Has George R. R. Martin already finished The Winds of Winter but isn’t releasing it?

George R.R. Martin’s “The Winds of Winter” has been in the works since at least 2010, and fans have been eagerly anticipating its release ever since. However, there is a theory that Martin may have already finished the book without telling anyone.

According to a Reddit post, all of the “sample chapters” or excerpts of The Winds of Winter that Martin has released were cut from previous books, and he has written very little new material. However, this does not necessarily mean that the book is already finished. Martin stopped releasing chapters in 2018 so as not to reveal too much.

Martin’s possible reasons for keeping The Winds of Winter a secret

Credit 1: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO; Credit 2: Bantam Spectra

According to a theory proposed by Micheal Walsh of Nerdist back in 2018, the reason for the delay in releasing The Winds of Winter is that it would be more practical for George R.R. Martin to hold off on publishing the penultimate book until he completes the final one, A Dream of Spring. And the time that has passed since then further supports this theory, given that Martin considers himself a slow writer.

With the vast and complex universe of A Song of Ice and Fire, Martin needs to ensure that he avoids any logistical problems or narrative inconsistencies that may arise towards the end of the series. By keeping The Winds of Winter under wraps, Martin can have the flexibility and time to address any potential issues and make necessary narrative tweaks.

This approach allows him to focus on delivering a satisfying and well-crafted conclusion to his career-defining work. Therefore, by withholding The Winds of Winter, Martin can control the narrative flow and ensure that the final books resonate with readers and provide an exceptional ending to the series.

Secondly, the theory says Martin might be keeping The Winds of Winter a secret to avoid fan frenzy and backlash. This way, he can surprise fans with the release of both The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, generating excitement and making up for any frustration caused by the delay.

While any concrete evidence does not support this theory, it has gained traction among fans due to Martin’s tendency to work on multiple projects simultaneously.

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