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Episode 271: Keepers of the Gates / House of the Dragon: Season 2 Trailer Review

Episode 271 for the week of December 17, 2023,  which we continue our “A Feast for Dragons” reread, covering chapter 10 (Brienne II) and chapter 11 (Sansa I) of A Feast for Crows. We also discuss the trailer for season 2 of HBO’s House of the Dragon, which is covered in further detail in our article below. Notes: Here is the link to our Discord server.

House of the Dragon: Season 2 Trailer Review

Prepare to be transported once again to the captivating world of Westeros, as House of the Dragon returns for an eagerly anticipated second season in summer 2024. The trailer for Season 2 teases an exciting continuation of the Targaryen saga, fueling excitement among long time fans and newcomers alike.

As the trailer progresses, one thing is clear: war is coming and it will be particularly bloody with dragons thrown into the mix on both sides of the conflict. This is something we have not seen before in Game of Thrones and should be one of the key elements of season 2 of House of the Dragon. It remains to be seen how faithful the season will be to the source material given the limitations that exist despite the high budget and technology available.

Returning cast members step back into their roles with gusto. Rhaenyra Targaryen, portrayed by the talented Emma D’Arcy, exudes a complex mix of ferocity and vulnerability as she fights for her place on the throne. Meanwhile, Matt Smith brings an intensity to the role of Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenyra’s ambitious husband, whose charisma and cunning are destined to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of House Targaryen. All the actors have had a full season to develop their characters and fully embody their roles for the coming war to come.

As the trailer draws to a close, it teases dark moments of conflict, vast battles, and bloodshed. The haunting score echoes throughout, heightening the tension and sowing the seeds of uncertainty. It is a reminder that in the world of House of the Dragon, no character’s fate is certain, and anything can happen.

In under two minutes, the trailer for Season 2 of House of the Dragon stimulates both the imagination and the senses. It promises a continuation of the complex narrative, compelling performances, and stunning visuals that made the first season a landmark in television. With all the elements that made Game of Thrones a worldwide sensation, House of the Dragon cements its place as a worthy successor, reigniting the fervor for Targaryen lore and leaving audiences hungry for more.

Episode 235: Fire and Blood Preview

Episode 235 for the week of November 18, 2018, in which we do an early press review of Fire and Blood, sharing our initial thoughts on the latest work of George RR Martin (scheduled for release on November 20) and answering questions sent in by our listeners.

Notes: The images below are the art, notes, and size comparison mentioned during the episode. We will do our regular full depth interview subsequent to the release of the book. Send in your questions for that and for the upcoming interview with FFG’s Jason Walden in regard to the upcoming Mother of Dragons  expansion.

Episode 199: Blood of My Blood

Episode 199 for the week of May 29th, 2016, in which we cover the sixth episode in the sixth season of HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Notes: Our fan panel for ASOIAF/Game of Thrones last year has been approved for San Diego Comic Con 2016! Ashley will be joining us for the panel and listener meetup at Comic Con.  Daily voting continues at the Podcast Awards (APOIAF under the Entertainment category) until June 12th. Thank you for your support!

Supreme Court of Westeros Volume 1 Released on Amazon

“Who do you think will win the Battles of Meereen and Winterfell, and why?”

“Is Ser Meryn Trant part of Varys’s plan? He always seems to be on guard when something goes wrong or Varys’s plans spring into action.”

“Is A Song of Ice and Fire ultimately an analogy to climate change?”

“Who would win in a fight between Bronn and the Hound?”

“Does Varys know that Sansa is in the Vale? He keeps a close eye on Littlefinger and knew of his desire for Sansa.”

These are just a sampling of the 180 questions that the justices of the Supreme Court of Westeros convene to address and definitively answer. Using their intimate expertise of both A Song of Ice and Fire, specifically, and George R.R. Martin, generally, from their years of writing, studying, reporting on, and podcasting about the phenomenon that is Game of Thrones and its source books, they are able to provide an analysis that is always penetrating and occasionally irreverent.

