When Will The Winds of Winter Come Out? A Guide (and Investigation) of George R. R. Martin’s Book Releases.

Even if you have not watched the critically acclaimed TV series Game of Thrones, I have no doubt in my mind that you have heard of it. But the fantasy world of Westeros does not end at the TV show. And in fact, it didn’t even start there.

George R. R. Martin (GRRM, as he’s referred to within the fandom) started the series in August of 1996. And in honor of its upcoming 30-year anniversary and the third season of House of the Dragon coming out this month, I’ve taken it upon myself to investigate GRRM’s body of work.

For my own peace of mind, I’ll provide the disclaimer that I have not read every book in Westeros. Martin’s books average 1000 pages, and I am catching up slowly but surely. But I have read up to A Feast for Crows and plan to finish with A Dance with Dragons later this year. And then I’ll be in the same boat as every other fan—desperately awaiting the 6th book.

So, whether you are a fan of just the TV shows or an avid reader of Martin’s work, strap in for the deep dive into Westeros.

When will The Winds of Winter be out?

Like the start of any GRRM interview, let’s get the main question out of the way.

If you don’t know what The Winds of Winter (TWoW) is, allow me to introduce you. This unreleased work is the 6th book in the main series A Song of Ice and Fire. Martin has shared information on this book and the timeline on his personal blog, referencing TWoW as early as 2006, long before the release of the 5th book. In fact, his blog provides helpful insight into his motivation (or lack thereof) on the series as a whole.

Going back to 2010, prior to the release of A Dance with Dragons (ADwD), he posted about his progress on his blog:

“What’s happened is, I’ve decided to move two completed chapters, from Arianne’s POV, out of the present volume and into THE WINDS OF WINTER. …It’s good news for DANCE, since I’m now two chapters…closer to completion. And hey, it’s even good news for WINDS OF WINTER, since I now have four chapters done for that one…”

—George R. R. Martin, Dancing in Circles

This was all great news for fans. Martin was nearly finished with the fifth book and had a solid start into TWoW. In his press tour for ADwD, he estimated that the next book would take at least 3 years.

Well, folks, 2014 has come and gone and then some. GRRM continues to offer estimates for when this latest book will be released, but with each passing deadline, fans have become increasingly impatient.

Whether frustration is an appropriate feeling for fans is something I’ll be dissecting later. But it is undeniable that the backlash has culminated in one of Martin’s saddest blog posts.

“I know, I know. Some of you will just be pissed off by this, as you are by everything I announce here that is not about Westeros or THE WINDS OF WINTER. You have given up on me, or on the book. I will never finish WINDS.  If I do, I will never finish A DREAM OF SPRING. If I do, it won’t be any good.  I ought to get some other writer to pinch hit for me…I am going to die soon anyway, because I am so old.

—George R. R. Martin, Howard and Hercules

The joy Martin once felt in giving updates on the next book is being sapped away by every impatient fan comment. Any mention of his other books is only put down by angry fans who think he should solely focus on the 6th book.

I wish I had a better answer about when this next book will come out—for my sake as much as everyone else’s. Substantial progress has been made (it’s 3/4ths done at this point!), but as Martin states in this Penguin Random House interview, the book is going to be the longest in the series.

Of course, the fandom is still disappointed. Some speculate that Martin is tired of the series and wants to stop writing. Some think he will release them upon his death. Most have given up waiting for their own peace of mind. Needless to say, the prospect of the book coming out soon is bleak. But, it is a fantasy series after all—and if I want to believe the book will be published within the next year or two, that is my magical thinking to partake in.

Regardless, this isn’t to say Martin is not writing at all. In fact, he has published multiple books since ADwD. And that, ultimately, seems to be the roadblock to getting any progress done with The Winds of Winter. So, instead of fixating on the negatives, why not focus on what GRRM is releasing?

A book-shaped speed bump

Amongst the countless books that Martin has contributed to or helped edit since ADwD‘s release, he has also released multiple Westeros-centered books. Most popular, no doubt, has been Fire and Blood.

Fire and Blood serves as an in-world history book that reflects on Targaryen royalty. Like any good history textbook, it references “primary sources” and interprets them as well as it can. Some Targaryen stories have multiple variations, as the fictional historian can only go off word of mouth.

This is the book that birthed the popular show, House of the Dragon. Seasons 1 and 2 were released within the past four years and have gained a lot of attention from new and old Westeros fans alike. The show maintains the political drama of Game of Thrones, with even more dragons. This makes for an action-filled, dramatic fantasy.

But with the pros, you must take the cons. This 700+ page book is only part one of a duology. Just another title on Martin’s backlog of books he needs to complete within his (our?) life.

But let’s just be happy he’s releasing anything at all. Fire and Blood is an excellent book, supplying a unique take on the fantasy genre with its history book format. It’s worth the read, even if you’ve seen the show, since it presents several interpretations of the Targaryen history, while the show sits firmly with one.

A song of side quests and convention panels

When he isn’t worrying about TWoW, Martin is taking up side quests in the form of video games, art books, and interviews at conventions. And considering that he’s a 77-year-old famous author, I can’t say this is an awful use of his time.

Most exciting for me, as a gamer, was the release of Elden Ring. Martin did not work on the game as a developer or artist, but he did crucial world-building for this Dark Souls addition.

And boy, did they pick the right man to world-build. Elden Ring has a haunting fantasy world that carries the game just as much as the actual gameplay does. Honestly, as much as we want TWoW, this game was amazing and, in my opinion, worth the pause on writing.

Beyond just writing for video games, Martin has worked with artists to bring his books to life with illustrated versions. For instance, The Rise of the Dragon acts as a companion to Fire and Blood, diving into Targaryen lore with complementary artwork.

And if he isn’t working creatively on visual media, Martin is taking questions at conventions. From Worldcon to Comicon, GRRM is traveling to visit them all, engaging with authors and fans alike in panels.

These panels lend insight into Martin’s writing style and upcoming projects. And reassuringly, in nearly every panel, he confirms that he is still working on the book.

Patience is a virtue (and a necessity!)

It is impressive when an author creates a series of books that has people still eagerly waiting over a decade later. Nearly as famous as the TV shows and books is Martin’s delay, which has been joked about on late-night talk shows and cartoons like The Simpsons.

And, okay, I’ll admit it is kind of funny to joke about his masterful procrastination skills. But it comes to a point where the fans need to be patient—for the sake of their own well-being as much as the author’s.

It is clear through the increasingly depressing blog posts that he feels punished by fans for his delay. From disrespectful questions at convention panels to Twitter trolls, the man has heard it from every direction.

Perhaps it is just my love of GRRM as an author that makes me push back on these adamant fans. I don’t believe he’s given up, nor do I think he’ll wait to release them posthumously. He’s a writer and has been for his entire life.

And it’s not as if he’s abandoned Westeros. Fire and Blood was an incredible addition to the world, and it gave rise to House of the Dragon. And I haven’t even touched on the novellas of Westeros, which brought the world another TV show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

George R. R. Martin is 77, working on creative projects from TV shows to writing to video games. Allowing him the space to write is the most respectful and worthwhile tactic moving forward.