Almost fifteen years after the release of "A Dance with Dragons," George R. R. Martin spoke again about the fate of "The Winds of Winter" - the sixth book in his multi-volume epic "A Song of Ice and Fire." During a panel at the New York Comic Con festival, the writer admitted that he has always found it difficult to meet deadlines and fulfill agreements - and therefore, like the fans, he does not enjoy the long delay.
"I know there's a lot of debate around 'The Winds of Winter' and how long I've been working on it. But I've always had trouble with deadlines. And I don't feel happy when I break contracts, miss deadlines, or anything like that."
Martin also commented on the wave of criticism that arises every time he takes on another side project - whether it's working on TV series, books, or participating in games like Elden Ring. He reminded that not every initiative requires his constant participation, and many ideas were created long before their public announcement.
"Every time this happens and I announce it on my website, half the internet goes crazy: 'What the ***** is George R. R. Martin writing something else when he should be writing The Winds of Winter? What is he even doing?' And I want to say: 'Guys, I wrote this in 1993. Seriously. The project was lying in my drawer, then someone got interested - and I sold it.'"
Speaking about this, Martin admitted that he treats his numerous projects like children - and loves them no less than "The Winds of Winter."
In December 2024, he already said that the sixth volume remains "a priority," although he admitted that skeptics may be right.
"Many are already writing my obituaries in advance and saying, 'He won't have time to finish.' Maybe. I don't know. But I'm still alive. And I seem to be quite cheerful."
Meanwhile, HBO continues to adapt Martin's manuscripts - in January 2026, the new "Game of Thrones" spin-off called "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight" will premiere, the plot of which unfolds after the events of "House of the Dragon" and about a hundred years before the start of "Game of Thrones."