[FenwickBabbitt]

“Tolkien’s world was one of nobility vs. evil. Martin’s is one of moral depravity vs. even more moral depravity.”

That’s a great point. Tolkien’s work is fundamentally based in his Catholicism and his love of traditional, heroic mythology. It is very values based. Martin’s work is replete with postmodern “ethics.” The heroes aren’t really heroic. The bad guys are disturbing and disgusting, but may have redeeming qualities. Nothing’s ennobling; it’s just a dog-eat-dog, morally twisted fantasy world.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Eomer said, 'How is a man to judge what to do in such times?'
'As he has ever judged,' said Aragorn. 'Good and evil have not changed since yesteryear, nor are they one thing among Elves and another among Men. It is a man's part to discern them, as much in the Golden Wood as in his own house.'

Moral absoluteness. Accept no substitutes.