(GoT) Winds of Winter to be released on November 13, 2023

[Werehamster]

Is anyone else taking this with a big pinch of salt?

Two years is a very long time and it seems like anything can happen between now and then. I'm just hoping the reason is because he's working on A Dream of Spring at the same time, so they will both be released and he'll be finished.

Twenty THREE?

But yeah, I mean, either he has written it and they can fast track the other stages in which case why so long, or he hasn’t and there’s no reason to think he definitely will have it done for 23 rather than 24 or 25 or never.

Apparently that's the latest news. It's mad though, right?

Haha I'll believe it when I see it

Where did you read this?

It's not on his blog, so naaah

Yes, I'm sorry. It popped up on Facebook and I got excited. It isn't on his blog, so maybe better to take it with a very large pinch of salt.

I'm not getting excited as frankly I don't expect him to finish the series.

He's not a fast writer at the best of times and it must be so difficult to effectively retcon the adaptation which must be in his mind when he's writing.

I don't believe it at all.

I wouldn't even if he announced it himself jointly with his publisher.

Actually, I think this rumour is based on some random fan's calculation that 13/11/23 is as long (to the day) after the last book came out as it took to develop and film the entire TV series, so not an actual provisional publication date at all: www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/comments/mgxjdj/spoilers_extended_if_the_winds_of_winter_is_not/

I thought he said in a previous interview that it would be released in 2021, but I'm guessing that isn't going to happen now.

I guess it will be ready when it's ready.

He has so many other things going on : he reportedly has a 5 year, 8 figure deal with Netflix for content. So, no, I'll believe it when I see it. Just hope the editor whields his pen this time as the last book was repetitive and meandering.

If George R. R. Martin has lost interest perhaps it'd be best if he didn't finish the series. I'd rather it were never finished than see him release two half-assed books just for the sake of it.

I want him to complete the books because I want the ending to be better than the telly series.

I feel like he could hire a ghost writer to complete the series.

Like a PP, I don't think he'll finish it now. I was really excited when the last one came out but it's been so long.

I even delayed watching past the point the books had got to in the TV series as I had hoped that I'd get to read it first.

But yes, if it was finished then the date would be closer and if it's not yet written then it might as well be never...

I feel like he got himself into such a complicated plot by the end of the 5th book with so many strands that he just has no hope of ever wrapping it up. It's ages since i read it, I really didn't enjoy 4 & 5, but there are still all the bits with dead Caitlin going on which they just didn't bother with in the series. As well as some others I've forgotten.

My memory of the last book was that there was a lot of wasted time traipsing around Mereen and tiresome plots with new potential challengers for the Iron throne (that rumbled on and then ended, so seemed pointless)and Tyrion being boring and whining on endlessly about looking "for wherever whores go."

Like you, Stokey it's a long time since I read it and haven't had any desire to re read it. I agree that the plot has become unwieldy but I think with a few skirmishes/battles he could end some dud threads and then rein it back in and just concentrate on the main characters and getting them more speedily to all being in Westeros and near one another.

I’d forgotten all about it!

There was a whole different ‘real heir to the throne’ storyline as well wasn’t there? Aegon (?) Targaryen not really dead and on a boat with Tyrion and Jon somebody or other that had grey scale? Jon Snow is still dead as well in the book isn’t he?