How has ASoIaF effected u IRL??

[Charming Serpent]

Just bored and decided to ask this question. I'll post first and without great detail at the moment cuz I am tired, but I will go into further detail later.

How, if at all, and when has ASoIaF effected in u in the real world??

Was it a specific moment? A different outlook on something or even someone?? Perhaps an established connection or even a deeper understanding??

One example from my own life was when I was in Airborne Training and I was about to make my first jump. I am terrified of heights by the way. I was in the middle of the line when the go ahead was given and as I shuffled forward one thought kept me going, kept me moving as it played over and over and over in my head.......

A simple line yet it is what popped into my head at the time. Not God, nor family and friends. Not even my peers potential to clown me if i refused. Something Tyrion thought to himself in one of the books......

"Jaime would not be afraid"

Next thing I know I am falling from 1500 feet

Not trying to sound cheesy or completely nerdy or even like a crazy "I'm missing somthing in my life and these books fill it" kinda way, but honest to God, that line pops into my head when I hesitate and it has yet to fail me.

 

[Qhorin Halfhand]

One example from my own life was when I was in Airborne Training and I was about to make my first jump. I am terrified of heights by the way. I was in the middle of the line when the go ahead was given and as I shuffled forward one thought kept me going, kept me moving as it played over and over and over in my head.......

A simple line yet it is what popped into my head at the time. Not God, nor family and friends. Not even my peers potential to clown me if i refused. Something Tyrion thought to himself in one of the books......

"Jaime would not be afraid"

Next thing I know I am falling from 1500 feet

I can't believe Bran didn't enter your head then rather than Jaime!

ASOIAF hasn't really effected me too much in real life. I guess I ran my first successful roleplaying game set in Westeros and that gave me a lot of confidence as a GM.

 

[Bazza]

The Things I Do For Combat Training

 

[Shacklock]

Only way it's affected me is to have a lofty expectation when I read new books. Like I recently read the Eisnhorn trilogy (Black Library stuff) Most people rave about it being 'OMG THE BEST THING SINCE THE WHEEL!' and yet I found it clumsy, shallow, full of plot-holes and wholey unconvincing. Damn you Martins!

 

[Charming Serpent]

Too true. I used to like WoT or Dragonlance novels from back in the day, but now everytime I read them I am like ...."Are u f'n kidding me?? This is like for kids."

 

[Shacklock]

Too true. I used to like WoT or Dragonlance novels from back in the day, but now everytime I read them I am like ...."Are u f'n kidding me?? This is like for kids."

Eeeexactly. Still, it means when you read a good book, you damnn well know it's good

 

[The Imp]

I think that reading ASOIAF twice now over the past couple of years (3?) has made me more skeptical of people and their motives. This probably isn't a good thing and may have more to do with the cynicism that comes with age rather than the books, but I swear it's easy to see Littlefinger or Cersei in a lot of people, especially politicians. It's also easier to see how the mentality of the ruling class has changed the Executive branch of our Government. Thank God for free elections.

I'm going to post a new thread about other books. I need advice.

 

[Charming Serpent]

Other books? As in what for what?? Enders Game is a good book. Highly recommend that book.

 

[Shacklock]

Other books? As in what for what?? Enders Game is a good book. Highly recommend that book.

Weakest book in the series (Still great) The Shadow Series is better. Bean>Ender

 

[Charming Serpent]

I read the first book in that series, but lose interest. Not saying the books are bad, but just wasn't into it like I was for Enders Game.

 

[Eulalia]

I like your question CS.

Life influencing books for me were War and Peace (I kid you not), Vanity Fair (the novel without a hero), Stranger in a Strange Land, and Pilgrims Progress (conceptually).

Martin's books influence me a lot in how I think about writing and writing characters. If he can start off where he did with Jaime, and do a switcheroo like that...well, I think he's brilliant. I think he is also pushing the edge of how far he go with a complicated character like Tyrion, and still have most of us like him. His range of female characters is genius, too. It is also sheer pleasure that he goes way off the expected course of the usual fantasy books. And I love how he takes events from history, melds them together, and gives them a firm twist.

He does illustrate political thinking only too well. Also, if you check out Plato's Republic, Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Emperor Constantine, The Prince, Henry VII, Elizabeth I, Goebels--or anyone with power that works the population, it's there. 1984 anyone? What's astonishing is just how well the "Big Lie" goes over as long as people are kept confused about the facts, and lies or false associations are repeated without a challenge.