While Game of Thrones has long since left TV screens, fans of the show are still waiting for the main news from George R.R. Martin: that the next chapter of A Song of Ice and Fire, The Winds of Winter, is ready for release.
The author has been working on the book for 15 years now, so the decision by the creators of Game of Thrones to move forward with their own ending is understandable. The only question is whether the much-criticized eighth season of the show might inspire the final novel in the saga, A Dream of Spring. Fortunately for many, Martin already has a clear answer — and it's one that should offer fans some hope.
George R.R. Martin Plans a Different Ending for A Song of Ice and Fire Than in Game of Thrones
Interestingly, the author spoke about this as far back as 2017 — two years before the end of Game of Thrones. At the time, Martin admitted he had no intention of “adapting” the books to match the show, explaining that over time, Game of Thrones had become its own work, living a separate creative life.
He also added that, although he was involved in the development of the show from beginning to end, his main priority remains the A Song of Ice and Fire novels. As such, the characters in the books will follow their own paths — different from those taken by their counterparts in Game of Thrones.
George R.R. Martin’s Words Offer Hope for at Least One Good Ending
Back then, Martin probably couldn't have imagined the wave of criticism that would hit Game of Thrones following its eighth and final season. To this day, many fans still haven’t forgiven the creators for what they believe was a finale that ruined the entire story.
Martin, for his part, has repeatedly stated that things will unfold differently in his books — and that some characters killed off in Game of Thrones will still be alive in The Winds of Winter or even in A Dream of Spring.
And while the author has yet to fulfill any of his promises regarding the release of the next installment, hope for a better ending remains the main reason fans of both the books and the series continue to wait faithfully for the next novel.
