Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has revealed that progress on The Winds of Winter, the long-awaited instalment in his A Song of Ice and Fire series, has stalled as his television commitments have consumed much of his time. The book, now a decade overdue, continues to be delayed as Martin juggles numerous projects.
In a candid blog post, Martin opened up about the challenges he’s faced this year, mentioning the toll of personal loss and professional pressures. “The first half of my year was pretty miserable,” Martin shared, following the unexpected death of a close friend.
He also revealed that writing had been difficult: “Though I did produce some new pages on both The Winds of Winter and Blood & Fire (the sequel to Fire & Blood), I would have liked to turn out a lot more.”
Martin noted that his various television projects, including Dark Winds and The Hedge Knight, consumed most of his time, adding that while some aspects were enjoyable, others were more taxing.
He expressed frustration at the increasing stress, sleepless nights, and worsening mood: “My mood seemed to swing between fury and despair.”
Although the exact TV projects aren’t fully clear, Martin has been vocal about his frustration with the House of the Dragon series, which may have contributed to the delays. Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire will be disappointed by the lack of substantial progress on The Winds of Winter, particularly after a similar update in 2023, when Martin mentioned the manuscript stood at approximately 1,100 pages—a figure unchanged from the previous year.
The Winds of Winter was originally expected to be published in 2014, three years after A Dance With Dragons. Now 10 years overdue, some fans are beginning to doubt whether the book will ever see the light of day.
However, Martin did offer a hint about the book’s content in July 2024, teasing that it will explore the relationship between dragons and humans, particularly how the Targaryens’ bond with dragons is unique.
As fans continue to await the next instalment, Martin’s focus on television projects leaves the future of the A Song of Ice and Fire series uncertain.
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