At a Glance
- George R.R. Martin has 1,100 manuscript pages of The Winds of Winter-the same count he cited in 2022 and 2023
- He refuses to let another author finish the book, calling a fan’s age-related question “insulting”
- If he dies before completion, the saga will remain forever unfinished like Dickens’ The Mystery of Edwin Drood
- Why it matters: Millions of readers await the next A Song of Ice and Fire installment, first promised in 2011
George R.R. Martin’s latest interview drops a sobering update on The Winds of Winter: 1,100 pages exist, yet no publication date is in sight. The author, now 77, told The Hollywood Reporter he remains committed but acknowledged the relentless pressure of time-and the sting of fans who suggest he may never finish.
The Page Count That Hasn’t Budged
Martin confirmed he is holding steady at 1,100 manuscript pages, identical to the figure he supplied in both 2022 and 2023. While the volume hasn’t grown, he says the content has shifted:
- Chapters are rewritten when he deems them “not very good”
- He swaps focus-if a Tyrion chapter stalls, he pivots to Jon Snow
- The pandemic retreat to an isolated cabin produced fresh material, but also bouts of second-guessing
“I wrote a Tyrion chapter I just loved,” Martin recalled. “Then I looked at it and said: ‘I can’t do this, it will change the whole book. I’ll make this into a series of dreams. No! That doesn’t work either …'”
“Nobody Needs That Shit”
The author remains irritated by a fan’s question at last August’s WorldCon: would he allow another writer to complete the novel given his age? Martin called the query insulting then and still bristles now.
> “I really didn’t need that shit. Nobody needs that shit.”
That exchange resurfaced in the new profile. Martin reiterated he will not hand the project to another scribe. If death or incapacity prevents him from finishing, the story simply ends mid-stream.
> “My work won’t be finished. It’ll be like The Mystery of Edwin Drood.”
Why He Won’t Quit
Despite the slow pace, surrender is off the table. Martin framed completion as a personal imperative:
> “It would feel like a total failure to me. I want to finish.”
The admission underscores a paradox: the same perfectionism that produces layered, beloved prose also keeps release dates elusive. Each reread can trigger rewrites, ensuring the manuscript remains fluid even as years pass.
What Else Martin Spilled
Beyond Winds, the wide-ranging chat covered:
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – Martin voiced enthusiasm for the HBO prequel premiering January 18
- The rumored Jon Snow spin-off – he remains unsure if the sequel series will materialize
- A feud with House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal – only hinted at, details scant
For now, readers have the 1,100-page milestone-and the promise that Martin, interrupted or not, still believes he will cross the finish line alone.
Key Takeaways
- Page count is static but content evolves through constant revision
- External collaboration is permanently ruled out
- The clock ticks loudly, yet the author insists the saga will conclude under his byline-or not at all
