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Realism in Fantasy, Concerning George R. R. Martin

By: Ned Fichy George R. R. Martin’s fantasy saga, A Song of Ice and Fire, has drawn as much interest as any literary project of recent memory. For good reason. Mr. Martin is a powerful writer and he...

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Medieval Heart, Postmodern Mind – Umberto Eco (1932-2016)

There is a riddle at the center of Eco's existence: In his theoretical work, he usually had the look of a post-modern man. And yet, in his art, he could look almost medieval.

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Discussion is Coming!

Over the next few months, we are going to examine the political insights of A Song of Ice and Fire through a series of character studies. Join us! Every couple weeks or so, we will pick a different...

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Varys – His Riddle

Varys is key to both the political action of A Song of Ice and Fire and its political wisdom. The core of his political philosophy is encapsulated in a riddle: "In a room sit three great men, a king, a...

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A Politics of Ice and Fire

By: Lewis Slawsky There are many reasons that G.R.R. Martin’s fantasy epic, A Song of Ice and Fire, has been such a tremendous popular and critical success. Here is just one reason, but a major one – A...

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The Argument and the Action

We have divided our study of the political theory of G.R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire into a series of discussions, each one focusing on a single character. Why this character by character...

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Varys – A Machiavellian Beast

"The storms come and go, the waves crash overhead, the big fish eat the little fish, and I keep on paddling." Politically astute and self-aware, Varys embodies Machiavelli's view that a wise prince...

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Varys – A Eunuch

One fact we learn early on about Varys, and are reminded of frequently, is that he is a eunuch. His castration is one of the central features of his character and lies at the heart of his political...

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