Who, exactly, are the judges? Amin Javadi is a co-founder and -host of A Podcast of Ice and Fire, the longest-running (and award-winning) podcast devoted to all things Ice and Fire. Stefan Sasse is an essayist at the venerable Tower of the Hand, co-host of the Boiled Leather Audio Hour, and the purveyor of The Nerdstream Era, where the Supreme Court of Westeros goes into session every week. Both are contributors to the two Tower of the Hand ebook anthologies, A Flight of Sorrows and A Hymn for Spring, providing some of the strongest sections of each.

Joining them are a cavalcade of guest judges, ranging from such big-name celebrities in the Song of Ice and Fire fandom as Elio Garcia and Linda Antonsson (authors of The World of Ice and Fire alongside George Martin himself) to a large variety of readers and fans from the various forums and communities from around the Westeros web.

Looking to reconsider your theories of what is happening in Martin’s sprawling story or, even, to stumble across your new favorite crack-pot theory? Look no further – The Supreme Court of Westeros (Volume 1) will be the perfect companion in your wait for the next novel, short story, or television season.

A Hymn for Spring: Available Now

Tower of the Hand: A Flight of Sorrows was a book jam-packed with insightful analysis of the Song of Ice and Fire series, but it only barely scratched the surface of the huge and complex world that author George R.R. Martin has created. 
A second anthology, then, is not only desirable, it’s absolutely critical to unearth all that Martin has tucked away into the many dense folds of his narrative. 

Here’s how we’ve expanded A Hymn for Spring in order to make it the most comprehensive exploration of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros yet: 


    • Updated to cover the newly published Song of Ice and Fire material, including The Princess and the Queen, The Rogue Prince, and The World of Ice and Fire.

 

    • Four brand-new authors, who hail from some of the most authoritative Ice and Fire websites and podcasts, in order to provide fresh perspectives on the main series.

 

    • More than twice the size of A Flight of Sorrows, allowing not only for more essays on a wider range of subjects, but also for longer, more comprehensive analysis.

 

    • A huge swath of bonus material, including additional essays from theHymn for Spring authors – and their special guests – and sneak previews at the next big projects from the Tower of the Hand editors.

NEW AUTHORS

Steven Attewell, the mastermind behind Race for the Iron Throne, brings his political and historical expertise to bear on the effectiveness of Machiavellianism in the game of thrones and the economic gamesmanship of Lord Petyr Baelish. The founder ofWars and Politics of Ice and Fire, Jeff Hartline, makes readers fundamentally question their understanding of King Stannis Baratheon. And History of Westeros co-hosts Aziz and Ashaya offer the single most authoritative account of the history – and mythology – of Harrenhal, while Tower of the Hand/Wars and Politics of Ice and Fire contributor Jim McGeehin does the same for Robert’s Rebellion. 

RETURNING AUTHORS

Stefan Sasse, from the Boiled Leather Audio Hour and The Nerdstream Era, determines the effects that patriarchy and civil war have had on the Westerosi psychological makeup. A Podcast of Ice and Fire co-host Amin Javadi investigates the nature that songs and singers play in the various cultures of the Seven Kingdoms, and, even, in the nature of the narrative itself. And Tower of the Hand co-founders John Jasmin and Alexander Smith expand the focus to include both an exploration of how HBO’s Game of Thrones simultaneously improves and degrades Martin’s original story and a look at traditional games to help predict the success of all those who play the game of thrones.

Tower of the Hand: A Hymn for Spring Pre-orders

Tower of the Hand: A Flight of Sorrows was a book jam-packed with insightful analysis of the Song of Ice and Fire series, but it only barely scratched the surface of the huge and complex world that author George R.R. Martin has created.  A second anthology, then, is not only desirable, it’s absolutely critical to unearth all that Martin has tucked away into the many dense folds of his narrative.

