The final season of Game of Thrones is still something that many fans say they're still sore about, but for those who read the books, something different can be expected with the literary version of the story. Developed for HBO by D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, Game of Thrones is inspired by author George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novel series. As Martin has spent years finishing up the books in that story, the television series eventually surpassed its source material, and the events of Game of Thrones' final season were unexpected by fans.
It's not been made clear that many fans were not happy with the Game of Thrones ending, given the popularity of the petition that was launched calling for HBO to remake the entire final season. That didn't happen, but a different ending to the story can be found in the book version. In a new post on his personal blog, Martin explains how progress has been coming along on A Song of Ice and Fire. The author says that the story has been taking him further and further away from the events of the TV series.
"Another question that I get a lot, especially since the end of GAME OF THRONES on HBO, is whether A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, will end the same way. An architect would be able to give a short, concise, simple answer to that, but I am much more of a gardener. My stories grow and evolve and change as I write them. I generally know where I am going, sure… the final destinations, the big set pieces, they have been my head for years… for decades, in the case of A SONG OF ICE & FIRE. There are lots of devils in the details, though, and sometimes the ground changes under my feet as the words pour forth."
George R.R. Martin Promises He's Working on The Winds of Winter
Because it has taken Martin years to wrap up the novel series, fans are skeptical that it will be finished anytime soon. Martin addressed the wait for the book in his blog post as well. He assured his fans that he is still working on the books, even if he has other obligations that take up a lot of his time. The author explains that he's just holding back on divulging more information about where exactly he's at with the story because he does not want to spoil anything for his readers.
"I am working on it, I have been working on it, I will continue to work on it. (Yes, I work on other things as well). I love nothing more than to surprise my readers with twists and turns they did not see coming, and I risk losing those moments if I go into too much detail."
With that being said, Martin does explain that the book's story will be different from the TV show adaptation. The author is not going to say what exactly might have changed, but he does make it clear that reading the book's finale will be "quite different" compared to watching what happens in the final season of the TV series.
"What I have noticed more and more of late, however, is my gardening is taking me further and further away from the television series. Yes, some of the things you saw on HBO in GAME OF THRONES you will also see in THE WINDS OF WINTER (though maybe not in quite the same ways)… but much of the rest will be quite different... Oh, and there will be new characters as well. No new viewpoints, I promise you that, but with all these journeys and battles and scheming to come, inevitably our major players will be encountering new people in lands far and near. One thing I can say, in general enough terms that I will not be spoiling anything: not all of the characters who survived until the end of GAME OF THRONES will survive until the end of A SONG OF ICE & FIRE, and not all of the characters who died on GAME OF THRONES will die in A SONG OF ICE & FIRE. "
Multiple planned spinoffs are in the works to further expand the Game of Thrones world at HBO. One is almost here, as the prequel series House of the Dragon is set to debut on Aug. 21, 2022.