
GRRM's Not a Blog says that he read a new version of the prologue at the WFC in NY a couple weeks ago. He says he liked alot more the way it now read. Are there any reports what changes we made? Wert? Anyone???

I am dying for news of what sounds like the best prologue yet.
 
TK, it does sound good.

The prologue in AGOT was great. I liked it because it was obvious that the three characters Gared, Will, and Waymar were not major characters. They were going to die and the story soon changed to the Game of Thrones. But the prologue was the real story. Men can fight for or against the Iron Throne, the Seastone Chair, the Lannisters, the Freys, the roses, the wolves, the fish, or King Robert. But the real danger is north. Winter is Coming. The night is dark and full of terrors.

The prologues all deal with the larger picture... the impending clash of the supernatural. AGOT had rangers dying at the hands of the Others. ACOK had the arrival of the powerful hero of Rh'llor. ASOS featured the Others and the wights assault on the Fist. And AFFC told of an assassin who gains access to the secrets of the Citadel, the great repository of learning for the natural and supernatural.
 
What do you guys think the significance of the title is? Today I was thinking that since there's a lot of speculation about the three heads of the dragons being Dany, Jon, and Tyrion that it might not be a coincidence that the three main characters of the next book are Dany, Jon, and Tyrion. You know, the three dragons dancing their way to power or whatever. Of course, my little theory here makes a lot of assumptions. It could be as simple as the title simply referring to Dany's efforts to train her dragons. Or maybe it's something I haven't thought or heard of.
 
viZion said:
What do you guys think the significance of the title is? Today I was thinking that since there's a lot of speculation about the three heads of the dragons being Dany, Jon, and Tyrion that it might not be a coincidence that the three main characters of the next book are Dany, Jon, and Tyrion. You know, the three dragons dancing their way to power or whatever. Of course, my little theory here makes a lot of assumptions. It could be as simple as the title simply referring to Dany's efforts to train her dragons. Or maybe it's something I haven't thought or heard of.
Click to expand...


Well its named after the war of the Taergenys. (Spelt wrong I know) Cant remember the details though, beyon that I dunno really.
 
Shacklock said:
Well its named after the war of the Taergenys. (Spelt wrong I know) Cant remember the details though, beyon that I dunno really.
Click to expand...

I realize that it's named after that war and the initial speculation was that the title referred to Dany's invasion of Westeros. GRRM said that's not it though. I was just wondering what it might actually be.
 
The Dance of the Dragons was the name of the Civil War between the children of Viserys I. Aegon Targaryen and Rhaenyra Targaryen both claimed the Iron Throne. Of the Dragons seems to mean between dragons or only consisting of dragons.

A Dance With Dragons seems to mean a non-Targaryen (or mayhaps multiple non-Targaryens) is interacting with multliple Targaryens.

Dany has already been at war with both Dothraki and Lhazareen while she was a Khaleesi and she's fought Mereen, Yunkai, and Astapor as a Targaryen Queen. Mayhaps she'll be at war with someone else.

Mayhaps the dancing with dragons will mean war. Mayhaps the dancing will mean more intrigue than actual fighting. We know that the Martells, the Greyjoys, and the Maesters have all independently sent emissaries to treat with Dany. We guess that the Tyrells might have done the same. And I'd be remiss if I did not guess that neither Littlefinger nor the High Septon were not trying to contact Dany also. Ergo, there is plenty of room for diplomacy from the major Houses and Organizations in Westeros with Dany. And she is the only known Targaryen at this time.

Jon's been at war with the Wildlings and the Others, though it seems soon he'll be under full attack from the Others.

Tyrion's been fighting the Starks and Baratheons (and briefly the Mountains Clans), though now he's at odds with the Lannisters.

Baby Aegon may be serving in the Golden Company. The Golden Company is a mercenary squad that seems to consist of exiled nobles.

Jon's on the Wall, Tyrion's in the Free Cities, while Dany is at Slaver's Bay. All four of these characters fall outside of the geographic parameters for AFFC and so are included in ADWD.

Aegon is also in the Free Cities for what it's worth. And presumably so is...

Jorah Mormont. We know his ex-wife is in the Free Cities. We know he'd like to find a way to end his exile. Mayhaps he'll join the Golden Company and serve Aegon.
 
Boaz, are you really convinced that baby Aegon is still alive? If so, why? I still believe that GRRM's comment about Rhaenys definitely being dead but failing to mention Aegon was just to mess with people's heads. Do you want him to be alive and suddenly appear 5 or 6 books deep into the series? Am I the only one against this?
 
Why do I believe it? Because I'm neck deep in conspiracies already. What's one more? I like looking for hidden agendas and secrets.

I'm not for nor against bringing Aegon back, but I am strongly against any and all deus ex machina resolutions of plots. If GRRM can produce Aegon in book six and back it up with clues all throughout the first five books, then I've no problem with Aegon... in fact, that means that the author was consistently working towards that end from the very beginning. GRRM has steered away from deus ex machina so far and I've been appreciative.

The major way that GRRM deals with avoiding the deus ex machina curse is the extensive development of POV's. For example, in most fantasy stories Jon and Dany would be the only real points of view. Thus, when Stannis arrives to defeat Mance his victory appears out of thin air. Martin gives us sooooooo much information. Much of it is relevant if we can see the connections to the other plots and stories. The problem is that I start seeing things where GRRM intends nothing... ergo, Aegon is alive.

In most every other fantasy, Robb would have escaped the Red Wedding, Ned would have not have been executed, and Drogo would have survived Mirri Maz Duur's potion. After all it's called fantasy. But GRRM's fantasy here is very real... when **** hits the fan, it sprays everyone and it stinks to high heaven.

Regarding deus ex machina Brienne's current predicament is the one that concerns me at the moment. I don't know how anything less than the intervention of a god will get her out of her current predicament.
 
The real Game of Thrones... England's War of the Roses ended up with Henry Tudor ruling. At the outset of hostilities between York and Lancaster, Henry Tudor was barely even a blip on the royal radar. Many people with better claims or more powerful supporters died. HenryVI. Edward, Prince of Wales. Richard, Duke of York. Richard III. Edmund, Duke of Rutland. Edward IV and his young sons, Edward V, Richard, and George. George, Duke of Clarence. Edward, Prince of Wales. Owen Tudor. Many lords of the families related to the royals... Neville, York, Lancaster, Percy, and Beaufort lost their lives. That's not even including the women. Margaret of Anjou. Isabella of York. Anne of York. Anne Neville.

If anyone is presented as the Henry Tudor of Westeros, my guess is that it would be Aegon.
 
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