"A Song of Ice and Fire" -- are these books any good?

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

I really don't think you guys are getting me? I'm going to read the book (hope I can finish it before it has to go back to the Library) but there's no need for the harsh language, is all I'm saying.
If he worded the sentence: I'd let his whole khalasar (have or take) you if need be, sweet sister... It would have made the same point with the harsh language and not limited he audiance. I'll read it, but others won't and they won't let their kids either, I hope.
Plus I find that using that world took the book from a fantasy setting to somewhere, which I don't want. It's escape'ism and to think that that word excists in the fantasy word makes it unbelievable.
Even if he had made up his own word for it would have been better, but still understood, like Terry Brooks uses "shades" instead of... well use your imagination.

[Luvian]

I see your point, but by just replacing that word in your above post, it seem to me the character lost most of his attitude. It certainly changed the tone of his dialog.

[Davros]

Originally posted by Luvian: I see your point, but by just replacing that word in your above post, it seem to me the character lost most of his attitude. It certainly changed the tone of his dialog.

Ditto - there is no need to neuter the dialogue.

[Thoran]

Variol I think the change you suggested would work on the surface, but it would change the character.

With your version I envision a casually cruel Noble leaning back in his big overstuffed chair, scented kerchief to nose and saying your line in an effeminate voice. Vulgarity requires too much effort, he's too disinterested to actually care what his victim is thinking.

Viserys is DEFINITELY not that character... he's egocentric, manic, very vulgar... and purposely cruel. He doesn't say things with detached superiority, he says them with active intent to cow, control, feed his ego, sow fear... and more. He's the type that leans foward so he can smell the fear, eye's alight and unstable. Casually cruel he is not, he enjoys it too much.

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

See, to me, that word only exists in the real world. Then you put it into a fantasy book, it's no longer a fantasy place I can believe in. It's just another story. I would come to the defense of an author that I like too but, do you sort of know what I mean?

[Thoran]

Yup I see your point, and no doubt slang has changed over the years, making todays obscene words different from those even a hundred years ago. I think of it this way... all authors make accomodations to the audience they're writing for. Most fantasy is based around the middle ages... but we don't expect to have to learn old english before we can read them. If the character is vulgar and would have sworn in a given situation... then I don't have a problem with using a modern approximation to the word the character would have used (in whatever language he/she speaks). Of course that makes the book at least PG-13 (R in the case of Martin) to me, and I treat it as adult materials.

[Luvian]

Originally posted by Variol (Farseer) Elmwood: See, to me, that word only exists in the real world. Then you put it into a fantasy book, it's no longer a fantasy place I can believe in. It's just another story. I would come to the defense of an author that I like too but, do you sort of know what I mean?

In french, fantasy is not a term we use to refer to books. Medieval, magic supernatural are classified as Science Fiction.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Imo, it's GRRM's world, and if he wishes to use such language as "normal" in the world - why shouldn't he? Just because its "modern slang" in ours, it doesn't mean that the same words and meanings never developed in his. *shrugs*