'Game of Thrones' News and Updates: George R.R. Martin Still Not Done with 'The Winds of Winter'
The internet is dark and full of rumors, as "Game of Thrones" fans have come to figure out by now. They were hoping that "The Winds of Winter" could miraculously make it out before the last two seasons of the hit HBO series aired. But those hopes were quickly dashed as George R.R. Martin's US publishers moved to dispel rumors that the latest installment in "A Song of Ice and Fire" series will be out by March 9, 2017 as previously posted in Amazon France.
The reason why "The Winds of Winter" is highly anticipated is because the HBO series has finally outrun its source material and will soon sail into uncharted territory. As such, fans are anxious to stay one step ahead of the series, now known for its conspiracy theories and misdirect plotlines.
Official statement
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Random House, GRRM's publisher, expressed their support for the famed "Game of Thrones" author, who they said was working hard to finish "The Winds of Winter." But they had assured everyone that as soon as they had a publication date for the said book, the world will know. For now, they cautioned, any on-sale dates should just be automatically dismissed as false.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the announcement made sense if eagle-eyed fans took note of the alleged publication date - March - and the rumored airing date of "Game of Thrones" Season 7, which could take place anytime around June to August. Releasing the book could be counterintuitive to the success of the series as fans could simply read the book in anticipation of the show instead.
What history tells us
If it's of any help, George R. R. Martin himself had repeatedly stressed that, once there's a publication date for "The Winds of Winter," he will announce it on his blog and nowhere else. In January, the exasperated "Game of Thrones" writer expressed his grave disappointment at once again meeting the expected deadline for the book. Martin had also confessed that he hates setting deadlines for his books as it stresses him out, emphasizing that "it's done when it's done."
The last installment of "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, "A Dance With Dragons," was released in 2011, making "The Winds of Winter" five years in the making. Spoilers suggested that Daenerys Targaryen will finally fulfill her title as "Mother of Dragons," when she takes out her three dragons in a fight in Westeros and razes it to the ground. Other reports suggested that "A Dream of Spring" could also release alongside "The Winds of Winter," which could help explain the massive delay between installments.
