The fluorescent lights of the convention hall hummed, a stark contrast to the medieval world George R.R. Martin conjures. A fan’s question hung in the air, thick with unspoken anxiety: would he *really* finish The Winds of Winter? Martin’s face tightened; the pressure, a palpable thing, crashed against the weight of expectation. As HBO prepares to premiere *A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms*, the question returns: what is the state of the long-awaited *A Song of Ice and Fire* novel?
The Unfinished Manuscript: A Weighty Burden
Think about that half-finished project gathering dust in your office. Now magnify that by millions of impatient fans. Martin’s recent interview in The Hollywood Reporter offered a peek into his creative process—and the immense pressure he faces.
One particular sore spot? The fan who dared to ask if Martin would consider letting another author finish the series. At 77, the question felt like a slap. “I really didn’t need that shit. Nobody needs that shit,” Martin said.
How many pages of The Winds of Winter are written?
Martin acknowledged the relentless march of time. He currently sits on 1,100 pages—a figure he mentioned in both 2022 and 2023. While the number hasn’t changed, the content apparently has.
“I will open the last chapter I was working on and I’ll say, ‘Oh fuck, this is not very good.’ And I’ll go in and I’ll rewrite it. Or I’ll decide, ‘This Tyrion chapter is not coming along, let me write a Jon Snow chapter.’ If I’m not interrupted though, what happens—at least in the past—is sooner or later, I do get into it,” he told THR.
The Tyranny of Perfection
I remember struggling to finish a short story; every sentence felt inadequate, every paragraph a betrayal of the initial vision. Martin seems to face a similar battle—magnified by immense stakes.
Even during a pandemic-era writing retreat, second-guessing plagued him. “I wrote a Tyrion chapter I just loved. Then I it and said: ‘I can’t do this, it will change the whole book. I’ll make this into a series of dreams. No! That doesn’t work either …’”
However, his resolve remains unshaken. Giving up on The Winds of Winter simply isn’t an option. “It would feel like a total failure to me. I want to finish,” he said.
The fan’s question about a co-author keeps resurfacing. Martin is adamant: that will not happen.
What happens if George R.R. Martin dies before finishing The Winds of Winter?
If the unthinkable occurs—if Martin dies or becomes incapacitated before completion—his work will remain unfinished. “My work won’t be finished,” he said, invoking Charles Dickens’ unfinished final novel: “It’ll be like The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” His legacy would become a ghost story.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that! But if it does? What would become of the Iron Throne?
While you wait (and wait) for the next Winds of Winter update, check out A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms—premiering January 18 on HBO and HBO Max.
Will there be another Game of Thrones sequel?
The Hollywood Reporter article also touched on the potential for a Jon Snow sequel series. Martin offered a cautious outlook, suggesting its fate remains uncertain. The green light from HBO is far from guaranteed.
Martin’s creative process is a high-wire act, balancing immense pressure with artistic integrity. His dedication is clear, but time remains the ultimate wildcard. The book is a Gordian knot he alone can untangle.
Will Martin deliver The Winds of Winter, or will it become the *Edwin Drood* of our generation?