Does this storyline go anywhere? Will Cat ever see her daughters and sons again? This could be cool if she were, say, to hook up with Ayra and kill off the lanisters and the conspirators...

jusnice wrote:So, what's up w/ Cat? She is obviously hell bent on vengence, but I'm not quite sure I understand GRRM's penchant for killing characters off only to have them resurrected.

Does this storyline go anywhere? Will Cat ever see her daughters and sons again? This could be cool if she were, say, to hook up with Ayra and kill off the lanisters and the conspirators...

Yeah, so many people seemingly dying and either not dying or coming back to life. Seems to be a theme in the book but getting overused. Everyone from "The Others" to Uncat; probably Jon Snow, Ashara Dayne, Beric Dondarrion, Ser Loras Tyrell, Ser Gregor, Coldhands, etc.

BigDaddyG wrote:

Markji wrote:

jusnice wrote:So, what's up w/ Cat? She is obviously hell bent on vengence, but I'm not quite sure I understand GRRM's penchant for killing characters off only to have them resurrected.

Does this storyline go anywhere? Will Cat ever see her daughters and sons again? This could be cool if she were, say, to hook up with Ayra and kill off the lanisters and the conspirators...

Cat has been renamed on various forums as "UnCat." She really is a different character; one nickname for her in the books is now "Lady Stoneheart." And that is what she is. I don't know if she has the ability to love anymore. Would definitely be interesting for her to meet up with Sansa or Arya.

Yeah, so many people seemingly dying and either not dying or coming back to life. Seems to be a theme in the book but getting overused. Everyone from "The Others" to Uncat; probably Jon Snow, Ashara Dayne, Beric Dondarrion, Ser Loras Tyrell, Ser Gregor, Coldhands, etc.

I think the interesting thing is the nature of the resurrections. The wights seem to be mindless while Uncat seems to have gone mad. But Ser Beric managed to keep his head after his numerous resurrections. As for Ser Loras Tyrell, we don't know what happened with him. I assume he'll die and I'm hopefull he'll stay dead. The emo moping bit was gettig tired.

As for Ser Gregor, do you think he's become wight somehow? I hope we get a Qyburn POV.

Ser Loras - Cersei keeps hearing that he was badly burned in battle at Dragonstone and will probably die. But then no further word is heard. To me this means that he is alive and that there is probably some devious plot being devised by the Tyrells. The Queen of Thorns may seem like just an eccentric old lady, but she is one nasty person to deal with. I think she has a few things cooking behind the scenes.

Season 2 of the HBO adaptation comes out in April....Can't wait."
(especially since the Knicks are driving me crazy - depressing.)

I don't read that much fiction but a friend had recommended Daniel Abramham's "The Long Price Quartet which I read between Books 4 and 5 of ASOIAF. I found it very good, absorbing, interesting concepts and enjoyed it. 4 books in the series. I do recommend. Start with the first book, "A Shadow in Summer".... you do need to read them in order. But as you commented - This and other books don't hold a candle to ASOIAF. But who knows when the sixth book will come out? The HBO series, season 2, starts the beginning of April. So something to look forward to.

Re: The Wheel of Time - friends say it started off well and then Robert Jordan lost his way; the books were long and boring; then Jordan died and another writer took up the series and it improved. But not worth starting so many books.

jusnice wrote:Thanks - I'll try to check it out. Re-reading A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K LeGuin. Good, but not nearly on the same scale as ASOIAF...

For the record and my reputation I just want to go explain my evaluations ---ASOIAF is the best fantasy adventure series ever....by a longshot. Tolkien's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings series is second. Everything else is a distant third or fourth.

So if you are looking for something to read then The Long Price Quartet is fine and D Abraham does a good job in wrapping up the storyline at the end of book 4. But just don't expect anything as intricate as ASOIAF.
Enjoy it.

And for other enjoyment, the Knicks need to turn this season around. I think they will.
And the Giants - Yes. Makes life more fun to have your team is playing for the Championship.