Here’s how we’ve expanded A Hymn for Spring in order to make it the most comprehensive exploration of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros yet:

    • Updated to cover the newly published Song of Ice and Fire material, including The Princess and the QueenThe Rogue Prince, and The World of Ice and Fire.
    • Four brand-new authors, who hail from some of the most authoritative Ice and Fire websites and podcasts, in order to provide fresh perspectives on the main series.
    • More than twice the size of A Flight of Sorrows, allowing not only for more essays on a wider range of subjects, but also for longer, more comprehensive analysis.
    • A huge swath of bonus material, including additional essays from the Hymn for Spring authors – and their special guests – and sneak previews at the next big projects from the Tower of the Hand editors.

NEW AUTHORS

Steven Attewell, the mastermind behind Race for the Iron Throne, brings his political and historical expertise to bear on the effectiveness of Machiavellianism in the game of thrones and the economic gamesmanship of Lord Petyr Baelish. The founder of Wars and Politics of Ice and Fire, Jeff Hartline, makes readers fundamentally question their understanding of King Stannis Baratheon. And History of Westeros co-hosts Aziz and Ashaya offer the single most authoritative account of the history – and mythology – of Harrenhal, while Tower of the Hand/Wars and Politics of Ice and Fire contributor Jim McGeehin does the same for Robert’s Rebellion.
RETURNING AUTHORS

Stefan Sasse, from the Boiled Leather Audio Hour and The Nerdstream Era, determines the effects that patriarchy and civil war have had on the Westerosi psychological makeup. A Podcast of Ice and Fire co-host Amin Javadi investigates the nature that songs and singers play in the various cultures of the Seven Kingdoms, and, even, in the nature of the narrative itself. And Tower of the Handco-founders John Jasmin and Alexander Smith expand the focus to include both an exploration of how HBO’s Game of Thrones simultaneously improves and degrades Martin’s original story and a look at traditional games to help predict the success of all those who play the game of thrones.

A Hymn for Spring is available for pre-order today, with a release date of April 22, 2015.

APOIAF Hosts in Cameo Roles for Game of Thrones Season 5

We are happy to announce that the four podcast hosts will be making cameo appearances in season 5 of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Mimi has been cast as one of Dany’s dwindling Dothraki followers: she ends up flipping a table during a Meereenese bar fight. Ashley has been cast as a wildling spearwife: she joins Davos and Shireen’s reading and writing club. Amin and Kyle have been cast as Prince Doran’s night shift guardsmen: they make sure he is well stocked in feathered hats and blood oranges, respectively. Many of the former podcast hosts will also be making appearances as wights.

 

A Hymn for Spring Free Essay

Tower of the Hand: A Hymn for Spring, goes on sale on April 15 at Amazon. This new ebook will contain a dozen original essays about George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and HBO’s Game of Thrones, written by Tower of the Hand editors and contributors and a whole slew of special collaborators, including  Race for the Iron ThroneWars and Politics of Ice and Fire, the History of Westeros podcast, and our very own Amin Javadi. Pre-ordering is not yet possible, but when it is the link will be posted here and on our podcast store. For now, check out one of Amin’s essays (Songs and Singers of Ice and Fire) in the upcoming ebook.

Vote for Vassals of Kingsgrave in the Podcast Awards

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Thanks to the loyal listeners of House Manwoody, the Vassals of Kingsgrave have been nominated for the 10th Annual Podcast Awards.

Voting closes on March 24, at 2100 EST. However, you can vote each and every one of those 22 days, starting with today.

Step 1: Go to this website: http://www.PodcastAwards.com/
Step 2: Select “Vassals of Kingsgrave” in the General category.
Step 3: Scroll to the bottom, and enter your name and email, followed by “Submit”.
Step 4: Go to your email inbox, and verify your vote.
Step 5: Have a Kit Kat. You’ve earned it! 😉

PodcastAwards

So be sure to share, retweet, reblog, do whatever it is Tumblr does, and loose your ravens to every corner of the realm.

