Dialogue in Fantasy Novels

I was reminded recently that many people complain about modern-sounding dialogue in fantasy novels. They seem to expect everyone to have to speak archaically. Now don't get me wrong, if done well I enjoy characters speaking in such a manner--Lord of the Rings is a prime example.

However, my opinion is that characters in fantasy novels are not generally speaking English. They are speaking some other language, and the author is essentially translating that language into modern English for the readers. So to me it is only logical for characters to speak modern English in a fantasy novel, as there is not always a good reason for an author to be translating the language into anything other than the language of his or her audience.

I do admit that going overboard with modern slang and such would kill the fantasy vibe, and there is no reason to use modern slang. The English language is fully sufficient to translate fantasy languages without having to resort to our slang.

What do you think?

What Happens to Jon Snow?

*This post contains spoilers for anyone who has not yet read A Dance of Dragons*

Continuing my little series of posts about Game of Thrones...

I was just reading a George R.R. Martin interview from some time ago when he was asked about the assassination of Jon Snow. The interviewer seemed to assume Snow was dead. That's not a terrible assumption to make given how Martin has treated enough of his characters, but I don't believe it for a second. Snow's arc has been too big and important and without enough resolution for him to be completely out of it at this stage.

I don't believe Snow will be back the way he was, though. I think Martin gave us a hint of what happens to Snow when he showed the unusual Other that helped Bran (was it Uncle Benjen Stark? It's been too long since I read the book now for me to recall if that was ever resolved). See, I think that Jon will be back as an Other, but one that has the same issue as the one that helped Bran, so he will side with the forces of 'good' (or as close as one ever gets to such forces in this series). Given how much time Martin has devoted to having readers love both Jon and Dany, I wouldn't be surprised if he makes them square off against each other. Jon could be a special Other leading an army of wildlings, Others, white walkers, giants, etc.  He may be facing either Dany or a triangle of foes with the Lannisters.

I also think it's very possible that Jon is a Targaryen, perhaps the son of Rhaegar, who then asked Eddard Stark to raise him as his 'bastard' and keep his secret. That would make Jon the rightful heir to the whole seven kingdoms.

What do you think happens with Jon Snow?

The Worst Story Line in the Game of Thrones Universe

*Spoilers for those who haven't read all of Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series*

A writer friend of mine sent me a link to an interesting article that reminded me of one of the worst story threads that I ever encountered--the story of Quentyn Martell. I had great hopes for it and was enjoying it until suddenly Martin just killed it all off as soon as the characters arrived at their destination. So what was the point? They travel over many chapters, seeming to have some vague future connection to the plot, but then they are dead. So if all of their chapters had been excised, nothing at all would have changed in the overall story arc.

I didn't know where Martin was heading with that story arc, but I at least expected he'd go somewhere with it. After all, why devote so much page time to it if not to use it in some manner? I even thought Quentyn might blossom and turn into one of the three future dragon riders.

The article writer even moaned about how homely and average Quentyn is. I find this hilarious given that I believe this character was a direct result of people moaning for so long about how attractive and above average characters always tend to be. So Martin finally does what many people seem to want, make a character normal, and people then moan about that. Anyway, I liked that he was normal, since it gave him that much more room to grow and change...except Martin decided not to bother.

What are your thoughts of the Quentyn Martell sequence? Do you see some deeper meaning there that will actually impact the plot going forward?

The Death of Joffrey

*Note that if anyone hasn't yet seen the last couple of episodes of Game of Thrones, this will contain spoilers.*

When I finally saw the episode of Game of Thrones when 'King' Joffrey is poisoned, I was disappointed to learn that I had misinterpreted who had done the deed. I'm not disappointed at misreading anything--I'm disappointed because I think my version was way better!

Martin must have been too subtle for me, but I somehow never got it that the Queen of Thorns poisoned Joffrey, conspiring apparently with Littlefinger. In my version, I felt that Cersei was using the opportunity to rid herself of her hated brother Tyrion and had poisoned either Tyrion's wine or something that was served to him. Then Joffrey came over and ate some of Tyrion's food and drank some of his wine (at least if I am recalling things correctly). Just imagine the horror of Cersei watching as her son kills himself with the poison that she herself had put there! Delicious!