BigDaddyG wrote:

Markji wrote:

jusnice wrote:Thanks - I'll try to check it out. Re-reading A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K LeGuin. Good, but not nearly on the same scale as ASOIAF...

OK...it's a good read.

For the record and my reputation I just want to go explain my evaluations ---ASOIAF is the best fantasy adventure series ever....by a longshot. Tolkien's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings series is second. Everything else is a distant third or fourth.

So if you are looking for something to read then The Long Price Quartet is fine and D Abraham does a good job in wrapping up the storyline at the end of book 4. But just don't expect anything as intricate as ASOIAF.
Enjoy it.

And for other enjoyment, the Knicks need to turn this season around. I think they will.
And the Giants - Yes. Makes life more fun to have your team is playing for the Championship.

I'm glad the G-Men are on their way to winning another Super Bowl. I just don't want GRRM partying too much on Sunday. He's a big Giants fan and he deserves to celebrate like the rest of us. But he's got some unfinished bussiness. I expect nothing but a month of nonstop writing when the game is over

Markji wrote:

jusnice wrote:So much to think about...I am confused and have few answers. The Septa ain't a Septa, not sure who she is. The Blackfish will come back and play a role for sure. He's not dead. I originally thought that Cold Hands was Benjen, but now Mark is making me reconsider this given the age comment. I just don't understand what Cold Hands is and what his purpose is in helping Bran if he isn't Benjen. Why would he have let Samwell escape and why would he have some good in him when other brothers who have been turned do not??? Confused.

I am also very confused by what is happening to Bran. What is this underworld he is in and who is the tree man?

The only thing I firmly believe is that Arya will have a huge role in what comes next. I don't think she becomes an assasin or stays with the Faceless Men. It seems that she is learning something in each of her phases of life and that she will turn into this very well rounded, very dangerous woman. Part of me thinks she teams up with Dany since they seem to have strong moral values and aren't all about power and killing.

The Dany plot line is getting a bit old. Does anyone talk about how she must learn to control these dragons or they really aren't an asset to her at all?

Sorry to confuse you. There is a huge amount going on all at the same time and Geo Martin plays his cards close to his chest.

Coldhands- at first I also thought it was Benjen Stark. Maybe he is? or maybe that would be too obvious? My main thought against him being Benjen is why hasn't Bran recognized him as his uncle. They are traveling together for many, many weeks. Surely Bran should notice??? Coldhands is obviously dead and so must be like the other wights in that respect. But he serves the 3-Eyed Crow who is a great Greenseer who controls many things. i.e. the flock of 1001 crows/ravens, Coldhands, the great Elk, etc.

The 3-Eyed Crow is very ancient man/Greenseer whose body is being kept alive and nourished by somehow melding with the tree. It is very strange and I have not read about this concept before. He is the 3-Eyed Crow in Bran's dreams who keeps telling Bran he can fly by opening up his 3rd eye. He is teaching Bran the ways of a Greenseer and IMO, Bran seems to already have surpassed him. 3-Eyed Crow just watches thru the Weirwoods but can't interfere or make contact. Bran already can do that but in addition he spoke out to Theon in the Godswood in Winterfell and Theon heard Bran. Therefore, made contact and communicated.

I agree with you totally about Arya. I love her and she is one person you don't want to cross. Geo Martin did a great job with her chapters because we are seeing thru the eyes and feeling the emotions of a 9 year old girl going thru all of her many adventures.

And Dany - yeah, that sure seemed very stupid for her to chain up the dragons. I thought that was an incongruous twist to the plot. But now the dragons are lose and they will kick ***. Qwentyn got toasted. I hope the same happens to the Yunkai.

The 3-Eyed Crow is BloodRaven a Half-Targ and former Hand(I believe) and former Lord Commander at the Wall. Also, I think he can interfere and obviously he can contact people through their dreams, i.e. Bran.