Is ASoIaF post apocalyptic and/or Far future Earth Colony type story

[JoanDrake]

We naturally can't tell yet as the stories are not done, but does anyone know if Martin has said anything on this? I have seen things that appear to be hints

 

[Koopa]

I think it's a fantasy world

 

[Narkalui]

If it turns out to be like that Joan, I would be extremely........ upset.

 

[ArstenWhitebeard]

I second Nark's comment.

besides, how would we find out? I guess if we get introduced to some character (Howland Reed?) who somehow knows the truth. That or we get a visit from aliens. Either way, I would be extremely........ upset

 

[Anushka Mokosh]

It is just fantasy world from what he said so far.

 

[Koopa]

And in the end Dorothy wakes up

 

[Narkalui]

And she's in the land of Pern. Ugh.

 

[Dave]

I don't see how it can be a future Earth if there are Dragons and Magic because... well I haven't seen them! It could be an Earth-like Colony where Dragons exist but that still doesn't explain Magic and Walking Dead.

You will need to define what you mean exactly by "post-apocalyptic." The history of Westeros is obviously incredibly long with the Wall founded 8,000 years ago, the wars between Valyria and Ghis 6,000 years ago. It could be a Fantasy world that was more industrial in the distant past but was thrown back into dark ages by some apocalypse. Is that what you meant?

However, there is other evidence from the length of the Winter. Nine-year-long Summers followed by equally long Winters mean that the axial tilt of the planet is very unlike our Earth. There could be an astronomical reason for that, it could even be the result of some catastrophic event on the planet in the past, but apparently George R R Martin has already explained that it is simply due to Magic. For me, that is proof that it is all just Fantasy and it is pointless speculating that it is anything more than that. I'm sure that won't stop someone from developing a detailed scientific explanation for the unpredictable seasons involving binary stars.

 

[Anushka Mokosh]

@Dave Don't think that even binary stars would be enough to explain "a winter that lasted a generation". xD

 

[Koopa]

Dragons came from the/a moon. winter and summer exist from experiments gone wrong whilst creating an articial sun/environment. It is known!

 

[Brian G Turner]

I have seen things that appear to be hints

What sort of hints?

 

[Narkalui]

@Dave Don't think that even binary stars would be enough to explain "a winter that lasted a generation". xD

You should read the Helliconian Cycle by Brian Aldiss and bear in mind that it was written in consultation with physicists, astronomers and biologists. The seasons in that binary system last centuries!

But I don't believe that we have a binary system in ASOIAF purely because there is no mention of a second, weaker Sun rising as Autumn becomes winter...

 

[Zulkuss]

The easiest way to explain nonstandard seasons is geocentric system with really weird orbit of the sun that never remains the same. Though there is still no way to explain the Long Night, unless it's a really long eclipse, like in Pitch Black Effect.

 

[Narkalui]

That's one reason why I prefer fantasy to sci fi, a fantasy writer can just say "it's magic", but a sci fi writer has to explain and justify upon scientific principles.

In this case, I think it's just magic...

 

[ArstenWhitebeard]

That's one reason why I prefer fantasy to sci fi, a fantasy writer can just say "it's magic", but a sci fi writer has to explain and justify upon scientific principles.

In this case, I think it's just magic...

Unless of course it's The Force.

 

[Narkalui]

I consider Star Wars to be fantasy, in sci fi setting.

Ford: "So George, how do I fly this thing?"
Lucas: "You just.... fly it!"

 

[Brian G Turner]

Unless of course it's The Force.

You're wrong. The Force was clearly explained as caused by a midichlorian infection, the most desirous STD ever.

 

[JoanDrake]

What sort of hints?

The "First Men" hints that the present humans on Westeros were not the original inhabitants but came from somewhere else.

When Tyrion and Bronn come into the ruined city there is reference to a much higher civilization that went before and is a well known legend,

The white walkers can be killed by stone aqe implements

This is not a totally trivial plotline. Lord of Light, by Roger Zelazny carries the idea off quite well and if anyone could make it work it would be Martin

 

[JoanDrake]

Some more things that occur after I rewatched ep 5

The Valyrians could be the original earth colonists and/or a faction of them who found the dragons as an indigenous species and then used them to rule the planet. Most of the magic is their high technology. The gray scale could be a bioweapon that got out of hand and destroyed them and their dragons, but not quite entirely. leaving them a strong force only recently defeated thoroughly

 

[Brian G Turner]

The "First Men" hints that the present humans on Westeros were not the original inhabitants but came from somewhere else.

When Tyrion and Bronn come into the ruined city there is reference to a much higher civilization that went before and is a well known legend,

This was quite common in our mediaeval world - different ancient civilisations left their mark on the landscape, not least through remarkable monuments and works of engineering. The idea that there must have been some "Golden Age" wasn't uncommon.

IMO all GRRM is doing is reflecting that, by showing that there were prior ancient civilisations to the contemporary one. Various historical fantasy writers have done similar - not least because it's impossible to live in Western Europe, the Mediterranean basin, and the Near East, and not be aware of the existence of previous civilisations.

As GRRM writes historical fantasy, the whole issue would be far more conspicuous by its absence.