13 Ways The World Has Changed Since The Last Game Of Thrones Book Came Out

As the Master Torturer George R. R. Martin says no new book in 2015, we should look at how the world that read A Dance With Dragons is very different from the world that hopes one day to read his new books. Someday...

1. The Pope Quit!

ABC News / Via a.abcnews.com

The Pope quit, but this story had none of the intrigue of George R. R. Martin's beloved saga. The Vatican should learn from Westeros, they knew how to get rid of inconvenient leaders.

2. Siri

Picasa / Via http://rack.1.mshcdn.com

We can talk to our phones now! Sadly, not even they can tell us what happens to Jon Snow.

3. The European Crisis

CNN / Via i2.cdn.turner.com

Half of the countries in Europe were pretty much living like the Lannisters; owing money to everyone. Unfortunately, there was no bank of Braavos to bail them out.

4. South Sudan

The Guardian / Via static.guim.co.uk

The world has had enough turmoil to give us a new country, but it's still too much for George R. R. Martin to tell us what Tyrion is up to?!

5. The Royal Wedding

Photograph: Tom Jenkins Tom Jenkins / Via static.guim.co.uk

Isn't it funny that we got to see a Royal wedding before we knew the much more interesting intrigues of the royal families of Westeros!?

6. The London Olympics

The Telegraph / Via i.telegraph.co.uk

These were cool, but there wasn't even one head-squishing, which makes them pale in comparison to the jousts in George R. R. Martin's books.

7. The iPad Mini

Apple / Via store.storeimages.cdn-apple.com

A more convenient way to access media! Like the books in George R. R. Martin's saga A Song of Ice and Fire except there are no new books!

8. The McConaissance

Paramount Pictures / Via newyorker.com

Alright, alright, alright. Matthew McConaughey soared to the top and is there to stay. He's our world's Lannister, and we love him for that.

9. Obama's Reelection

Twitter / Via images.latinospost.com

Barack Obama got four more years. That's much more than most leaders and kings on George R. R. Martin's books.

10. The Mars Curiosity Rover

NASA / Via en.wikipedia.org

He's like a real-world R2-D2. And he tweets! At least we're getting news of ONE lovable character in another world. Right, George R. R. Martin!?

11. Snapchat

USA Today / Via gannett-cdn.com

We can now communicate faster! If only the wait for the new book only lasted 6 seconds...

12. The Dark Knight Rises

Warner Brothers Pictures / Via maxcdn.dardarkom.com

Don't you get it, Mr. Martin. We have no more Batman! We need more stories of our beloved heroes.

13. The World Cup in Brazil

The Telegraph / Via i.telegraph.co.uk

This was pretty great, but it only lasted for a month!

14. We discovered the Higgs Boson

The Guardian / Via static.guim.co.uk

We now know more about what the Universe is made of than ever, but we still know the same about Daenerys Targaryen...

15. The Red Wedding

HBO / Via media.zenfs.com

This was the worst...