This Wheel of Time detail proves that there is a better Song of Ice and Fire replacement than it seems

The Wheel of Time is not commonly considered for its similarities to A Song of Ice and FireBut there are much more than one would expect. Fans of George RR Martin’s ASOIF Book series have been Waiting over a decade for The winds of winterAnd many have turned their heads to other fantasy series as a “replacement.” In the meantime, spread them. Joe Abercrombie is generally a go-to author for fans of moral ambiguity and darker aspects of Game of ThronesBut there is much more to Martin’s creation than just the sex, violence, and political intrigue.

Robert Jordan The Wheel of Time series predates A Song of Ice and Fire By about six years, and the fourteen-book saga was completed in 2012. The The most common comparison for Jordan’s work is probably JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the RingsEspecially about The eye of the worldWhere a bunch of small-town boys are plucked out of their lives by a magic user to go fight an evil dark lord. But there’s a lot more going on in Jordan’s world than just the battle between good and evil, just as Martin’s saga isn’t as grimdark as it’s often credited for.

The Wheel of Time’s “Game of Houses” political story makes it a great Asoiaf replacement

The Wheel of Time offers similar political intrigue to ASOIAF

It doesn’t take long The Wheel of Time To realize this epic fantasy series is more than just a simple quest to defeat evil. The world of Jordan is beautifully constructed with a wide range of civilizations and cultures, with multi-faceted political situations standing in the way of a clear-cut battle against evil. In this sense, it is quite similar to A Song of Ice and Fire. “Daes Dae’mar” is a common phrase in The Wheel of Timewhich refers to the “big game” or the “game of houses,” Referring to the political conflict between major noble houses in Jordan’s world.

That detail alone makes the comparison hard to ignore. While The Lord of the Rings Undoubtedly explores the nature of humanity in response to the powers of Sauron and the One Ring, there is much less conflict of interest between the noble families of Gondor and Rohan. The Wheel of Time And A Song of Ice and Fire Show worlds where the corruption and conflicts of nobles are actively detrimental To humanity’s chances against rising evil. Much like how Tyrion “plays the game” in ASOIFletters in Two Treat navigating the political world as a coping skill.

The Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire have much more in common than it seems

Prophecy plays a similar role in combating evil in both worlds

Mostly due to the representation of A Song of Ice and Fire In pop culture of Game of ThronesMartin’s books have a reputation for being directly antithetical to Tolkien in examining fantasy from a lens closer to historical fiction. But this is not entirely true. Martin’s books are full of magic and prophecyAnd although these elements are not as widely distributed as they are in The Wheel of TimeThey are still equally important to the overarching narrative. Both books see an ancient, magical evil being awakened, and magic must return in some form to defeat it.

just like that The Wheel of Time Examine many characters who are morally ambiguous, and prophecy is not so clear in the world. Sure, readers will find out why the dragon is reborn pretty quickly, but there are significant X factors in the Karaethon cycle that continue the mystery, similar to how Martin keeps audiences guessing with the Prince who was promised prophecy. Fans of either series who haven’t explored the other definitely need to check them out, as both are among the most detailed and sophisticated works of fantasy ever written.

How Robert Jordan influenced A Song of Ice and Fire’s success

Martin credits The Wheel of Time for making ASOIAF possible

Although George RR Martin did not directly talk about The Wheel of Time As he did about Tolkien and his influences of The Lord of the RingsHe credited the series’ success as a huge contributor to his own. Two Predates A Song of Ice and FireBut both found their footing in the 1990s, laying the groundwork for the fantasy genre in the 21st century. on his BlogFollowing Robert Jordan’s passing in 2007, Martin had this to say:

“My own ICE & FIRE series could never have found its audience without the cover quote that [Jordan] Was so good at delivering, back when Game of Thrones first came out. I will always be grateful to him for that.”

Both authors are absolutely critical to the modern fantasy landscape. Although Martin is often seen in pop culture as more influential due to the mass appeal of his television adaptations, Game of Thrones May not exist without The Wheel of Time. Robert Jordan changed the game for fantasy, pushing the genre closer to what contemporary audiences are more familiar with, allowing George RR Martin to break ground even further.