George RR Martin has admitted that finishing the long-awaited sixth book in his A Song of Ice and Fire series has been a struggle, with the immense popularity of the HBO adaptation Game of Thrones adding considerable pressure. In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, the 70-year-old author said the weight of expectation has made the writing process even more challenging.
Martin revealed that he has been wrestling with The Winds of Winter for several years, describing the book as 'not so much a novel as a dozen novels' due to its complex structure with multiple protagonists and intertwining storylines. He confirmed that the sixth instalment remains his next priority, followed by a decision on whether to proceed with the final book, A Dream of Spring, or other projects such as Fire and Blood II.
The author acknowledged that the global success of the TV series, which overtook his book progress in 2016 and is set to conclude next year, has intensified the pressure on him to deliver a masterpiece. 'Every time I sit down I'm very conscious I have to do something great, and trying to do something great is a considerable weight to bear,' he said.
Martin also discussed the upcoming spin-off shows, confirming that all five potential series are prequels set before the events of Game of Thrones. Only one, The Long Night, has been greenlit so far, with Martin stating he is not directly involved in writing any of them.
