'Winds of Winter' Release Date Latest News: Martin Tight-Lipped on Book Completion But 2015 Release Expected
Renowned author George R.R. Martin has remained tight-lipped on when he expects to finish "The Winds of Winter," the highly anticipated sixth novel in the epic fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire," which is considered as the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age.
Last interviewed earlier this year, Martin was asked by Rolling Stone when he expects to finish writing the book. His reply: "I have reached a point where I have to stop thinking about things like that, because it's just too daunting."
"I write one chapter at a time, one scene at a time, one sentence at a time, and don't worry about the rest. Step by step, sooner or later, the journey will get me there," he added.
Even Martin's own website (http://www.georgerrmartin.com) offers little clue on when "The Winds of Winter" will come out.
In his last post there dated Jan. 8, 2013, Martin acknowledged the public clamor for the book. He said he had "a lot more writing to do on 'Winds,' and half a dozen other projects."
As a "belated Christmas/ New Year's gift" to his fans, Martin included a new sample chapter from the "Winds of Winter" and posted a picture of one of the characters there, Arianne Martell, the Princess of Dorne (see photo above).
Later in April 2013, Martin confirmed that about a quarter of the book was complete (about 375 manuscript pages) with additional material in drafts and partial chapters also done. He said he was writing fast to stay ahead of HBO's "Game of Thrones," one of the most popular epic fantasy series of all time whose materials come from his books.
Martin can stay ahead of the HBO series if "The Winds of Winter" is released in 2015, followed by "A Dream of Spring," the final book of the seven-part saga, in 2018.
In the Rolling Stone interview, Martin claimed that the fans' "intense" interest in the book is causing him to slow down in his writing. "Fans are too eager to wait, so they come up with their own speculations and theories about what's going to happen next, both in the book and in the TV adaptation of the series...It's a terrific feeling, knowing you have not only a lot of readers or viewers, but that they're so intense, and bringing so much thought and interest to bear," Martin said.
"But maybe that's part of what's slowing me down – the knowledge that so many people are looking at every line, and waiting on every turn and scene," he added.
"A Dance with Dragons," the fifth book of the seven-part "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga, was said to have covered less story than Martin intended. At least one planned large battle sequence was omitted and several character threads were left hanging.
Martin said he intends to resolve these storylines "very early" in "The Winds of Winter," saying that the book will open "with the two big battles that I was building up to, the battle in the ice and the battle at Meereen—the battle of Slaver's Bay. And then take it from there."
He also revealed that a Victarion Greyjoy chapter will begin after the end of "A Dance with Dragons," describing the events on the eve of the Iron Islanders' surprise attack on the cities in Slaver's Bay.
The Arianne Martell sample chapter that Martin released on his website showed her heading for Griffin's Roost to see the young boy who calls himself Aegon.
Martin said the final two novels will take readers farther north than any of his previous books. He likewise disclosed that the Others will appear in the book.
For the meantime, fans of the series can look forward to the "The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones," which will be released on Oct. 28.
They can then immerse themselves in a comprehensive history of the Seven Kingdoms, including the Dawn Age, the Coming of the First Men, and the establishment of the Iron Throne, among other events in the vast and intriguing landscape of the world of the Game of Thrones. It is now available for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart.