receives a disappointing update from author George R.R. Martin who says he still has "." Martin's epic series of fantasy novels, , was adapted into the smash hit HBO series, , which came to a controversial conclusion in 2019. The fifth book in the series, , was released in 2011 and since then, readers have been growing increasingly impatient as they wait for the penultimate installment, .
During a recent appearance on alongside author Bernard Cornwell, Martin shared yet another disappointing update on the status of .
Martin says he has "" and still has "." He candidly acknowledges that he's "" on the book and is "." Read his full update (via ) below:
The main thing I'm actually writing, of course, is the same thing... I wish I could write as fast as [Bernard Cornwell] but I'm 12 years late on this damn novel and I'm struggling with it. I have like 1,100 pages written but I still have hundreds more pages to go. It's a big mother of a book for whatever reason. Maybe I should've started writing smaller books when I began this but it's tough. That's the main thing that dominates most of my working life.
Martin's latest update on is especially discouraging since 1,100 pages is exactly the same number he had written almost a year ago. On in December 2022, the author said he had "" written with 400–500 to go. While fans find his lack of progress disappointing, it's also become a running joke online with responding to those who believe he's not working on the book. Based on his latest update, it appears they may be right.
Martin's lack of progress on is largely attributed to how big and ambitious the book has become, but also because of how many other projects he's involved in. Martin says there are a total of in development, including which has been greenlit and starts filming in the spring of 2024. This does not include season 2 which has finished filming and premieres in the summer of 2024.
Martin has written other books set in the universe, including which is being adapted into and the novellas which are being adapted into .
