The author, however, announces the publication date for 'Fire and Blood', a prequel book exploring the history of the Targaryens.
- Apr 26, 2018
AceShowbiz - George R.R. Martin is here to give fans of "Game of Thrones" some bad and good news. The bad news is that fans will have to wait longer for "Winds of Winter", the sixth book of his "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga, on which the hit HBO series is based. Martin confirms that the long-awaited book won't be coming in 2018.
"No, winter is not coming... not in 2018, at least," the author says in a press release. "You're going to have to keep waiting for 'The Winds of Winter'. You will, however, be able to return to Westeros this year."
The announcement of the book being delayed again understandably sends die-hard fans into a rage. "why the hell would he prioritize writing an almost 1000 page history of the targaryens over finishing winds of winter? i am mad online," an enraged fan says.
why the hell would he prioritize writing an almost 1000 page history of the targaryens over finishing winds of winter? i am mad online. https://t.co/NXKjeQBqz0
— Brice (@dBriceJ) April 25, 2018
However, some fans admit that at this point, they aren't surprised by the delay since they have been waiting for the book to arrive for six years. "I, FOR ONE, AM SHOCKED AT THIS NEWS. SHOCKED. ∗Narrator's voice∗ Nobody was shocked," another fan tweets.
I, FOR ONE, AM SHOCKED AT THIS NEWS. SHOCKED.
— Kenan Knox (@kenan14) April 25, 2018
∗Narrator's voice∗ Nobody was shocked. https://t.co/Wsp95RyUUW
"I realize this is not a surprise, but it still enrages me," a fan adds.
I realize this is not a surprise, but it still enrages me. pic.twitter.com/2rUXyeffKF
— Amy Hastings (@amykhaste) April 25, 2018
The Winds of Winter isn't coming out this year? #asoiafpic.twitter.com/57Cy2Qvk4T
— Phil Bicking (@p_Red) April 25, 2018
Meanwhile, the good news is that a new prequel book is coming. Titled "Fire and Blood", the prequel book is a massive 989-page book that explores the history of the Targaryens. "I do want to stress... indeed, I want to shout... that 'Fire and Blood' is not a novel," Martin explains. "This is not a traditional narrative and was never intended to be... let's call this one 'imaginary history' instead."
He continues, "The essential point being the 'history' part. I love reading popular histories myself, and that's what I was aiming for here... (Though there are enough stories here for twenty novels. Battles, bloodshed, betrayals, love, lust, horror, religious wars, politics, incest, historical revisionism, all the fun stuff). ... As for me, I'm returning once again to 'The Winds of Winter'."
Martin has been infamously delaying the release of "Winds of Winter". He has given many reasons for the delay, such as the distractions from the HBO series, his work on other books and projects and his struggles while writing the novel to continue the narrative complexity in a manner that meets his own high standards.
The latest entry from his "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga, best-selling book "A Dance with Dragons", was published back in 2011. It was the same year when "Game of Thrones" made its debut on HBO.
While it's uncertain when will "Winds of Winter", which is expected to be the penultimate chapter in the book series, be released, "Fire and Blood" will hit the shelves on November 20. As for "Game of Thrones", the TV series is set to return for its final season in 2019.
