‘Hopeful rumblings’

Report suggests Martin has finally finished books — or given up

IT seems that many fans had given up long ago on George R.R. Martin ever finishing the final two books in his “Game of Thrones” series, officially known as “A Song of Fire and Ice.”

After all, some say, why would he bother since HBO’s “Game of Thrones” series has continued on very well with the story of Jon Snow and Dany’s dragons where the first five books left off?

But there’s some indication — or hope, rather — that Martin has actually finished the books, to be titled “The Winds of Winter” and “The Dream of Spring,” according to Joanna Robinson of Vanity Fair.

The indication doesn’t come in the form you might expect. For one thing, Martin is going to be incredibly busy for someone who has two epic novels to finish. It’s been announced that he will be working with HBO on a new series based on the sci-fi/fantasy novel “Who Fears Death” by Nnedi Okorafor. Martin will both adapt the novel for TV and serve as executive producer. He’ll also be consulting on five potential “Game of Thrones” spinoffs. With all these things going on, how can Martin have time to finish the “Song of Fire and Ice” books?

But Robinson reports that there have been some “hopeful rumblings” among “Game of Thrones” fans that a new “A Song of Fire and Ice” book is coming and that Martin now has time for these other ventures because he is done with the books.

Back in February, “Thrones” star Liam Cunningham teased the launch of “something special” for the start of Season 7, which premieres Sunday. Robinson wondered if Cunningham was talking about an announcement of a new book to coincide with the start of the final season.

Another bit of hopeful evidence comes from something Martin wrote himself in a recent blog post. Last weekend, Martin started one of his LiveJournal entries with the line, “I’ve been working so much of late that I have fallen way behind in my reading (sob) and my filmgoing.”

He wrote his post from his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, his preferred writing spot. He also rated his mood as “pleased.” Robinson cited a post from a Twitter and Reddit user who goes by the name of BryndenBFish and who has made a name for himself tracking the progress of Martin’s novels. The tweet, referring to Martin’s blog, read: “Guys, dare I ask it, but is the long night almost over?”

In the past, Martin has begged off various professional commitments, saying he needs to put his energy into finishing the “Song of Ice and Fire” books. He has sat out conventions and withdrawn from the “Game of Thrones” writing staff. He’s also bristled at critics who assume he’ll never finish the two books and who hammer him every time it’s reported that he’s taken on a new job or left his house to enjoy anything not related to writing.

Now, there is his apparent eagerness to take on so much new work for HBO. To Robinson, this suggests two possible scenarios: He’s either cleared his plate of other obligations — such as finishing his books — or he’s actually given up on ever finishing the books.

But here’s a question for any true “Game of Thrones” fan: Would you even read the books now, if Martin finishes them, given that the HBO series is going to tell you how it all ends?

Here’s a question for any true “Game of Thrones” fan: Would you even read the books now, if George R.R. Martin finishes them, given that the HBO series is going to tell you how it all ends?

Christian Charisius The Associated Press There’s a glimmer of hope that George R.R. Martin has at long last completed the final two books in his “Song of Fire and Ice” series.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting George R.R. Martin’s next book since 2011’s “A Dance With Dragons.”