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A Hymn for Spring Revealed

TOWER OF THE HAND
A Hymn for Spring Revealed
(04.01.14)

Tower of the Hand: A Hymn for Spring is a little over two months away, so we figured we’d better start divulging all its secrets to help while away this final stretch. And what better way to kick things off than by revealing the book’s complete lineup and cover art?

Here we go:

“Machiavellianism for a Purpose” – Steven Attewell, founder of Race for the Iron Throne
The logic of revolution applied to rulers, reformers, and “noble fools”

“What Does the Fox Say?” – Marc N. Kleinhenz, editor
The role of House Florent in the southron war against the Others

“It Is Known: Words Are Wind” – Amin Javadi, co-host of A Podcast of Ice and Fire
How cultures of Ice and Fire and Martin’s personality are revealed through their repetitious sayings

“Westeros Side Story” – John Jasmin, co-founder of Tower of the Hand
How the Lannisters and Starks are this generation’s Jets and Sharks

“House of Thrones, Game of Cards” – Mimi Hoshut, co-host of A Podcast of Ice and Fire
The political paralleling of George Martin: Aegon as Lincoln, Robert as Kennedy, and Cersei as Bush

“Corn Code: The Cipher That Predicts Death” – Jeff Hartline, founder of Wars and Politics of Ice and Fire
The book within the books you should be reading

“The Walking Dead” – Alexander Smith, co-founder of Tower of the Hand
Why Gregor Clegane, Benjen Stark, and the other Reborns will be the ultimate victors of the game of thrones

“Gaming the Game of Thrones” – Aram Lecis, editor-in-chief of TotalPlayStation
How the Song of Ice and Fire videogames are the truest expression yet of Martin’s original vision

“The Patriarchs of Westeros” – Stefan Sasse, essayist at Tower of the Hand and co-host of the Boiled Leather Audio Hour
Examining the toll the great lords exact from their families, their smallfolk, and from progress

A Hymn for Spring goes on sale on June 19th, exclusively at Amazon, for $6.99. A print edition will follow shortly thereafter.

A Hymn for Spring – Official Cover Art – click to enter the contest to win a free copy of the book

Blue Buddha 2014 Preview (A Hymn For Spring Sample Essay And Other Good Things)

Press Release from BLUE BUDDHA: 2014 PREVIEW

Blue Buddha Press, the publishing company behind Tower of the Hand: A Flight of Sorrows and the It Is Known series, has a brand-spankin’-new, completely free ebook out today. Think of it more as an ecatalogue, actually: it contains a listing, overview, and extensive excerpt from each of its releases, including those that have yet to come out.

The can’t-miss part of all this for the diehard Song of Ice and Fire fan? The inclusion of the first, full-length sample from our upcoming Tower of the Hand: A Hymn for Spring – some eight months before the book comes out. There’s also some other little details announced about it, as well, such as who our next author is going to be (hint: A Podcast of Ice and Fire fans should be very happy).

And if all that isn’t enough for you, we have a Q&A with ASOIAF super-writer Stefan Sasse about his very first (American) ebook release, along with a pretty lengthy first-look at it. And we do the same grand introduction for the controversial Remy Verhoeve, who has Waiting for Winter: Re-reading A CLASH OF KINGS coming out in just a few short weeks (his best chance for a shot at redemption?).

These are the books that you’re going to be reading to help pass the time until The Winds of Winter is out – you might as well start getting to know them now. =)

WARNING!

Due to Amazon’s demands, we are only able to provide Blue Buddha: 2014 Preview for free for the next five days. That means you only have until Wednesday, November 6th to check out A Hymn for Spring and all the other great titles for no money whatsoever.

A Flight of Sorrows Collector’s Edition Released, Podcast Awards Nominations

A Flight of Sorrows Collector’s Edition has been released, available on CreateSpace and Amazon through our podcast store. It will not be available after November 1st, so if you would like a copy, this is the month to go for it. In relation to our podcast, it contains Mimi’s essay A Telltale Knight and Amin’s essay A Game of Beds, as well as Amin’s new essay A Feast of Vipers, Kyle’s afterword Completed Songs and Frozen Conversations, and a 2011 interview with our podcast.

