For 15 long years, fans have been eagerly awaiting The Winds of Winter, the next installment in George R.R. Martin’s epic A Song of Ice and Fire saga. Now, the renowned Game of Thrones creator wants everyone to know he’s just as unhappy about the constant delays as they are.
Speaking candidly to fans at New York Comic Con, Martin reflected on the persistent postponements of the sixth book. He admitted that failing to meet deadlines has always been a source of significant frustration for him.
“I know there’s all this controversy about Winds of Winter and how late it is, but I’ve always had trouble with deadlines,” Martin explained, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. “And I don’t feel happy breaching contracts or missing a deadline or anything like that.”
Martin also addressed the common criticism that he takes on numerous other projects instead of solely focusing on finishing The Winds of Winter. He stood by his right to explore other creative interests.
In the decade and a half since he completed A Dance with Dragons, Martin has certainly been prolific. His works include the Game of Thrones spin-off book Fire & Blood, the Rogue Prince & The Princess novella trilogy, and several companion books such as The World of Ice & Fire and The Rise of the Dragon. He’s also actively contributed to and edited new volumes of the sci-fi superhero anthology Wild Cards.
Beyond the literary world, Martin famously helped craft the intricate lore for the immensely popular video game Elden Ring. Many of his other stories have also been adapted into successful TV series and films, such as HBO’s hit show House of the Dragon, the horror series Nightflyers, and the fantasy film In the Lost Lands.
However, Martin clarifies that the commissioning of these film and TV projects doesn’t necessarily mean he’s actively working on them. He understands the fan uproar whenever a new project is announced, leading to concerns that he’s neglecting the final two volumes of A Song of Ice and Fire.
“Every time that happens, and I announce it on my website, half the internet goes crazy,” Martin said. “‘Why the f*** is George R.R. Martin writing this other thing when he should be writing Winds of Winter? What is he doing?’ And I want to say, ‘I did it in 1993, guys. Come on! It was lying in my drawer, and they wanted it, so I sold it to them!'”
Despite this, he is dedicating time to certain ongoing endeavors, including the Wild Cards series and serving as an executive producer for the AMC drama series Dark Winds. This past summer, it was revealed that Martin also joined the production of an upcoming animated Hercules movie. When questioned about this, Martin affectionately compared his various projects to children, stating he loves them all equally.
“Yes, I do love Winds of Winter,” Martin affirmed. “I’m still interested in it, I’m still working on it, but honestly, I love these other things, too.”
In December 2024, Martin reiterated that Winds of Winter remains “still a priority,” even as he acknowledged the possibility that the saga might never be fully completed. “A lot of people are already writing obituaries for me. [They’re saying] ‘Oh, he’ll never be finished.’ Maybe they’re right. I don’t know. I’m alive right now! I seem pretty vital!”