It really isn’t, though - most dating systems have fiddly bits put in so the seasons ‘wobble’ relative to the year, rather than drifting off entirely, because the year is based on something else, but having the seasons hit at the about the same point during the year is a good thing for planning planting and harvests.
With seasons like the ones in ASoIaF, there’d be no point in that, so the year would simply be based on the sun’s progression through the zodiac, or the cycles of the moon, or the growing cycle of chief crops, or something of mystical significance to the culture that designed the calendar, without all the fiddly bits to align the seasons.
Tyrion was born during what was described as a particularly brutal three year winter, and the story Bran is told is about a ten year winter, so there’s definitely evidence for what you’re proposing.
I’m not a book reader but my understanding from watching the show was that the long winters were basically mini-Ice Ages, perhaps growing longer and longer after each cycle.
How large of a planet do we think this world is? Earth-sized? Bigger, smaller?
Not a book reader. But “Winter” is literally winter. During King Robert’s reign, there were various small wars encompassing much more time than was to referred to as winter. IIRC, the Targaryean reign had as many more years at war than not at war.
Winter as a season is bad, because nothing can grow. Crops die. Famine. The whole bit. Especially when winters can last years. Thats why its so dreaded.
I agree that trying to explain a fantasy world with science as we know it is somewhat reficulous, but it is too interesting an enigma not to try. All gaming worlds have physics models of some sort.
I love the idea of a variable star. Being a giant would not make the scenario impossible. It is only necessary for our world to stay far enough away from it to keep from burning out its atmosphere in summer. Also, being a variable star system with a giant star of some variety would potentially support our planet having a pronounced elliptical orbit. You would need the size to mainetain enough temperature stability at the hemisphere pointed towards it in long winters. Also a variable star system orbits itself, so due to wobble when the northern hemisphere is pointed away and the smaller star is dominant = long winter.
GRRM mentions the moon, so we assume there is only one. What if this is wrong? If there were more than one and it was larger with an elliptical orbit this could be how they tell the years. That is complete speculation though since it is not yet mentioned. If this were true though it would absolutely cause tidal and techtonic anomolies which are already used in the tale of Valeria’s demise, per the books. Insert crazy extra moon and when it is closer or farther it too can effect the seasons, but being a moon is still visible enough to determine the seasons. Certainly this is still a scenario where magic alone would keep this extremely delicate balance in place.
There us my two cents worth. Fun discussion by the way.
All the points about it not making logical sense are correct. In the world of GOT you have a scientific caste of the brightest minds that have had written language for thousands of years, and yet there is virtually zero advance in the practical sciences of any sort beyond a more or less medieval level of technology.
They have been stuck at the same technological level for hundreds to thousands of years despite a powerful engine for progress at their fingertips re the Maester class.
It’s a bizarre conceit, but the author makes the rules.
