"Don't Have To Pester Me": Game of Thrones Author Addresses 12-Year Gap Between Books

George R.R. Martin discusses the 12-year gap between A Song of Ice and Fire books. Fans eagerly await The Winds of Winter.

on Oct 26, 2023

"Don't Have To Pester Me": Game of Thrones Author Addresses 12-Year Gap Between Books | Frontlist

George R.R. Martin, the author of Game of Thrones, addresses the 12-year gap between A Song of Ice and Fire volumes, claiming readers don't need to remind him.

George R.R. Martin, the author of Game of Thrones, has addressed the 12-year gap between Books 5 and 6 of his A Song of Ice and Fire series. Since A Dance with Dragons was published in 2011, the book series that inspired the blockbuster HBO series has not received a new main installment. Martin has since been working on Book 6, titled The Winds of Winter, which has yet to be published.

Now, u/tell32 has uploaded a video of Martin and fellow author Cassandra Clare to Reddit's r/asoiaf, in which Martin acknowledges the 12-year gap between books. He stated that he is aware of The Winds of Winter delays, but there is no necessity to continually address it. See what Martin had to say about it below:

When Will the Winter Winds Blow?

The title The Winds of Winter was revealed in 2012, and it was supposed to be the first of two concluding books in A Song of Ice and Fire. Martin stated the book was 75% written ten years later, in 2022, with an estimated 400 to 500 pages left to write.While some hope that the book will correct the Game of Thrones TV conclusion, others are simply interested in seeing how the plot unfolds.

Martin has been working on the book since it was initially announced, despite the extended gap between novels in the series. However, at the current rate at which he appears to be writing, the sixth installment could be released in three or four years. This indicates that The Winds of Winter may not be available until 2026.

However, this is not the series' final book, as Martin has yet to complete A Dream of Spring, which is planned to be the same length as Book 6. While the next installment may adapt Game of Thrones stories to better match the author's literary vision, there will still be enough of story to explore when the book is finished. It may be some time before A Song of Ice and Fire is finished, with The Winds of Winter simply the beginning.