A Conversation of Thrones

Game Of ThronesSomething weird happened today. Or maybe it’s not weird. Maybe this is just how people talk now.

I had an hour-long conversation about A Game of Thrones.

I love the TV show (I haven’t read the books). Epic medieval fantasy with sex, magic, and dragons? Yes please. Given the unconventional approach to the genre, t’s a great conversation piece.

However, after talking about it for literally an hour today at lunch–discussing characters, motives, storylines, and future theories–I found it a bit weird that we opted to discuss a fictional world in such depth instead of something real.

Or maybe it’s awesome that George R.R. Martin has created such a conversation-worthy world. As a wannabe writer myself, I’d love to know that someone spent their lunch hour talking about my work in such detail.

What do you think? Have you ever gone through a fictional world character by character in conversation? Is it weird or awesome?

6 thoughts on “A Conversation of Thrones”

  1. I have totally done that. I totally do that. I have read the books and can’t wait for the next one. I haven’t read the books for Harry Potter or LOTR, but I’ve gotten into extended conversations about their characters and action scenes. Maybe it’s because my husband is a geek and my brother in law has a house literally (and tastefully) lined with old pulp fiction novels and original cover artistry. Ever hear of the Windy City Pulp Convention? Yeah – he kinda runs that. Being a geek is a total thing ever since Big Bang Theory. Embrace your inner geek!

    Reply
    • Sara: I’ve done the same for Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars, so I’m not sure why this particular conversation struck me. But you make a good point–perhaps this is just part of being a geek! It’s being willing to suspend reality and talk about fictional worlds with the same enthusiasm as reality.

      I think maybe I just wish the conversation could have connected a little more with reality. Great fiction–particularly fantasy and sci-fi–often serves as an allegory so we can learn more about our world. So there’s a small loss for me if the conversation never bridges that gap between the two worlds.

      Reply
  2. I think what makes GRRM’s work so appealing to people is that underneath all the boobs and dragons it’s a story about humanity – about its ambitions and kindness (or lack thereof) and the lengths people will go to (or won’t) to get what they want.

    Therefore it is not Daenerys Targaryen you’re discussing – it’s compassion despite cruelty. It’s not Jon Snow – it’s loyalty to your duty while breaking the rules. It’s not Tywin Lannister – it’s how far you’ll go to build a legacy.

    So it can be steered towards the relevance to real world even if the conversation started about how awesome melted sword-chairs are.

    Reply
  3. There is something about his work that strikes a cord with people. Maybe it is just a large soap opera in a fantasy setting, but there are plenty of clear heroes and villains and LOTS of people trapped between them all.

    Stannis is in the right, but can’t gain any traction and his frustration is tempting him to take the dark path. Davos is desperate to keep the honorable man he serves honorable and not let the red woman take his soul.

    Tyrion is the outcast that EVERYONE outside the show knows is the best person on the show, but everyone in Westeros seems to feel the exact opposite.

    The Lannisters hold the power despite being obvious scumbags. Why doesn’t everyone just get rid of them?

    But the real reason you talk about them is they are interesting. They are an interesting escape from the world (as is almost all entertainment – tv, books, games). Being a game designer, you probably talk about board games as much as anything. Being a soccer fan, I’m sure you are happy to sit and talk about “your” team with someone despite having no real connection to them. We like sharing with others about things we have interests in – its how we connect with other humans. The fact that you are an introvert probably makes the amount of time you’ll invest in these conversations stronger – since you won’t invest at all unless it draws you in in the first place

    Reply
    • “We like sharing with others about things we have interests in – its how we connect with other humans.” Well said–I completely agree. And that’s a brilliant way of saying how everyone in Westeros loathes Tyrion, but all of us think he’s amazing!

      Reply

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