Edith Nash
Edith Nash asked:

George, If you die before you finish this series - will you please appoint someone to finish it for you? Mayhaps, you need to hire a ghost writer, give them your notes, outlines, etc., and let them write it for you while you are busy with other things.

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Linus I'm sorry, but he does not NEED to do anything. He is not obligated to finish this series just because thousands of loud fans scream for him to write faster. Reminding him of his age and health is quite rude. His books should not be a product of our greed. I wouldn't want anyone else to write his books for him, and I would wait however long it takes.
Matthew Eaves If he dies, couldn't he be his own ghost writer? Boom-boom.
Also, this is the most insensitive comment I've ever read.
Charlotte Don't worry, Brandon Sanderson will finish the books for you.
Peter So, to people who are saying GRRM doesn't owe anything to his fans, consider the promise inherent in the concept of a series, and the fact that people dive into a series because of the projected finished product. (We're looking for "A Song of Ice and Fire" not "Two verses and a chorus of Ice and Fire" after all.)

He makes a living off of that promise. It's not strange to expect someone to keep that promise.
Jim stanchick Job security for Brandon Sanderson.
Enric He has already!
Michael Bay is already done writing it, here a small spoiler:

"And then Kabooomoooon and it goes Booom!!! and then Bang!! And the bad guy goes rataatatatattaaaa and everything goes Wha-boooom!!!"

Cathryn I don't see how this is insensitive since people say this to authors all the time. Mostly they just laugh it off.
Kevin Deisher Martin should do what Robert Jordan did with the epic Wheel of Time series and set it up for Brandon Sanderson to finish the final three books before he died.
Heather As an author and a reader, I'm torn on how to answer this. I have noticed in my capacity as both that authors tend to write three different types of series: Series that can go on forever (ie Anita Blake, Alex Cross etc.) Series that have a planned arc or ending (ie Harry Potter) and series that were never intended to be series (ie Jurassic Park/Lost World, The Shining/Doctor Sleep)

Depending on how Martin went into this series depends what happens next. If he does have a planned arc, he could ruin things by rushing it. I think we're all thinking of the TV show right now. So he can take his time and write forever and he's still doing what we expect him to do.

That being said...I don't think it's a bad idea for ANY author to keep notes on a series they aren't finished with, especially if they have a particular way they want the book/series to finish. With this virus and the craziness that is surrounding it and other diseases like it, there is no guarantee that any author will make it to the next novel. Stephen King could get hit by a car (again) and we'll never know what he was going to write next unless someone takes over. I'm not advocating the James Patterson method, which seems to be 'many hands make light work' but if all Martin were interested in was pumping out decent books, he could work with his share of writers and they would be lining up to get his name on their books.

Since that is the route Martin chose, I think we all need to be patient and hope that either he doesn't die before the last book gets written or he leaves instructions in his estate. In the end, it's all on him and while he does owe his fans something, what we want and what we get are not for us to determine.
Gbolahan I think your question is fine. You didn't direct it to any of us. It was to GRRiM.
Maggie Johnson I just want this book to be released before I die. Of course, he doesn't have to finish the series, but I would like to see the series end. He's a writer. It's his job to finish the series. If he doesn't finish the series, he is simply not doing his job. I do not see how this is an insensitive question. He is not a spring chicken, and he doesn't look like he takes good care of himself. It is possible for him to die before he finishes the series.
Shaswat Tripathi I'm sure lord of light will bring him back from the dead.
Άλκης Δ. GRRM has stated he won't allow anyone to finish the story for him. He also stated (in the leaked story draft from decades ago) that he tends to lose interest when he knows how things will play out.

Personally, I highly doubt this book will ever be written. I think the significantly divergent TV show storyline is all we'll ever get.

And yes, GRRM doesn't owe anyone any books, and he definitely doesn't need the money. His only incentive, in my eyes, is post mortem fame.

Schmul Lehrmanikov I'm sorry, but as Neil Gaiman has said, GRRM is not your bitch...
Anna Bridges Let him have all the time he need to finish the books properly. The show wasn't so good after they went ahead of the books. It seems like he's only one who can do it right.
Celeste He's stated that he doesn't want anyone ghost-writing his books if he dies before they're finished.
Shweta Das How can someone be so insensitive.
Maggie Johnson I just want this book to be released before I die. Of course, he doesn't have to finish the series, but I would like to see the series end. He's a writer. It's his job to finish the series. If he doesn't finish the series, he is simply not doing his job. I do not see how this is an insensitive question. He is not a spring chicken, and he doesn't look like he takes good care of himself. It is possible for him to die before he finishes the series.
Maggie Johnson I just want this book to be released before I die. Of course, he doesn't have to finish the series, but I would like to see the series end. He's a writer. It's his job to finish the series. If he doesn't finish the series, he is simply not doing his job. I do not see how this is an insensitive question. He is not a spring chicken, and he doesn't look like he takes good care of himself. It is possible for him to die before he finishes the series.
George Eh, anybody but Abraham...
Aaron Hernandez Just an FYI, he has given scripts about GoT series to HBO should something happen to him. Now does this translate to books? Don't know, but would not be surprised if its similar scenario.
Saurabh Sharma Book 6 will release in 2016. It has recently been taking him about 5 years to release a book. So my guess is that the book will most likely release in 2022. The TV series will end in 2017, so we will have a fair idea about what is going to happen. Since he is already consulting for the TV show, some people will surely have the outlines.
Its October 2017 and no sign of the book yet.
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