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Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin calls The Winds of Winter the “curse of my life” after admitting it’s “13 years late”, but offers a tiny glimmer of hope: “I have periods where I make progress”
Fantasy Shows
Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin hits back at demands he finish the next book: “You don’t care about anything but Winds of Winter. You’ve told me so often enough”
Fantasy Shows
The Winds of Winter release date speculation, plot, and everything else we know about George R.R. Martin’s new book
Fantasy Shows
George R.R. Martin says something exciting is coming soon, but it’s not The Winds of Winter: “Please don’t start any rumors to that effect”
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Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin doesn’t like Hollywood screenwriters changing the source material because in “the majority of cases” they don’t improve it
Fantasy Shows
The Witcher season 5 set pictures reveal new look at Liam Hemsworth’s Geralt, Laurence Fishburne’s Emiel Regis and other key returning characters
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Entertainment
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The Witcher
The Witcher author fires shot at Game of Thrones’ George R.R. Martin and never-ending Winds of Winter saga: “When I say I’ll write something, I will”
Bradley Russell
25 June 2025
The wait for The Winds of Winter goes on
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(Image credit: Getty Images)
Even The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski is giving George R.R. Martin a kicking over The Winds of Winter still being worked on 15 years after writing initially began on the sixth novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series.
When asked at the Opole book festival (H/T Redanian Intelligence) about whether he plans to write more books in The Witcher series, Sapkowski replied, “I’ll tell you right now: I will write something else. Relax. No need to fear. And unlike George R. R. Martin, whom, by the way, I know personally, when I say I’ll write something, I will.”
While the personal connection between Martin and Sapkowski hints at a slightly more tongue-in-cheek tone than it reads on paper, The Witcher author does have his own theories as to why The Winds of Winter is still stuck in a seemingly perpetual limbo – and, of course, it involves Game of Thrones overtaking the original source material.
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Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin calls The Winds of Winter the “curse of my life” after admitting it’s “13 years late”, but offers a tiny glimmer of hope: “I have periods where I make progress”
Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin hits back at demands he finish the next book: “You don’t care about anything but Winds of Winter. You’ve told me so often enough”
The Winds of Winter release date speculation, plot, and everything else we know about George R.R. Martin’s new book
“I totally understand him. Because if someone had pulled a stunt like that on me, filming a series based on my books, and then getting ahead of what I intended to write, I’d also be wondering whether there’s any point in writing anymore,” Sapkowski said. “If it’s already been done, right? Makes no sense.”
Sapkowski’s next novel, Crossroad of Ravens, explores Geralt’s early life at Kaer Morhen and is set for release internationally in September.
The Witcher season 4 is also set to hit Netflix at some point in the near future, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the role of Geralt from Henry Cavill for both its fourth and fifth seasons.
Martin, meanwhile, has recently offered an update on The Winds of Winter’s progress, describing it as a “curse.”
“That’s the curse of my life here. There’s no doubt Winds of Winter is 13 years late. I’m still working on it. I have periods where I make progress and then other things divert my attention,” Martin told Time.
For more, check out everything we know so far about The Winds of Winter. Then discover the new TV shows heading our way, including a series based on Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas.
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Bradley Russell
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I’m the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.
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Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin calls The Winds of Winter the “curse of my life” after admitting it’s “13 years late”, but offers a tiny glimmer of hope: “I have periods where I make progress”
Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin hits back at demands he finish the next book: “You don’t care about anything but Winds of Winter. You’ve told me so often enough”
The Winds of Winter release date speculation, plot, and everything else we know about George R.R. Martin’s new book
George R.R. Martin says something exciting is coming soon, but it’s not The Winds of Winter: “Please don’t start any rumors to that effect”
Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin doesn’t like Hollywood screenwriters changing the source material because in “the majority of cases” they don’t improve it
The Witcher season 5 set pictures reveal new look at Liam Hemsworth’s Geralt, Laurence Fishburne’s Emiel Regis and other key returning characters
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