Bad news for fans of the book series HBO hit series “Game of Thrones” is based on: U.K. publisher HarperCollins reportedly does not currently have a plan to release the sixth installment in George R.R. Martin‘s epic series in 2015.
The news, reported by The Guardian on Friday, is troubling for fans of the TV series, as Season 5 of “Game of Thrones” will have caught up with all the books published thus far. Martin has been working on the latest book, called “The Winds of Winter,” since the release of “A Dance With Dragons” in 2011.
The publisher will release an illustrated compilation of three previously released novellas, HarperCollins Fiction Publishing Director Jane Johnson told the U.K.-based news site. “Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” collects “Song of Ice and Fire” prequels “The Hedge Knight,” “The Sworn Sword” and “The Mystery Knight.”
Martin, who released the original “Game of Thrones” book in 1996, took to his blog in December to shut down any speculation that “Winds of Winter” was nearing completion, writing:
“I’ve said before, and I will say again, I don’t play games with news about the books. I know how many people are waiting, how long they have been waiting, how anxious they are. I am still working on Winds. When it’s done, I will announce it here…I don’t know how I can make it any clearer.”
HarperCollins U.K. did not reply to requests for comment.
“Game of Thrones” season five premieres on HBO on Sunday, April 12.