Game of Thrones' Author George R.R. Martin Hasn't Finished Writing Books

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last updated 9 August 2021

You may have heard rumors that A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin has already secretly finished the books on which HBO's hit Game of Thrones (opens in new tab) is based. If you have, go ahead and forget them though because Martin says the whole idea is bonkers.

In a post on his blog (opens in new tab), Martin took the time to formally address speculation that he's already finished the story—something many fans are no doubt wishing could be true given the unpopularity of the show's final season. In a post titled "Idiocy on the Internet," Martin wrote:

The rumors apparently started after reports that former GOT actor Ian McElhinney had said the books were done during a panel in April at Epic Con in St. Petersburg, Russia. McElhinney reportedly told fans at the event that Martin had finished the books, but couldn't release them until after the series ended, per a deal with HBO, according to CNN (opens in new tab).

Of the rumor that started the rumor, Martin wrote:

So there you have it.

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Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.