The Night Is Dark And Full Of Terrors (ADWD SPOILERS)

[Koopa]

There are many degrees of mental retardation (which i think the correct term in english). Hodor actually, in comparison to some others i worked with (interim at a home) has quite a lot of capabilities still left to him. Not only does he has a high degree of understanding, he can also clearly perform a lot of complicated tasks. Even the fact that he is capable of actually saying his own name says something. So Hodor is definitely not an empty husk (which is probably only ever achievable if there is a brain dead person at hand - and even then there can be debates formed) and as such a person with certain rights. Brandon taking over would then nowadays clearly violate basic human rights. then again so does much else in the books.

 

[TPA]

yea, I don't think Martin will win any popularity contests if he created Brandor. That's why I think he will be Werebran or Branwood.

Since magic is re-emerging with the dragons, and the Starks will likely be considered exceptionally talented, maybe Bran will have the ability to take his werewood skills on the road. He might be able to tap into the system by simply touching a werewood.

The whole tree communication thing reeks of Kevin J. Anderson.

 

[vanslyke]

There are many degrees of mental retardation (which i think the correct term in english). Hodor actually, in comparison to some others i worked with (interim at a home) has quite a lot of capabilities still left to him. Not only does he has a high degree of understanding, he can also clearly perform a lot of complicated tasks. Even the fact that he is capable of actually saying his own name says something. So Hodor is definitely not an empty husk (which is probably only ever achievable if there is a brain dead person at hand - and even then there can be debates formed) and as such a person with certain rights. Brandon taking over would then nowadays clearly violate basic human rights. then again so does much else in the books.

Hodor isn't hodor's actual name. It's always just been the only thing he can say so that's what people call him.

 

[Koopa]

It's not? then wat did Old nan name him?

 

[vanslyke]

Old nan didn't name him, she's his great grandmother. His name is Walder.

 

[Blekinge]

Old nan didn't name him, she's his great grandmother. His name is Walder.

Ironic that such a loyal servant to Bran has the same name as the murderer of his brother... Is Hodor related to Freys???

 

[The Imp]

Ironic that such a loyal servant to Bran has the same name as the murderer of his brother... Is Hodor related to Freys???

There was a thread a while back talking about this. I think the consensus was that Walder is a common enough name so that there's probably no connection. There was also a thread about Nan being a "Child of the Forest" with Hodor being sent by them etc. etc.

Hodor is very likely just Hodor.

 

[juleska]

I must admit I don't feel comfortable with the idea of Bran "taking over" Hodor. Yeah Hodor may only be a simpleton, but he's still a person. He seems to experience emotions and we've seen him happy, sad and afraid. It's one thing for Bran to merge with Hodor for a little while (say, to do some action for the benefit of them both), but it's another to take over permanently and basically stamp out Hodor's personality, such as it is. That's a violation and I hope it doesn't happen.

Fully agree. Let us not forget the passage in ADWD where Bran describes how Hodor doesn't fight him for control anymore when he wargs into him, but how he does go to hide in a corner. I think it frightens Hodor and it upsets me to see Bran using Hodor as an unwilling vessel. At some point he will have to stop that or he risks becoming a Sixskins, and none of us want to see that. We want to see Bran whole and capable of fulfilling his destiny, not taking another human's body for a joyride. Readers would reject that. I certainly would, highly, highly unethical and totally contrary to who Bran is.

 

[Koopa]

I figured that Old nan did not "name" him, as in gave him his name. I just remembered that she was family, and figured she was the one who knew and told his real name to brandon or some other stark, thus naming him.

 

[TPA]

We want to see Bran whole and capable of fulfilling his destiny, not taking another human's body for a joyride.

What if Bran is capable of warging a dragon?

Is it me, or is this the only fantasy series where dragons are not intelligent?

 

[vanslyke]

What if Bran is capable of warging a dragon?

Is it me, or is this the only fantasy series where dragons are not intelligent?

How do you know they're not intelligent?