Dying Of The Light - Tumblr Posts

"What fools we were, who thought ourselves so wise!" 

GRRM's very first novel Dying of the Light features a bookworm character named Jaan Vikary conspicuously resembling Prince Rhaegar, who did his deep history research and figured an ancient hero that's supposed to be at the root of his culture was a woman, and a lot of people getting so angry over this revelation they kept dueling him over it.

"No one ever looked for a girl..."

"And you think the planet was High Kavalaan?" Dirk asked. "It is known for a fact," Vikary replied. "The coordinates match, and other fascinating pieces of data as well. The colony was named Cavanaugh, for example. Perhaps even more intriguing, the leader of the first expedition was a starship captain named Kay Smith. A woman." Gwen smiled at that.

"Our reasons for being here go beyond that, however. It was vital that I leave High Kavalaan at the time I did. When I took on my highnames and published my theories, I became at once very powerful and celebrated in highbond council, and very hated. Many religious men took personal insult from my contention that Kay Iron-Smith was a woman. I was challenged six times on that account alone. In the last duel, Garse killed a man, while I wounded his teyn so badly that he will never walk again. I was not willing to let this go on."

You know, it might just be me, but I kinda how that the reason Drift and Ratchet showed up in Dying of the Light is because Riptide told him the Rod squad would be there. Probably just to go pick them up or something.

Riptide is/was friends with Drift and it would explain him and Ratchet knowing to go there then....just saying.