No work of Epic Fantasy is complete without beloved fire-spitting lizards! Many of creatures depicted in fantasy count their roots in popular folklore tales, legends or myths. There are Elves, Dwarves, Trolls… all sort of strange menagerie, but they, in modern day readers imagination, differ greatly from the form they had in folktales that spawned them. And main culprit is J.R.R. Tolkien and his Lord of The Rings. Same goes for dragons, after his book they are all gigantic flying fire-breading lizards.

This is one thing in which George RR Martin remained true to the tradition. In appearance his dragons are the same as the rest in Fantasy, but again Martin make sure to leave his mark, making them different in other ways.

Are Dragons smart?

One thing that appears same in folklore, and modern fantasy is that Dragons posses intellect similar or greater than humans. Martins Dragons, however, are depicted as intelligent slightly above average of any animal. No speaking, no treasure hoarding, capable only for receiving training just like any domesticated beast.

Hocus-pocus…

Another is that Dragons are related to the magic. They can use spells, enchant people with their gaze or voice… Martin takes that premise and makes one step further, dragons in his books are the source of magic itself! In world he imagined magic is all but spent, legend from ancient days… That is until Dragons are born! With their arrival magic begins to awaken, and miracles follow.

Mom, where are your wings?

Daenerys Targaryen emerges from the funeral pyre of her dead husband with three Dragons born from eggs previously thought petrified. With this scene ends first season of Game of Thrones, and the book on which HBO series is based. How would you like to have little Dragon following you around thinking you are his mother? Well that’s exactly what happened to poor Dany, now she has three little ducklings following her as mother duck. Only problem being that with each burp they can make a hole in thick wall.

Is that fair maiden tasty?

Off course one thing Martin didn't want to change about Dragons is their eating habits. Why would he? After all, consequences of eating humans are great story material. And after one of those, Dany is forced to restrain her Dragons in prison cell's. Unfortunately they are not fireproof, and escape is soon to follow…

And your point is…

No point, just a little chat about Dragons. Love to talk about them, like the way Martin presented them in his work. There is much more to say, so feel free to comment. If you would like to know more about Martin, his Dragons, and lot other cool stuff from A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy books series, check rest of my articles. If not no biggie, just wanted to talk about Dragons for a while :).