George R.R. Martin has long established himself as one of the greatest fantasy writers of all time, having delivered masterworks among the likes of A Game of Thrones and A Dance with Dragons from his ongoing book series, A Song of Ice and Fire. However, as of late, the mastermind author hasn’t had much to spare for his fans from his written pieces.
This stands especially true after considering that The Winds of Winter, which was supposed to be the fifth book in the ASOIAF novel series, has long been due but is yet to be released even now. But it seems that Martin is unhappy with how things have been unfolding lately, even more so after he shared the one thing he would want to change about his books.
George R.R. Martin Shares One Thing He Would Change About His Books
So far, all of the books that George R.R. Martin has brought to the table have been nothing short of epic experiences with very little to complain about, as many fans would agree. But if there’s one thing that the author seems to want to change about all of them himself, it’s the approach and time interval he took to release the books.
During a recent interview at a panel hosted by Oxford Writers’ House, he confessed the same when asked about the one thing he would want to change about his books. Martin said (via Oxford Writers’ House on YouTube):
Oh, I don’t know, I could probably change more than one thing. If I could change one thing about one of my books, I’d have them finished.
Continuing, he went on to share his perspective on such an answer. Back in the ’70s, the author also had the legendary Gene Wolfe in their writers’ group. From him, Martin ended up learning some really important traits he wished he had known and embarked on sooner.
As per what the author shared, since Wolfe was a part-time writer and had a full-time job as an editor for a technical magazine, he used to spend his free time and weekends writing his books.
While doing this, Wolfe ensured that all four volumes of his science fantasy novel series The Book of the New Sun were completed before he showed them to anyone.
Through this, after he had completed and realized that things from the previous books needed to be changed, he could actually “go back and revise” his work as per his requirements.
Only after he was content with all four of his books and realized there was nothing else he needed to change did Wolfe submit his books for editing and publishing.
This was something Martin “envied” about the late writer, even though he couldn’t have embarked on that path since he didn’t have any full-time job that could manage his expenses while he completed his books. Nonetheless, that’s the one thing he would have changed about his books.
He went on to say his one last message to fans waiting for his long-overdue book:
Believe it or not, I’m not taking all that time to write Winds of Winter just because I think I’m Gene Wolfe now. I would have loved to have it finished years ago. But yeah, that’s the thing I think I would change.
Yet, even then, fans aren’t the happiest with Martin’s response—especially those who have been waiting for what feels like an eternity for the next installment in A Song of Ice and Fire.
Fans React to George R.R. Martin’s Comment on His Books
As it turns out, this comment of George R.R. Martin wanting to finish his books all at once isn’t sitting well with fans. If anything, they’re complaining more than even now for the author to start writing his book and finally deliver it after they have been waiting for so, so long for it.
Taking to X, here’s what those frustrated fans have to say:
Of course, had Martin finished those books earlier, Game of Thrones may not have faced as unforgivable an end as it did, and fans may have been more satisfied with the turn of events. But now that the damage has already been done, the only thing that can cure fans’ ailing hearts is Martin releasing The Winds of Winter and completing A Song of Ice and Fire as soon as possible.
