[ SECRET POST #5630 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #5630 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


01.



__________________________________________________



02.



__________________________________________________



03.



__________________________________________________



04.



__________________________________________________



05.



__________________________________________________



06.



__________________________________________________



07.










Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 35 secrets from Secret Submission Post #806.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I've always been under the impression a lot of the criticism is more squarely aimed at the show than the book series. I also feel like there is a lot of room to give GRRM the chance to improve on/respond to the criticisms his series have received since ASOIAF isn't complete yet.

[(Anonymous)]

It is never going to be complete. The very last thing that happens in the universe, just before the last sub atomic particle decays and eternal night kicks in, will be a press release saying that GRRM is working hard on the next book which will come out any day now. That is my criticism with the series.

[(Anonymous)]

NAYRT

I genuinely don't understand why he doesn't just say it's not coming out.

[(Anonymous)]

da

I mean, even with best intentions, self-denial is a strong thing. He says he's working on it. Maybe he really is. Maybe some part of him even believes he'll finish before he dies. As a reader, I've just decided not to expect any more books and move on to other things. If by some miracle, he does finish, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

[(Anonymous)]

He just enjoys being a troll. Plus, I think he really does mean it when he says he intends to finish it. Just he means it like my uncle means it when he says he is gonna fix up that old car he has in the garage. He genuinely means it, but that old Trans Am is never gonna run again and we all know it. He's gonna get around to it, any day now.

[(Anonymous)]

Yep, this.

[(Anonymous)]

DA

That’s not really a criticism with the series, though. That’s a criticism of GRRM. And I don’t really agree with that criticism, personally.

Sure, I want the series to be complete. But creators leave things incomplete all the time, and it is what it is. Nobody is owed the the next book(s)(and I’m not saying you’re being entitled, I’m directing this part at other fans I’ve seen), or the rest of the series. As understandable as it still is to be upset about being left hanging with no resolution. It’s GRRM’s decision as the author and creator as to how the series progresses, and his right to do what he wants with it, including leaving it hanging. It’s not ideal, and I don’t like it. But what can you do.

And I agree with another anon in thinking that he really does believe he’ll complete the series one day. He may be a troll in some ways, but he has nothing to gain and a lot to lose by merely pretending to intend to finish his books. So I don’t believe at all that that’s what he’s doing, or that he’s lying for any reason. At least not that he’s lying to anyone but himself about finishing his series.

[(Anonymous)]

Sadly, I have definitely noticed a backlash against the books, not just the show. People saying the books are too dark and depressing, the sex scenes too squicky and male gaze-y/just GRRM's personal fetishes, the "heroic" characters are stupid and impossible to root for, etc. The second criticism is fair. It was written in the 90s, and it shows its age. The first is a mix of fair and unfair. The books ARE dark and depressing especially compared to typical fantasy fare and definitely not everyone's cup of tea, but there's a lot going on in the book other than just grimdark, and I worry some people are attributing the ethos of the show to the ethos of the books and I don't think that's quite fair. But the third... I mean, when you've been spoiled about what happens to Ned and Robb, I guess they look "stupid" in hindsight, but this criticism still bugs the heck out of me. You ARE meant to root for them. That's why their deaths hurt so much. Again, I think people are attributing too much grimdark to the books and assuming it is so cynical that it either makes all the characters terrible and completely unsympathetic, or it purposely punishes people for the "mistake" of rooting for the goodie-goodie characters. But I don't think it does. The characters are just meant to be complex (not wholly good or bad) and there are sympathetic ones like Arya, Bran, Sansa, Daenerys, Jon, Brienne, even Tyrion, Jaime, etc. that you're supposed to root for and they get wins even as they aren't great people all the time.

[(Anonymous)]

Just wanted to let you know, anon, that this comment really lifted my spirits. Speaking as a pre-show fan, I sometimes find myself feeling embarrassed and ashamed when I identify myself as a book fan. I don't want to feel that way, but the backlash IS real and it does have the power to drag a person down.

But I loved these books, and I still love these books, and sometimes it really helps to be reminded why those feelings exist in the first place.

Thank you secret maker as well, of course! Thank you, fandom le secrets ;_;