George R.R. Martin, the author of the hit series "Game of Thrones," has long hinted that his newest book titled "Winds of Winter" will release sometime soon, and probably in 2018. A recent posting by a bookstore revealed that it could arrive around fall.
Strand Bookstore, the bookstore responsible for the rumors, allegedly published a date for the arrival of the latest "Song of Ice and Fire" series on their website. The date that was published (and removed shortly) was on Sept. 6. Since removing the date, Strand Bookstore has replaced their posting with a "Fingers crossed!" sign, indicating that the book could hopefully arrive on the said date, or in 2018 at best.
Still, the "Game Of Thrones" author repeatedly emphasized that only he will announce the official release date of the upcoming book.
Martin has also made it clear that this book, along with the final installment, which is "A Dream of Spring," will reach 1,500 manuscript pages or more in total. The lack of a release date may be due to the sheer volume of editing and writing that Martin and his crew are doing.
Martin also hinted several times that it might not release in 2018, telling his fans through his blog that if things get lucky, a second book might be released this year.
Besides the potential September release date, the sixth installment of the series was also rumored to re-introduce a set of kids that the author has long removed from the storyline. The characters, who last appeared in Martin's 1998 "A Clash Of Kings," are rumored to finally arrive in the possible 2018 novel. These characters are Shaggydog and Rickon.
During the late 1990s, just before Martin's "A Storm Of Swords" release, he noted that he was "not ready" to write thousands of pages using the point of view of children.
"When I began this project, I never intended to write hundreds and thousands of words about a twelve-year-old, a ten-year-old, and an eight-year-old," Martin said, according to sources obtained by Express U.K.
Despite this cynicism by Martin in writing a book about children's perspectives, the author did promise to bring them back, which has thus stirred speculations that the upcoming "Winds Of Winter" will feature the characters at long last.
