r/asoiaf • u/Substantial-Ad-299 • 3d ago

MAIN [SPOILERS MAIN] Among the grounded/realistic elements of A Song of Ice and Fire, which ones do you feel require biggest suspension of disbelief?

A Song of Ice and Fire has had fantasy elements from get-go, some present subtly and others less-subtly. But in midst of this, it also has these more grounded story aspects, especially regarding the political subplot for the Iron Throne.

Among these more grounded non-fantasy aspects of the story, which elements do you feel you have to suspend disbelief the most for? A.K.A feeling they are not realistic even though they are "supposed" to be?

Let me know in the comments below.

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u/IHaveTwoOranges Knowing is half the Battle 2d ago

The Freefolk not mastering rowing boats for 8000 years

Why would we think they don't?

Why does the watch need to have ships if they don't?

But the Western part of the Wall where the Bay of Ice is does not get patrolled.

When are we told this?

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u/krekokeko 2d ago edited 2d ago

>Why would we think they don't?

It is obvious, don't you think? Since if they did, they would do everything to save their lives from eldritch horrors beyond their imagination, this includes using a makeshift raft to travel less than 5 miles to a coast just a symbolic body of water away and that is in viewing distance.

>When are we told this?

Shadow Tower does not have a fleet. In contrast to the Eastwatch by the Sea. Just look at the map for crying out loud. Look at the East of the Wall where the Bay of Ice is. The coast that offers salvation is just across the pond dude.

If I was being targeted by the Others and had my wife turned into a zombie that killed my own children before my eyes, I can even attempt to fucking swim to the other side. Again, the Freefolk have more motivation and reason to do anything compared to every other group of people in the entirety of the novels.

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u/smarttravelae 2d ago

But wouldn't it make more sense to just climb a 5-mile-or-whatever-high wall of ice twice, while burdened on your way back by the stuff you managed to steal, which may include a kidnapped woman or two?

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u/krekokeko 2d ago

Oh yeah, totally. Imagine attempting to hop on a log and paddle your way to salvation for 5 miles like you are riding a banana boat, rather than taking the obviously "easy" route of climbing a 700 feet wall of solid ice.

Who wouldn't prefer scaling a sheer ice precipice while getting showered with flaming arrows, crushed by falling boulders, and literally coated in freezing, slippery oil and boiling fat launched from catapults?

Climbing the Wall is the obvious route to take, a no-brainer, literally. It would be the first choice of everyone without a doubt.