Another thing only open during the month of October (until Oct 15th) is the 9th annual Podcast Awards nominations. If you would like to nominate our podcast, each person may submit one (only one) nomination form by October 15th. The podcasts with the most nominations will be added to an online voting system later this fall, so every nomination does count. If you nominate A Podcast of Ice and Fire, we suggest the People’s Choice + Entertainment categories (any podcast can be nominated for People’s Choice + one category). If you get the chance, please submit Bastards of Kingsgrave under the Cultural /Arts category in that same nomination form (website – (http://bastardsofkingsgrave.wordpress.com/).  The 9th Annual Podcast Awards Ceremony will be Held at New Media Expo in Las Vegas on Sunday Jan 5, 2014.

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Episode 120: A Flight of Sorrows Collector’s Edition

Episode 120 for the week of September 22nd,  in which Amin is joined by fellow author Alex and editor Marc N. Kleinhenz to discuss the soon to be released Collector’s Edition of A Flight of Sorrows. We discuss Alex’s essay The Prince That Illyrio Promised and Amin’s essay A Feast of Vipers. This is the first of several episodes that will be covering material in the Collector’s Edition, as the full podcast crew will be discussing Mimi’s essay The Telltale Knight and Kyle’s afterword Completed Songs and Frozen Conversations in the future.

Press Release on the Collector’s Edition (From Tower of the Hand):

Tower of the Hand: A Flight of Sorrows – Collector’s Edition comes out on October 1st (Edit – It has been released). It’s a special print edition of the best-selling ebook, released due to popular demand, that includes a whole slew of extra content. And to celebrate the occasion, we’re happy to let you all in on a little secret: the Collector’s Edition‘s complete lineup (which, we’re delighted to finally share, includes a few extra faces from the Ice and Fire community).

Here we go:

Foreword – Remy Verhoeve, author of Waiting for Dragons

Bendable Joints and Removable Body Parts

Introduction – Marc N. Kleinhenz, editor

The Princes Kept the View

A full-length, behind-the-scenes essay that provides a fly-on-the-wall recounting of the ebook’s genesis and initial designs, including its original listing of essays and lineup of authors (a number of whom never made it to the finished product). Other tidbits include the very first attempt at creating Tower of the Hand: The Bookyears before and a sneak peek of what’s in store for 2016.

“Savoring the Taste?” – Stefan Sasse, essayist at Tower of the Hand and co-host of the Boiled Leather Audio Hour

On the role of revenge in songs of ice and fire

Why is it that so many players in the game of thrones seek revenge as their number-one priority? How is it that these plans almost always deny the revenge-seeker satisfaction, even when they’re successful? And what is George R.R. Martin telling us, exactly, about the nature of vengeance?

“The Prince Is Riding” – Miles Schneiderman, essayist at Tower of the Hand

Rebutting the identity of – and the aim of the conspiracy around – Aegon Targaryen

The ebook posited that Aegon was a “mummer’s dragon” and provided many details explaining the what, who, and why of the conspiracy. The print book refutes that conspiracy and explains how Aegon really being a Targaryen not only makes perfect sense, but how it tracks with all the other developments in all the other books.

“A Feast of Vipers” – Amin Javadi, co-host of A Podcast of Ice and Fire

Ethnic diversity, personal identification, and fandom theories in Dorne

A celebration of the diversity and solidarity of Dorne, the most unique of the Seven Kingdoms. It’s also an investigation into why Dorne is proving itself to be the most controversial of the Seven Kingdoms, getting caught up in debates of ethnicity, audience identification, and the role – or lack thereof – of stereotypes.

“The King’s Justice Is Mute, Not Blind” – John Jasmin

Why trials in Westeros are not what they seem

A continuation of the legal explorations into Westerosi society, expanding upon the original essay’s theme and scope both. What is the difference between the king’s justice and the King’s Justice, and how can one differentiate between the two? More importantly, how can the king?

