Relax. Just relax. Breathe. It will be okay.
The Winds of Winter, the sixth book in George RR Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series that spawned the immensely popular Game of Thrones television show, will not make it’s projected early 2016 publication. Many, including us and Martin himself, were hoping to have the book in our hands prior to the launch of season six of HBO’s show, planning to plow through it before the spoilers got us.
Alas, that won’t be the case.
The book has been in works for several years, with Martin starting soon after publication of the fifth book A Dance with Dragons, and an estimated October 2015 delivery date to publishers. This would have put it out before the April debut of the new season. On his latest blog post, Martin reveals that his insane schedule — which includes not only writing, but editing, appearances, and advisement on the show and games, not to mention family and friends — is partly to blame for missing that initial date. He was able to receive a revised cut-off of December 31st, but had to miss that as well. The current status is unknown, he tells us, as there are still a few chapters to write and others to rewrite and edit.
That means that the upcoming season six will undoubtedly spoil a few twists here and there as the book and the show often overlap. There is enough of a difference between the two that diverging will help soften the blow. As an example, Martin lists several characters that are alive or dead between the two experiences and how that’s shaped the plot point development. The show has done a decent job of circling back to the plot of the books, albeit taking a more scenic stroll in many cases.
With the huge cast of characters shuffling about his world, coordinating every plot point takes time and care. As with any creative endeavor, it’s important not to rush just to meet a deadline. We’ve seen it happen in the gaming industry with launch issues and broken, incomplete experiences. It’s similar with writing, painting, and any other art form. “Don’t just get it done, get it done right,” is a phrase I learned in art school. There is a lot riding on this book from a cultural standpoint. Martin knows this, and isn’t rushing to complete it — though he does note that he feels depressed for missing those deadlines.
Besides, we’re far enough ahead now that even had Martin released his book on time, there would have been no way he’d have caught up for seasons 7 or 8.
Source: George RR Martin
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