The fate of George R.R. Martin's (GRRM) book The Winds of Winter, one that fans have been awaiting, remains unknown. Fans are now practically heartbroken as we have Martin here, saying he may not complete the sixth book in his A Song of Ice and Fire series.
In a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on December 5, 2024, Martin discussed the delays, saying,
“Unfortunately, I am 13 years late. Every time I say that, I’m [like], ‘How could I be 13 years late?’ I don’t know, it happens a day at a time.”
Some fans still believe, but others have lost hope thinking that the series may never be completed. Although GRRM says that writing is important to him, his concentration on other projects, like adapting his late friend Howard Waldrop's works, has led people to lose hope.
Let's go into Martin's creative process, delays, and what fans can expect.
GRRM’s journey with The Winds of Winter
GRRM began writing The Winds of Winter after finishing A Dance with Dragons in 2011. Initially, he thought it would be published in 2016, but he encountered some creative challenges and personal projects that slowed him down.
He told The Hollywood Reporter that it has been hard to manage his love for short films and his work on TWoW. One of the major impediments has been Martin's commitment to creative truthfulness.
He pointed out how careful he is with his writing:
“I’m one of the few people in Hollywood who still thinks that when you adapt a work of art, you should do a faithful adaptation.”
But with time, fans are more irritated than excited.
Redditor @Kimmalah noted Martin's tiredness during an interview:
“When they got to the fan-submitted questions, of course, someone asked about TWoW. You could just see the pure exasperation on George’s face.”
Amid growing impatience, Martin reaffirmed his dedication to the series, asserting,
“I’m alive right now! I seem pretty vital.”
On Reddit, fans expressed mixed reactions.
User @CommodoreKD clarified, “Winds of Winter is not the final book.”
This was while @BlacksmithNo9359 joked,
“‘Old man meditates on age and death,’ YEAH BUT WHAT ABOUT MY DRAGON BOOK.”
Hence, fans continue to wonder whether TWoW is ever going to see the light of day.
Balancing legacy projects and Game of Thrones
Martin has dedicated a lot of time and effort to honoring his late friend Howard Waldrop by turning several of Waldrop's short stories into movies. In a surprising twist, Martin paid for these projects himself, defying Hollywood's “cardinal rule.”
“God damn it, I’m gonna use my own money,” he declared.
These adaptations, such as The Ugly Chickens, received the support of critics, even culminating in Oscar nominations. But many fans ask Martin what he prioritizes with such projects.
On Reddit, user @memedoka expressed sadness,
“Very sad to have a thoughtful interview about grieving the death of your friend boiled down to the same TWoW doom posting that’s been around for years.”
GRRM believes these movies will be a good way to spread Waldrop's work to more readers. Hopefully, the various adaptations will live up to his friend's legacy and introduce new readers to his stories.
What can fans expect from GRRM next?
Though The Winds of Winter is not yet complete, GRRM's focus on authenticity seems to promise that the eventual release will be according to his high standards. Still, fans are also speculating about the planned seventh book, A Dream of Spring, raising questions about its feasibility.
Redditor @__tolga humorously remarked,
“He WILL finish A Dream of Spring. He will NOT finish Winds of Winter.”
Though it's funny, it reflects an even bigger concern: that if TWoW doesn't get done, then the whole series might not get finished.
Right now, fans have to deal with GRRM's changing focus. His storytelling, be it in his movies, current books, or future projects, continues to make such a strong mark on the fantasy genre.
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Game of Thrones is available to stream on Max.
Fans can also explore GRRM’s existing works, including Fire & Blood, for more insights into Westeros.
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