Afterword – Kyle Maddock, co-host of A Podcast of Ice and Fire

Completed Songs and Frozen Conversations

All in all, we’ve added roughly 18,000 words to the overall count, expanding on the ebook edition by nearly a third.

In addition, all 13 chapters of the original A Flight of Sorrows are included, in a brand-new, re-edited version. Think of this as the director’s cut of the material, polished and improved for your total reading pleasure.

Tower of the Hand: A Flight of Sorrows – Collector’s Edition goes on sale on October 1, 2013, for one month only. Find it on CreateSpace.com for $15.99.

Come November 1, the Collector’s Edition will never, ever go on sale again.

Press Release – A Flight of Sorrows: Collector’s Edition and A Hymn For Spring eBook.

Press Release from the Editor:

Tower of the Hand: A Flight of Sorrows was a big deal for us.  Never before in the Song of Ice and Fire community – or, just perhaps, in any fan community of any media property – had the leading voices from several different publications banded together to create an in-depth, thought-provoking, but nonetheless fun product, independent of any major publisher.

This last point is very important.  The publisher of the ebook, Blue Buddha Press, is essentially run out of editor Marc N. Kleinhenz’s basement.  No media consultants were consulted.  No marketing blitzes were orchestrated.  Hell, not even a dime was spent on advertising – not a single dime.  In a time when the independents aren’t independent anymore, we’re ultra-indie.

To celebrate thisunquestionable success over these past six months and to also satiate the near-constant demand from readers, we’re very happy to announce a special, print edition of the book.  Call it A Flight of Sorrows: Collector’s Edition.

What makes it so special?  Well, beyond being able to finally hold a physical copy in your sweaty little hands, we’re packing it full of additional content that, we feel, makes the second read-through worthwhile.  Even better, all this extra stuff will be exclusive to the Collector’s Edition – you’ll never see it published anywhere else, on the net or on your Kindle, for the rest of eternity.  Knight’s honor.

These extra treats include:

 

  • Brand-new, full-length essays that delve even further into the nitty-gritty details of George R.R. Martin’s spectacular world, written by several of the original authors
  • A behind-the-scenes walkthrough of A Flight of Sorrows’s genesis, production, and release, narrated by editor Marc N. Kleinhenz
  • New special guest appearances by other big names from Ice and Fire fandom, which just may include a surprise or two

What truly makes this a collector’s edition, however, is the simple fact that it’s going to have a limited run – a very, very limited run.  Tower of the Hand: A Flight of Sorrows – Collector’s Edition will be made available on October 1st, 2013, and it will be discontinued on November 1st, 2013 for the rest of time.  No go-backs or redos, no second printings or double-dippings (or would that be triple-dippings?)… although we may have a contest here and there to extend the window of availability by a day or two.

Of course, a birthday celebration – even a half-year one – is all the more fun when more people cram their way in, so we at the Tower are even happier to make one final announcement:  also due to an oft-repeated request, we’ll be coming back for a second outing at this whole ebook thing.  In order to live up to the pretty high bar we’ve already set for ourselves, we’ll be changing up our lineup of authors, cramming even more content between the digital covers, and elsewise be having the biggest nerdfest you can possibly imagine this side of Oldtown (we are particularly excited to be delving into and dissecting George’s upcoming novella, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves here).

Called Tower of the Hand: A Hymn for Spring, it’ll be released on June 19th, 2014.  Who will be in it?  Well, we don’t want to put all of our cards on the table just yet, but we can tell you that Marc N. Kleinhenz will be returning as editor, Amin Javadi of A Podcast of Ice and Fire infamy will be returning as an author, and Steven Attewell from Race for the Iron Throne will be joining us as the first of our brand-new contributors.

We’re already immensely proud of the material that is starting to shape up, and we can’t wait to share more of it with you all as the months slowly tick by…

Podcast Q&A

Ashley and Kyle have answered your questions for Youtube from the forum thread here.

 

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