George R.R. Martin has reignited both hope and frustration among fans after revealing new plans for multiple books, even as The Winds of Winter-the long-delayed sixth volume in his A Song of Ice and Fire saga-remains unfinished. The author, whose sprawling fantasy world inspired HBO's Game of Thrones, confirmed he intends to continue writing well beyond the long-promised sequel, deepening concerns that the series' long-awaited conclusion could still be years away.
Martin first began The Winds of Winter in 2011, the same year Game of Thrones premiered, and has since faced a series of creative setbacks. His latest update arrived through his official site, Not A Blog, where he detailed his expanding literary workload. "I just need to finish THE WINDS OF WINTER, and then do either A DREAM OF SPRING or volume two of FIRE & BLOOD, and slip in a new Dunk & Egg between each of those in my copious spare time," he wrote.
The remark has revived debate over what fans call the "curse" of The Winds of Winter-a tongue-in-cheek reference to Martin's struggle to complete the novel amid a growing slate of other projects. Despite pledging that the book remains his top priority, Martin has continued to release side works such as 2018's Fire & Blood and has overseen television expansions of the Westeros universe.
Among those projects are HBO's House of the Dragon, which has already aired two seasons, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a series adaptation of his Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas. The latter is slated to premiere on January 18, 2026, under showrunner Ira Parker.
Production plans are also underway for Aegon's Conquest, a new prequel entering early development. Screenwriter Mattson Tomlin confirmed Martin's involvement in July 2025, noting the author's creative input would shape another layer of Targaryen lore.
In addition to his television work, Martin has outlined an ambitious publishing roadmap. There are currently three novellas in his Dunk and Egg collection, with six more planned. He has also signaled an eventual second volume of Fire & Blood, the fictional history chronicling House Targaryen's rise.
While these projects cement Martin's dominance over the fantasy genre, they have also intensified skepticism among readers who have waited more than a decade for The Winds of Winter. The author has admitted to frustration with his own pace, describing missed deadlines and creative fatigue in past blog posts.
For many fans, the question is no longer when the next book will arrive but if it will precede the series finale, A Dream of Spring.
