Greyscale seems to be transmitted by close contact with those who are already infected and predominates in the cold damp climates such as Dragonstone and the Iron Islands. G reyscale - The most discussed affliction in A Song of Ice and Fire and the only one to get significant screen time of Game of Thrones, Greyscale is an amalgamation of multiple diseases. Given my background in medicine, I thought it would be fun to try and pinpoint which real world diseases Martin used as inspiration for all the pestilence in his fictional world. While the afflictions in A Song of Ice and Fire are fictional, Martin draws on real life maladies as inspiration. Swords, arrows, poison, white walkers, and dragonfire aren’t the only threat to the inhabitants of Martin’s world myriad illnesses have plagued the Seven Kingdoms over the years.
What separates George RR Martin’s fictional universe from so many others in fantasy is his consideration of all aspects of life in Westeros and Essos.
