'Winds of Winter' release date: HBO might finish 'GOT' before author George R.R. Martin finishes book series

"A Song of Ice and Fire" Books 1 to 4 box set [Photo credit: George R.R. Martin website]

George R.R. Martin may or may not finish his bestselling "A Song of Ice and Fire" series ahead of the final season of "Game of Thrones," HBO's TV adaptation of the novels. But this doesn't bother the best selling author at all, assuring Geekwire during the Sasquan science-fiction convention that "anything is possible." 

"The show is moving forward like a locomotive, or sometimes a jet locomotive," the author admitted.

Certainly, the series has now outpaced his books, with "Game of Thrones" season 6 already in production as Martin is still working on "The Winds of Winter," the book it is supposed to be based on.

"They're writing 60-page scripts, I'm writing 1,500-page novels. So who the hell knows?" he said. 

The 67-year-old novelist admitted it troubled him that the "Game of Thrones" series will not only overtake his books but could also overshadow them, although adding he has already accepted this possibility. 

"Worrying about it isn't going to change it one way or another," he said. "I still sit down at the typewriter, and I have to write the next scene and the next sentence. I'm just going to tell my story, and they're telling their story and adapting my books, and we shall see." 

There's still no release date for "The Winds of Winter," the sixth book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, as Martin himself is still hard at work in completing it. It was reported months back though that he will try to finish writing the novel before "GoT" returns to the small screen next year for season 6. 

Martin is a bit stingy when it comes to questions regarding the volume's release. He jested, as quoted by Geekwire, "Don't ask me when the book is going to be done — I'll ask my minions to lop your head off." 

"The Winds of Winter" will be followed by "A Dream of Spring," which is the seventh and reportedly the final book. Interestingly though, HBO has revealed its plans for an eighth season for the TV adaptation. 

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