George R.R. Martin Finally Reveals What Happens to ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ If He Never Finishes the Series

George R.R. Martin is once again talking about The Winds of Winter, and this time he is being very clear about where things stand. In a long and personal interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the author opened up about his health, his legacy, and the long-delayed next book in the A Song of Ice and Fire saga.

Martin says he feels fine overall, despite his age and everyday aches. He even joked about the rumors surrounding his health, saying, “Maybe you should make that your headline: ‘George R.R. Martin Is Not Dying.’” Still, the question of whether he will finish The Winds of Winter continues to follow him everywhere.

According to Martin, the book is very real and very much in progress. He says he has written around 1,100 pages so far, a number he has mentioned before. Even with all the pressure and frustration surrounding the novel, he insists that quitting is not an option. “I would hate that,” he said. “It would feel like a total failure to me. I want to finish.”

Martin also addressed one of the most common fan fears: the idea that another writer might complete the series if something were to happen to him. He shut that down completely. There is no backup plan and no secret outline waiting for someone else. “If that happens, my work won’t be finished,” he said, comparing it to classic unfinished novels from literary history.

The writer admitted that part of the delay comes from how complex the story has become. Over the years, the saga has grown larger, with dozens of characters and storylines that all need to connect properly. Martin says he often goes back to chapters he already wrote, reads them again, and decides they are not good enough. Sometimes he rewrites them. Other times, he scraps material entirely, even if he loves it, because it would change the direction of the whole book.

He explained that when he sits down to work, progress can be slow. “I will open the last chapter I was working on and I’ll say, ‘Oh f****, this is not very good,’” Martin said. That can lead to long rewrites or switching to a different character’s chapter instead.

Martin acknowledged that his life changed completely after Game of Thrones became a global hit. While the success brought him opportunities as a producer and collaborator on many projects, it also pulled him away from being a full-time writer.

He now spends much of his time juggling other Westeros stories, including Dunk and Egg tales and a second Fire & Blood book, along with television work. Still, he says it has been made very clear to him that The Winds of Winter is the priority.

Despite everything, Martin believes the book can still be finished. He even suggested that if he includes everything he wants, it could end up being the longest novel in the series. But his mood plays a role, too. “Sometimes I’m not in the mood for that,” he admitted. “I’m so far behind on everything.”

For fans who worry that the saga will never be complete, Martin’s message is simple. The Winds of Winter is not abandoned, he is not giving up, and as long as he is able to write, the story is still alive.

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