The Winds of Winter Delay: Does George R.R. Martin Have Any Health Conditions Stopping Him From Finishing It?

The long delay of The Winds of Winter has fueled so many assumptions about what might be preventing George R.R. Martin from completing the novel he’s been working on for over 15 years. Some theories center on the author’s health, with a subset of fans pessimistically speculating that he may die before he completes the series.

Over the years, Martin endured these rude sentiments from the public. Despite being active in the community by showing up at conventions, doing interviews, and producing shows, he has continued to face persistent doubts about his ability to finish the book.

GRRM Insists He’s Healthy & Able to Finish The Winds of Winter

If there’s anyone who can tell us about Martin’s overall well-being, it’s the author himself. He’s aware of these rumors going around that target his health condition, and many times he has addressed them in different interviews.

Back in 2014, the author expressed annoyance about this matter during a conversation with the Swiss daily newspaper Tages-Anzeiger (via YouTube):

I find that question pretty offensive, frankly, when people start speculating as to my death and my health. So, f—k you to those people.

A decade later, he addressed the concern again in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, but this time he acknowledged that he might never complete the books. Still, he insisted that he’s healthy at the moment:

A lot of people are already writing obituaries for me. [They’re saying] ‘Oh, he’ll never be finished.’ Maybe they’re right. I don’t know. I’m alive right now! I seem pretty vital!

The most recent comments on his physical condition came in a January conversation with THR, where he acknowledged his age and shared that, aside from a few minor health issues, he remains in good shape.

I never thought I’d live to be 77. I’m old, so I have some old-people stuff. My lower back hurts sometimes. I don’t like to stand around. But I feel OK. Maybe you should make that your headline: ‘George R.R. Martin Is Not Dying.’

While his age and overall health may play some role in his pace on The Winds of Winter, Martin is also balancing a wide range of projects beyond novel writing. Predicting his death is not only disrespectful, but it also adds unnecessary pressure and stress on the author, which may even slow down his progress.

What’s Martin’s Plan In Case He Dies & ASOIAF Remains Unfinished?

We know the worst thing that can happen, and we don’t want that. Still, it raises the question: if Martin were never able to finish the book, does he have any kind of backup plan?

Many fans have suggested he should hire another author to finish it for him, which he once referred to on a blog post, however, with an evident sarcastic tone: “I ought to get some other writer to pinch hit for me… I am going to die soon anyway, because I am so old.”

Well, it seems like Martin isn’t fond of this idea. In the same discussion with THR, he responded to the million-dollar question, saying: “If that happens, my work won’t be finished. It’ll be like The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” which refers to the uncompleted novel of Charles Dickens.

This will devastate many fans, but it’s also a very complicated situation. Bringing in someone else to finish the work would inevitably introduce a different tone and writing style, which could feel jarring to readers. Martin’s original vision and intended ending might also be diluted or lost in the process.

On the other hand, it would be a shame and a massive failure if one of the greatest fantasy series of all time never gets the completion it deserves.

Book:	The Winds of Winter
Series:	A Song of Ice and Fire
Genre:	Epic fantasy
Publishers:	Bantam Spectra (US) Voyager Books (UK)
Release Date:	TBA

Do you believe Martin’s age and health are affecting his work on The Winds of Winter? Let us know in the comments!