Comparing Martin to any kind of virgin is also ironic...This was a solid essay. I enjoyed your analysis. Martin initially intrigued because of his complexity, but there is no ultimate redemption, no hope, in his story. Tolkien's makes use of a straightforward hero tale to showcase a saga of change. My favorite scene is the Scourging of the Shire - by my reading, the point of the hobbits leaving and going into the wide world is so that they can return and clean house. I suspect we have similar goals in what we like to read - feel free to check out my page here: https://herringreview.substack.com/p/a-new-beginning?s=w
Thank you, sir. Yes, I was originally taken with Game of Thrones, until I realized that Martin and Co have zero aspirations for the reader/viewer. Unlike Tolkien, who has serious aspirations for us. Will look into the Herring Review, thanks!
“ The great object in our time is to raise the faculties of men, not to complete their prostration.” The times will require Tolkien’s best. I just started reading the books again, there is much work to be done.
Martin is the virgin Thrasymachus to Tolkien's chad Socrates.
I like the analogy!
Comparing Martin to any kind of virgin is also ironic...This was a solid essay. I enjoyed your analysis. Martin initially intrigued because of his complexity, but there is no ultimate redemption, no hope, in his story. Tolkien's makes use of a straightforward hero tale to showcase a saga of change. My favorite scene is the Scourging of the Shire - by my reading, the point of the hobbits leaving and going into the wide world is so that they can return and clean house. I suspect we have similar goals in what we like to read - feel free to check out my page here: https://herringreview.substack.com/p/a-new-beginning?s=w
Thank you, sir. Yes, I was originally taken with Game of Thrones, until I realized that Martin and Co have zero aspirations for the reader/viewer. Unlike Tolkien, who has serious aspirations for us. Will look into the Herring Review, thanks!
“ The great object in our time is to raise the faculties of men, not to complete their prostration.” The times will require Tolkien’s best. I just started reading the books again, there is much work to be done.