Audiobooking: Dunk and Egg, by GRRM
Suikoden V's recruitment grind segment has ended (I hope) and I am about to embark on the Queen's campaign. I spent the hours leveling up certain characters so I could get other character listening to GRRM's Dunk and Egg stories. I used my audible credits to purchase the anthologies they were scattered in. The narrators vary, and I found the performances uneven, but I was there for my ASoIaF fix, so it's all good.
D&E takes place around 89 years before AGoT, so no one from the series is alive yet except for Aemon (who is already on the path to Night Watch Maester), the Late Walder Frey (a toddler), and possibly Old Nan. The Targs are still in power, although the dragons are dead. D&E focuses on the knight Duncan and his squire, Egg. In the first story, Duncan's actions set off a chain of events that will alter Westeros's history.
Those who recall the historical background of ASoIaF know what happens, but in case you haven't been paying attention to Branflakes's history lessons, here there be spoilers.
Egg has been mentioned multiple times in the main series - he grows up to become Aegon the Unlikely, King of Westeros, direct ancestor of Danaerys. Dunk the Lunk becomes Sir Duncan the Tall, Lord Commander of Aegon's Kingsguard. They ultimately perish attempting to hatch a dragon's egg at Summerhall, but the details are unknown. The Crown Prince dies there, too, shifting the succession, which eventually results in Aerys the Mad on the Iron Throne. Of course, in D&E, neither of the characters are aware of their fates. Egg is nowhere near the thone, so he is permitted to wander Westeros incognito with Dunk.
Dunk reminds me of Brienne - overly tall and awkward, low self-esteem, extremely honorable. A true knight in spirit, if not technically a knight. Like the Hound, he is aware that most knights are little more than murderous scum, and that disappoints him. He is also aware that the Targs are a grab-bag when it comes to stability, and that the little people get stomped on when dragons are moody.
I like the foreshadowing and references so far. One character dreams of Dunk being responsible for the death of a dragon, and that comes to pass in more ways than one. Many unlikely events occur, each nudging Egg closer to his throne. Brynden BloodRaven Rivers, Bran's three-eyed crow, makes an appearance as the intimidating Hand of the King. How many eyes does Bloodraven have? A thousand and one. The two Blackfyre Rebellions are explained, along with the people's divided loyalties, and even the torn loyalties among Targs. I should probably re-read parts of ADwD - Bran's storyline, as well as Quentin's and Faegon's, might make more sense. While reading ADwD there were times when I wondered if I was supposed to know who the hell certain people were. Apparently I was. Somehow.
There are dragon's eggs. Are they Dany's? I am not sure. There is even a Frey Wedding, in which stuff happens, but thankfully not a bloodbath.
I look forward to the next installment, although Winds of Winter first, please!
D&E takes place around 89 years before AGoT, so no one from the series is alive yet except for Aemon (who is already on the path to Night Watch Maester), the Late Walder Frey (a toddler), and possibly Old Nan. The Targs are still in power, although the dragons are dead. D&E focuses on the knight Duncan and his squire, Egg. In the first story, Duncan's actions set off a chain of events that will alter Westeros's history.
Those who recall the historical background of ASoIaF know what happens, but in case you haven't been paying attention to Branflakes's history lessons, here there be spoilers.
Egg has been mentioned multiple times in the main series - he grows up to become Aegon the Unlikely, King of Westeros, direct ancestor of Danaerys. Dunk the Lunk becomes Sir Duncan the Tall, Lord Commander of Aegon's Kingsguard. They ultimately perish attempting to hatch a dragon's egg at Summerhall, but the details are unknown. The Crown Prince dies there, too, shifting the succession, which eventually results in Aerys the Mad on the Iron Throne. Of course, in D&E, neither of the characters are aware of their fates. Egg is nowhere near the thone, so he is permitted to wander Westeros incognito with Dunk.
Dunk reminds me of Brienne - overly tall and awkward, low self-esteem, extremely honorable. A true knight in spirit, if not technically a knight. Like the Hound, he is aware that most knights are little more than murderous scum, and that disappoints him. He is also aware that the Targs are a grab-bag when it comes to stability, and that the little people get stomped on when dragons are moody.
I like the foreshadowing and references so far. One character dreams of Dunk being responsible for the death of a dragon, and that comes to pass in more ways than one. Many unlikely events occur, each nudging Egg closer to his throne. Brynden BloodRaven Rivers, Bran's three-eyed crow, makes an appearance as the intimidating Hand of the King. How many eyes does Bloodraven have? A thousand and one. The two Blackfyre Rebellions are explained, along with the people's divided loyalties, and even the torn loyalties among Targs. I should probably re-read parts of ADwD - Bran's storyline, as well as Quentin's and Faegon's, might make more sense. While reading ADwD there were times when I wondered if I was supposed to know who the hell certain people were. Apparently I was. Somehow.
There are dragon's eggs. Are they Dany's? I am not sure. There is even a Frey Wedding, in which stuff happens, but thankfully not a bloodbath.
I look forward to the next installment, although Winds of Winter first, please!