[lock-free]

That thesis necessitates a shallow reading of the material, imo.

ASoIAF isn't praised for its "realism" so much as the subversion of fantasy tropes that are a staple of grimdark fantasy. The "realism" is in the notion that knights aren't chivalrous and ladies have to fight for themselves, while the commoners suffer under their lords and medieval society is generally dysfunctional.

At the end of the day it's still fantasy with dragons and ice zombies pillaging fictional societies. There are absolutely allusions to real peoples, but something Martin does exceptionally well is the synthesis of his fictional cultures from various influences in real history to create things that are familiar enough while still being distinct.

[kiba]

From various influence? It appears that the Dothraki is based more on stereotype than any real historical influence.

Even if we judge the Dothraki by itself, they lacks verisimilitude. They are not believable as a society, fantasy or otherwise.

[dragontamer]

I always saw Daenerys Targaryen's plot to be a "cartoon", so to speak. Everything about her: from the dragons, to the royal bloodline, to the "slaves are bad Imma save everyone" plots was cartoonishly shallow. She's practically the "Dungeons and Dragons Murder Hobo Adventuring Party".

In effect, Daenerys was the "typical" fantasy plotline, happening elsewhere. Eventually, when Daenerys arrived on Westeros, where actual politics / actual history is going on (aka: more real), her fantasy methodologies just don't work out very well.

---------

But that's my reading (of the HBO series. I never actually read the books). I recognize that there are people out there who might think that the Dothraki were somehow realistic.

[pmoriarty]

"I recognize that there are people out there who might think that the Dothraki were somehow realistic."

Those people apparently include George R.R. Martin himself.

[funnybeam]

The books are the same. Every time the focus switches to Daenerys the quality plummets.

If I were to re read them I’d be strongly tempted to skip all the non-Westeros chapters

[watwut]

> her fantasy methodologies just don't work out very well.

I don't think that happened in the show. Like, she did not even tried her previous methodologies. When she came to westeros, writers had no idea what to do and lost the plot.

[dragonwriter]

> From various influence? It appears that the Dothraki is based more on stereotype than any real historical influence.

Dothraki are influenced by a number of different real, historical stereotypes of different steppe dwelling cultures known for their mounted-but-not-heavily-armored warriors.

[orthoxerox]

> medieval society is generally dysfunctional

How can something that survived for 1000 years while constantly evolving and adapting to changing circumstances be disfunctional?

[oblio]

Dysfunctional for commoners.