Feasting with crows: Impressions from the 4th volume

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The world of fantasy as we know it, lies in tatters. Heroes are dead whilst crows are feasting on their corpses. George R. R. Martin stepped over every possible line that demarcated what had been known as the genre of fantasy. Is it possible to save the world of fantasy from ever-pervading irony? Is it possible for the world of fantasy to reborn?

Martin deliberately began with Eddard Stark, a typical high-fantasy character, who was cast in a medieval-like setting typical for the genre. Unfortunately for Eddard, a lot had changed in the world of fantasy. Virtuous characters like Aragorn, Ged or Conan are not rewarded for their deeds anymore - their virtue is the cause of their downfall. Eddard’s devotion to the old ways not only caused his death but also brought war and unstability to the Seven Kingdoms. Sure, you may say that Eddard acted like a true hero and followed his fantastical-categorical imperative. Yet can you see the consequences?

Not only Martin changed our perception of classical heroes. When reading the chapters of the fourth volume, I was not surprised by sudden twists in the plot anymore. There were not many when compared to previous volumes. Especially the Storm of Swords with its two weddings. I suppose that after having found out what happened to Ned, Theon, Robb, Joffrey or Tywin, readers are not surprised with Cersei or Brienne’s predicament at the end of A Feast. I think that these happenings did not arouse readers much - the outcome can be any. From now on anything goes in the realm of fantasy.

Credit: Martin Heigan via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
However, it seems to me, that there is a hope for the world that readers of The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter love so much. Since the world of Westeros declined into decadence in the course of the first four books, Martin step by step unfolded some of the world’s mysteries. You probably remember septa Mordane telling Stark younglings fairy tales. In her stories dragons were as real as the grumkins and snarks hiding under your bed. This disenchanted atmosphere was completed with Maester Luwin and his learned attitude.  No one really believed dragons existed. But since then we met dragon eggs and then dragons. We met wights - or the real grumkins - if you wish. and unveiled some religious mysteries. And the aura of mystery is completed with dragonglass candles and the dragon horn. It is these things that give the world of fantasy some hope.

However, it can be yet another of Martin’s cruel japes... To be closer to the truth, I need to dance with dragons now.


G. R. R. MARTIN: A Feast for Crows. New York, Bantam Books 2011.

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