But I haven't seen any Game of Thrones. Mostly due to not having HBO, and not taking <a href="theoatmeal.com/comics/game_of_thrones>alternative courses of action</a>.
Close to the end of it. Followed by several other scenes, which also followed it in the TV version, too.
If something happened in Season 1, it was from book 1. If something was from book 1, it either happened in season 1 or was cut. Season 2's got changes, but Season 1 was pretty much by the book, so to speak.
Also, don't have a favorite character. Quickest way for them to meet a horrible demise at some point. In book three GRRM introduces an incredibly awesome character only to have them die brutally before the book is even finished.
Unless it's Tyrion. When I got GRRM to autograph my copy of AGOT lo these many years ago, he asked me who my favorite character was. I told him "Tyrion". "He's mine, too," he answered...
Of course, Tyrion has been through some insanely brutal abuse. But he's still alive!
Can I recommend his short story "Sandkings"? Won both the Hugo and Nebula, available in these publications, and I am seriously considering picking up that ebook.
I liked his The Armageddon Rag, too, although not many people seem to have heard of it, and was fond of Fevre Dream. (Although the latter suffers slightly from the fact that, being able to read French, I always have a split-second of interpreting the title as Bean Dream.)
I actually thought Sandkings was one of the weaker stories in his Dreamsongs collection. Although my view was somewhat influenced by seeing it as the plot to an Outer Limits episode ages ago.
Having read the books first, I'm split on recommending season one or book one first.
I think I would have enjoyed the plot of the tv show more if I hadn't spoiled it with the books, but I think I'd also find it very distracting trying to follow the giant pile of characters without foreknowledge. There are just too many of them, too quickly.
Perhaps dragonfire includes a lingering corrosive property that doesn't wash off. That would cause the stones to melt over a long period and prevent the building stones from being reused. Or perhaps GRRM hasn't thought through many of the implications of his timeline. Considering that he has trouble preventing the proliferation of viewpoint characters even with how fast he kills off characters I'd pin my hat on lack of authorial thought.
Or, uh, "nobody has rebuilt Harrenhal in the last 200 years because it was an incredibly expensive white elephant and nobody wanted to pay for that. Nobody has scavenged it for parts because it's 'cursed.' And also owned by people who live in the perfectly-liveable ruins and will stab you, even if they can't afford to replace the giant towers"
Which is the explanation from the medium.
(Still doesn't excuse the 10KY histories of the Houses, but Harrenhal, at least, is reasonably covered.)
I know it isn't exactly the effect you're looking for, but the Ancient Romans burned marble and limestone all the time to create lime for cement. http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/architecture/concrete.htm
There's also some nasty stuff that happens to it at super high temperatures. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2007/08/are_ancient_ruins_flammable.html
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(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 01:21 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 01:26 am (UTC)The answer to the question is "Dragonfire".
All the dragons are dead, of course. Have been for centuries. And yet, Harrenhal is still in ruins.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 01:27 am (UTC)But I haven't seen any Game of Thrones. Mostly due to not having HBO, and not taking <a href="theoatmeal.com/comics/game_of_thrones>alternative courses of action</a>.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 01:31 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 01:34 am (UTC)And that I forgot the http://, and the closing quote, in that link to The Oatmeal.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 02:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 02:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 02:45 am (UTC)Season 2 involves a few changes from book 2.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 02:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 03:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 04:53 pm (UTC)If something happened in Season 1, it was from book 1. If something was from book 1, it either happened in season 1 or was cut. Season 2's got changes, but Season 1 was pretty much by the book, so to speak.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 04:58 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 01:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 02:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 03:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 07:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-25 01:48 am (UTC)Of course, Tyrion has been through some insanely brutal abuse. But he's still alive!
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 10:07 am (UTC)Can I recommend his short story "Sandkings"? Won both the Hugo and Nebula, available in these publications, and I am seriously considering picking up that ebook.
I liked his The Armageddon Rag, too, although not many people seem to have heard of it, and was fond of Fevre Dream. (Although the latter suffers slightly from the fact that, being able to read French, I always have a split-second of interpreting the title as Bean Dream.)
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 02:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 04:40 pm (UTC)They had a stack of old OMNI magazines.
Including (I had to grin) the one with the first publication of "Sandkings". Joy.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 07:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-25 12:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 04:41 pm (UTC)I have the magazine with the first ever publication of "Sandkings" sitting right here next to my keyboard. Own it as of fifteen minutes ago.
You want it?
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 11:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-25 01:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-25 01:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-06-10 10:00 pm (UTC)I still need to read the story, but I'm loving the style of, and ads in, a magazine that's almost as old as I am. :D
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-26 01:18 am (UTC)I think I would have enjoyed the plot of the tv show more if I hadn't spoiled it with the books, but I think I'd also find it very distracting trying to follow the giant pile of characters without foreknowledge. There are just too many of them, too quickly.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 01:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 01:50 am (UTC)That's what happened in the little known NCIS/Game of Thrones crossover.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 02:22 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 02:31 am (UTC)Which is the explanation from the medium.
(Still doesn't excuse the 10KY histories of the Houses, but Harrenhal, at least, is reasonably covered.)
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 04:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 01:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 02:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 03:20 pm (UTC)http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/architecture/concrete.htm
There's also some nasty stuff that happens to it at super high temperatures.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2007/08/are_ancient_ruins_flammable.html
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-24 05:46 pm (UTC)