In a recent interview Game of Thrones creator GRRM considers the possibility he might not finish The Winds of Winter. This interview has been widely discussed by book fans since it released. Mainly because it’s the first time GRRM (George R. R. Martin) has publicly considered that he may not finish the books. Normally Martin in interviews laments how late the book is, but is bullish about getting to the finish line.
Fans are therefore worried that at 76, Martin is finally ‘coming to terms’ with the fact he may never complete the main story of A Song of Ice and Fire. Martin also took the chance again to bemoan TV adaptations. As you’ll recall Martin deleted an extremely critical post of changes made to his stories in House of the Dragon Season 2. Speaking with THR GRRM said;
“Maybe I’m one of the few people in Hollywood who still thinks that when you adapt a work of art, a novel, a short story, you should do a faithful adaptation,” he says. “[It] annoys me too much because they change things and I don’t think they generally improve them.”
However, GRRM also had some words about his progress on The Winds of Winter.
“Unfortunately, I am 13 years late,” he says. “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. But that’s still a priority. 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!” He adds that he could never retire — he’s “not a golfer.”
RELATED: GRRM Posts His House Of The Dragon Critique – Then Deletes It – Here It Is
Just three small words, “maybe they’re right” . However, Martin’s fans have been pouring over his words, anticipating this book for 13 years. It’s the fan base who know the author best that are worried about what this could mean. Many had hoped that Winds could be arriving sooner rather than later. However, I think many fans are now simply accepting that this is never going to get finished. Probably due to a combination of several factors.
One, Martin got rich and the universe became a sensation before it was finished. Therefore he really doesn’t need the money. Secondly, falling behind the TV show and allowing it to complete the story using ideas he had. Many fans feel this removed any desire Martin had to get to these parts he had already come up with. Lastly fans are convinced that the last two books were evidence enough that Martin’s gardener style had written him into a corner where it seems impossible to have every story come back together in only two more books.
I’m sure Martin will keep trying. Though, how much time is he really giving up to writing the books these days? Martin is heavily involved in many other projects to greater or lesser degrees. Therefore, this small little line has taken many fans into the acceptance stage of grieving. Accepting that all their theories and mysteries will simply never be answered. It’s sad, but such is life, if it happens, it happens, and it will surprise everyone. If not, then a think fans accept it’ll be an unfinished series of books.
What do you think as GRRM considers the possibility he might not finish The Winds of Winter? Thoughts below as always.
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