George R.R. Martin reiterated that he has not finished his final two “Game of Thrones” books, hours after stories began circulating that the author had completed both novels, but agreed to not publish them until the HBO series wrapped.
“All of a sudden this crazy story about my finishing ‘The Winds of Winter’ and ‘A Dream of Spring’ years ago is popping up everywhere,” Martin wrote on his blog. “It boggles me that anyone would believe this story, even for an instant. It makes not a whit of sense. Why would I sit for years on completed novels?”
On Monday, a YouTube video circulated of “Game of Thrones” actor Ian McElhinney saying that Martin had already finished his sixth and seven books that the HBO series is based on. McElhinney added that Martin had a deal with HBO to delay publishing them until after the show had finished. His comments, which were made in April at a convention, were picked up by numerous outlets.
“Game of Thrones” will air its series finale on May 19.
“I will, however, say for the record — no, ‘The Winds of Winter’ and ‘A Dream of Spring’ are not finished. ‘Dream’ is not even begun; I am not going to start writing volume seven until I finish volume six,” Martin continued. “No, the books are not done. HBO did not ask me to delay them. Nor did David & Dan [co-showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss]. There is no ‘deal’ to hold back on the books.”
The fifth and most recent book in the series — “A Dance with Dragons” — was published in 2011 and fans have waited anxiously for “Winds of Winter.” HBO used the first five books for story material through their own first five seasons of “Game of Thrones,” with Weiss and Benioff getting a rough outline for how Martin had planned to end his book series.
“Delaying makes no sense,” Martin continued. “Why would HBO want the books delayed? The books help create interest in the show, just as the show creates interest in the books.”
Click here to read Martin’s full statement.