UPDATED: George R.R. Martin’s publisher says The Winds of Winter not currently scheduled

UPDATE: The language  that Jane Johnson used is very careful and easily misinterpreted. All she’s said is that The Winds of Winter is not currently on the schedule, but since she stresses the importance of the novel, it’s fairly clear that it would be published as soon as possible. For comparison’s sake, A Dance with Dragons was announced in March of 2011, and published in July–that can still happen with Winds in 2015.

Original story below.

The release date for George R R Martin’s 6th book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series has been rumored, speculated and unconfirmed, but now it’s official. According to Time who scooped-up the story from The Guardian, Martin’s publisher finally has confirmed that The Winds of Winter will not be published in 2015.

See what will be published in 2015, after the jump

Instead of The Winds of Winter, Harper Collins will be publishing a new illustrated compilation of three prequel novellas to the A Song of Ice and Fire book series, The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight.  This is what Jane Johnson had to say:

“The novellas are illustrated in black and white line drawings throughout by Gary Gianni in classic style. It will be a truly lovely book, and I adore these clever, funny stories. They give fascinating insights into the ongoing story, from the point of view of Ser Duncan the Tall, a hedge knight, and his squire Egg – who may be rather more than he first seems. The short novels have been previously published in separate anthologies but never put together before, and this will be a particularly beautiful edition.”

She went on to talk about the increasing length and challenge of each new book, and the reason we wont see tWoW this year.

“I have no information on likely delivery. These are increasingly complex books and require immense amounts of concentration to write. Fans really ought to appreciate that the length of these monsters is equivalent to two or three novels by other writers.”

Jane Johnson did have one very interesting tidbit to add, regarding The Winds of Winter and HBO’s Game of Thrones, however.

“However, Johnson confirmed that The Winds of Winter, the next novel in the series that has been filmed by HBO as A Game of Thrones, is not in this year’s schedule.”

On a personal level, this news is frustrating, as I am an avid and rabid reader of anything having to do with ASOIAF. But I also understand, as this is what I have come to expect from the Bearded Bard’s writing pace. This also should put to rest any theories that we will get The Winds of Winter, this year, but then again, this is the internet, and no conspiracy theory regarding GRRM’s writing would surprise me, at this point.

• Published on 01/30/2015 at 12:58 PM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 1:06 PM CDT