Note that I don't think the story is improved with the tinfoil that it's actually in the far future with magic and structures in that world holdovers of ancient technology that gets out of hand from time to time. Probably like Dragon Riders of Pern after a few thousand years have passed. What's in ASOIAF that hints at it being future sci-fi instead of alternate Earth history.

For background, decades ago in junior high I read "Eyes of the Dragon" by Stephen King and really loved the book and lost fantasy land the story was set. Then a few years later I read the Drawing of the Three where Roland recalls meeting Thomas and Dennis on the hunt for Flagg (which was the only clue of being connected to the other King stories). Completely flipped my viewpoint of EotD briefly how it's actually a pseudo scifi setting. However, the story still works if it is just its own fantasy world.