George R.R. Martin is infamous for the deliberate nature of his writing. His A Song of Ice and Fire series, which was recently adapted into the HBO series Game of Thrones, became notorious for its multiple delays. The most recent volume, A Feast for Crows, was released five years after its predecessor, A Storm of Swords. Likewise, A Dance with Dragons, which is slated to hit shelves on Tuesday, July 12, has received similar delays; it comes six years after Crows.
Martin isn't letting his new popularity rush him into starting the next volume, though.
The Winds of Winter has already been confirmed as the title, but
in an interview with Sign On San Diego, Martin revealed that he doesn't have plans to even start working on the book until next year.
The 62-year-old author, who was given the moniker "the American Tolkien" by TIME, reportedly just finished the first draft of his episode of Game of Thrones season 2, titled "Blackwater." He's also planning work on another, non-Game of Thrones-related novel. But with this month's book five of the series, does Martin still have seven books planned?
“Yes. Seven kingdoms, seven gods, seven books. Seven seems fitting, but until I get out of book six, I’m not sure. I won’t have a chance to start working on book six until next year.”
Martin reportedly knows the ultimate ending for the series, and the fate of all his characters, but it's the fate of the HBO series I'm worried about. By signing onto the series, Martin has put himself on a pretty tight schedule. He has to nearly double his pace and get two books out in six years, or what happens to the show? I'd be interested to see what Martin's contract with HBO says on the matter.
Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire, titled A Dance with Dragons, hits shelves on Tuesday, July 12.
Game of Thrones will return for a second season in spring 2012.
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