George R.R. Martin Will Either Finish ‘The Winds of Winter’ or Die Trying

January 17, 2026 by Cnznews

The George R.R. Martin profile in yesterday’s Hollywood Reporter is full of fun tidbits about the author, including his enthusiasm for a knight of the seven kingdomsHis thoughts on whether or not Jon Snow exists game of Thrones A drop of tea about whether the sequel series will ever be made—and its quirks dragon house Showrunner Ryan Condal. But whenever Martin sat down for questions, the inevitable topic would always arise: what’s the latest. The Winds of Winter?

first things first. Martin is still smarting from the fan who asked him at last year’s WorldCon if he would allow another writer to complete the long-awaited next work. a song of ice and fire book, given Martin’s advancing age (he is 77). It was insulting in August, and still is: “I really didn’t need that shit. Nobody needs that shit.”

However, it’s clear that Martin shares his fans’ awareness of the cruel pace of time. He told THR that he has 1,100 pages — yes, the same number he quoted in 2022 and 2023, though it looks like the content of those pages has changed somewhat.

“I’ll open the last chapter I was working on and I’ll say, ‘Oh crap, this isn’t very good.’ And I’ll go in and rewrite it. Or I’ll decide, ‘This Tyrion chapter isn’t coming along, let me write the Jon Snow chapter.’ “But if I’m not stopped, whatever happens — at least in the past — sooner or later I get involved,” he told THR.

Even without any interruptions, it is running slow. During the pandemic, Martin retreated to an isolated cabin for some focused writing time; Although he told THR that it resulted in a lot of new material, it also opened the door to second-guessing. “I wrote a Tyrion chapter that I loved. Then I looked at it and said: ‘I can’t do that, it would change the whole book. I’d make it a series of dreams. No! That doesn’t even work…'”

But he is still very determined. to give up The Winds of Winter There is no option. “It would feel like a complete failure to me. I.” want To finish,” he said.

However, the Worldcon fan’s question also re-entered the interview here. Martin is not going to hire another writer to finish the book. that will not happen.

But what if Martin dies – or becomes incapacitated in some way – before completing the story? Well, then, “My work will not be finished,” he said, and offered Charles Dickens’s unfinished last novel as a point of comparison: “It will be as if The Mystery of Edwin Drood.”

Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that! And while you wait (and wait) for the next winter winds update, check a knight of the seven kingdoms-Premiering January 18 on HBO and HBO Max.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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