The release of the sixth book of the fantasy novel series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by critically-acclaimed author George R.R. Martin entitled “The Winds of Winter” has already been delayed.
With the Season 6 premiere of “Game of Thrones” already happening on April 24 on HBO, fans of the TV series have found themselves without a source for spoilers, which they have been so accustomed to during the first five seasons of the hit TV series, as “The Winds of Winter” did not materialize.
It seems that all those extra activities have affected his writing of “The Winds of Winter” and now fans are seeing that Martin was actually telling the truth when he said early in 2015 that he is still working on the book.
The TV series has caught up with the sixth book, a situation which Martin describes as comparable to a giant locomotive moving behind him and putting more pressure on him to release it soon.
As of last month, the reports had it that “The Winds of Winter” will come out not during or even immediately after the Season 6 of “Game of Thrones,” but either sometime late this year or early next year.
Although Martin has yet to come out with a specific release date for “The Winds of Winter,” sources close to the writer are saying that it will definitely come out before the Season 7 premiere of “Game of Thrones” next year.
Critics now believe that it could still take less than a year or so from today before the book hits the shelves next year.
Some are actually predicting that the book could be released anytime from December this year to March next year because that would be a smart move for the publisher, economically-speaking.
However, they also believe that the book could already be available to buy on Amazon within next year.
Up until today, nothing official has been said by George Martin about his highly-anticipated book. He just said that the book will be done when it’s done.
Spinoff HBO TV series
However, according to the latest rumors, HBO is planning to have a prequel spinoff TV series for “Game of Thrones” and George Martin appears to be interested in providing the network with source material for such.
Assuming the speculations are true, then that would surely take away the author’s focus yet again from finishing “The Winds of Winter” and it may likely be delayed again.
Accordingly, Martin has volunteered materials for HBO even citing that that most natural follow-up to “Game of Thrones” would be an adaptation to his “The Dunk & Egg” stories, notes the Parent Herald.
“The Dunk & Egg” stories are about Ser Duncan the Tall, who later become a member of the Kingsguard, and his squire Egg, who later become King Aegon V. Targaryen of Westeros.
The storyline is set in the same world of “A Song of Ice and Fire” but it happened before the protagonists and antagonists of “Game of Thrones” came to life, reports the International Business Times.
Confident of a January 2017 release
Amid the latest rumors, there are also speculations that “The Winds of Winter” will finally hit book shelves in January next year.
A news site confidently stated that George Martin’s sixth book from his fantasy novel series will be released if not later this year but more possibly in January 2017.
However George Martin continues to remain mum about the release date of “The Winds of Winter,” obviously does not want to be bothered or pressured in his own writing pace.