Brandon Sanderson Explains Why He Would Not Finish Game of Thrones

The wait for The Winds of Winter, the planned sixth novel of George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, remains a frequent topic of conversation among fans. HBO’s Game of Thrones diverged from the books in later seasons because Martin’s story was incomplete. Almost a decade ago, Steven Soderbergh made an extended joke about the delay in his film Logan Lucky. Some readers worry that Martin might pass away before finishing the novel, leaving another writer to complete the series. Brandon Sanderson states that if that need ever arises, he will not take the job.

Sanderson writes fantasy novels such as the Mistborn and Stormlight Archive books set in his Cosmere universe. He gained broader mainstream attention when publishers chose him to finish The Wheel of Time series following Robert Jordan’s death. Because of that experience, readers often view Sanderson as a natural fit to pick up where Martin left off. Sanderson disagrees with that assessment. In an interview with IGN, Sanderson said, “Respectfully, I’m the wrong person to do this.” He added, “If George decided to go that direction, he’d deserve someone who is as good a fit for his world as I was for Wheel of Time. That said, I don’t think George wants to go that direction, so let’s just support him in writing his books at the speed he’s capable of going.”

Sanderson also addressed the belief that fans are owed a conclusion to the series. In his view, Martin does not owe readers the books themselves, but he does owe them a dedicated effort to produce them. Sanderson noted, “It’s not, however, my job to determine if George has made that effort or not. My gut says that he has.”

What is the latest update on The Winds of Winter?

Martin has worked on The Winds of Winter since before A Dance with Dragons was published in 2011. In 2025, he described the project as the curse of his life. In January, Martin shared that he continues to write the book and has completed over 1,000 pages. He has not provided a release date.

The Winds of Winter is not the final installment of the series. Martin plans to write a seventh book titled A Dream of Spring to conclude the story. Given the timeline for the sixth book, readers do not expect the final volume soon.

Source: Polygon