Many works of speculative fiction — be it fantasy, sci-fi or horror — explore issues that are prevalent in the real world. Identity, growth, prejudice, misogyny, repression, environmentalism and technology have all been heavily explored. But the one particular topic that I’m looking at today, one that grows more relevant every day, is how these stories explore weapons of mass destruction. The two stories in particular that I am looking at are Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive and George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire.
The Stormlight Archive
In the world of Roshar, created by Brandon Sanderson, ultimate power belongs to the Shardbearers. They use ancient weapons left behind by the mysterious Knights Radiant. Shardblades are massive swords that can cut through almost anything without resistance. Shardplates are suits of plate armor that can block Shardblades and grant superhuman strength to those that wear them. A single Shardbearer is an unmatched force on the battlefield, equal to hundreds of soldiers by themselves. It is almost impossible for them to be killed except for by another Shardbearer.
There are only a handful of these Shards on Roshar, and few know how they were created. As a result, Shards are viciously fought over by the nations of Roshar. The strength of an army is measured, not only by the number of men, but by the number of Shardbearers.
Another consequence of Shards is linked to the Rosharan social structure. The ruling class or lighteyes are distinguished by an eye color that is lighter than the lower class or darkeyes. If a darkeyes were to possess a set of Shards, it would turn their eyes light and they too would become a member of the ruling class.
Sanderson explores how weapons of mass destruction can be sources of both power and prestige. He shows how ruthless people can get in pursuit of such power. He shows the trauma that such weapons bring, and the pain of those who have lost friends and loved ones to rampaging Shardbearers on the battlefield.
A Song of Ice and Fire
The true nature of dragons, in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series remains unknown. What we do know is that they were used as weapons of war by the dragonlords of Valyria in a brutal conquest of the continent of Essos. Aegon Targaryen I only required three to subjugate six kingdoms of Westeros and unify almost the entire continent.
The use of dragons as weapons is vividly depicted in the books. Stories are told of the Field of Fire, where two kings and fifty thousand soldiers were burnt alive, and of Harrenhal, the greatest castle in the world, whose inhabitants were roasted to death by dragonfire.
Martin has always focused on how war affects the common people. The War of Five Kings had disastrous effects on the riverlands and the people who lived there, which he deeply explored through the POVs of Arya and Brienne. But even that was nothing compared to the most destructive war in Westerosi history, the Dance of the Dragons.
This war saw the use of Targaryen children as weapons. Since only Targaryens could control dragons, the more children each side had, the more potential dragons they controlled. The use of ‘dragonseeds’ hitherto unclaimed bastards of Targaryen descent, which was in conflict with Westerosi sensibilities, shows this approach.
The second Targaryen civil war saw the use of dragons as weapons on a scale never before seen in Westeros. How much more death, how much more destruction must have then occurred? House of the Dragon has shown some, but we can only guess at the full extent of the loss of life.
Conclusion
Fiction does not exist in a vacuum — it reflects and explores the problems of reality. Superman was created during the Great Depression. James Bond was created during the Cold War. Godzilla was created during the Castle Bravo nuclear tests. Since 1945, dozens of stories have explored how the nuclear bomb has affected our world. Humanity has the power to destroy itself at the push of a button. Stories like these help keep us focused on the bigger picture, and help us understand the consequences of pushing that button.
Brilliant analysis. I loved the conclusion