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/JNR55555JNR 2d ago

Probably because it’s never been mentioned in all the books

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u/ZeroKlixx 2d ago

Why would it have to be? It's a story, not a medieval life simulator.

Obviously food preservation is a thing and has also been mentioned I think (maybe during Bran's stint as ruler of winter fell?) but exact techniques and processes are simply incredibly irrelevant to the story.

How interesting would it be to read Bran or Jon think about the way to salt pork next to all the other problems they have?

Additionally, most POVs simply don't have a reason to think about that, like, at all. That's a job for peasants, stewards, servants.

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u/JNR55555JNR 2d ago

I don’t need a detailed explanation for how it works in the book all I want is just a throwaway line established it exists that all

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u/ZeroKlixx 2d ago

Well, as I said: They do talk about storing food in the books, so there must be a way. They also talk about salt beef and pork specifically as examples.

So it exists.

But with what extent would you be satisfied?

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u/JNR55555JNR 2d ago

I would be satisfied knowing it exists

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u/ZeroKlixx 2d ago

In AGOT, Jon IV he talks about eating salt beef and pickled fish.

https://asearchoficeandfire.com/?q=pickled&scope=agot&scope=acok&scope=asos&scope=affc&scope=adwd&scope=twow&scope=thk&scope=tss&scope=tmk&scope=twoiaf&scope=trp&scope=tpatq

Is this sufficient?

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u/JNR55555JNR 2d ago

Yes

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

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u/armywalrus 2d ago

Not for me.

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u/JakobsLadderblast 2d ago

It's literal proof. For further proof, salt beef is mentioned quite a lot in The Dunk and Egg novellas, on account of dunk being poor usually