A succinct "f--- you" and a one-fingered salute was all Game of Thrones author, George R.R. Martin had for fans questioning his ability to finish the epic series before his death.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In an interview with Swiss daily newspaper, Tages-Anzeiger, the 65-year-old author appeared abrasive on the issue of his ability to finish the book series on which the television epic is based, A Song of Ice and Fire.
"Well, I find that question, you know, pretty offensive frankly, when people start to speculate about my death and my health. So f--- you to those people," he said.
Concerns that Martin will not finish the series have been long felt by eager fans. Wide discussion on the issue has taken place on social media forums, with righteous fans homing in on Martin's other activities that may be delaying him in finishing the series.
But plenty, too came to the author's defence.
Why are people worried George R R Martin will die before he finishes the books? Is he really ill or something? Whats up with that? — Reacher (@JGCH_) July 10, 2014
This just in: George R.R. Martin is not dying, and 'Game of Thrones' leads Emmys http://t.co/GYY8F0qEP1 — Los Angeles Times (@latimes) July 10, 2014
HIS GRACE GRRM WILL CONSUME ALL DENIERS OF HIS THRONE!!! http://t.co/W5fGnVAlTd #NOONEUNDERSTAAANDS #GAMEOFTHRONES — AngryGoTFan (@AngryGoTFan) July 9, 2014
However the author said he can't move any faster than he is.
“I’m 65 years old now; I’ve been writing professionally since 1971. I know my working methods. I don’t work when I travel, I don’t work in hotels, I don’t work on airplanes, I don’t work on trains. I work at home, when I have a nice, big uninterrupted block of time in which I can really lose myself in my work."
He said he wouldn't change his work methods because some fans are "too impatient to wait for the next book.”
Martin began the book series in 1996 and has said he could once finish a novel in “a year," but with both his age and increased work through the success of the HBO series publication of the books has slowed.
A Dance with Dragons, the last book to be released, came six years after its predecessor in the series.
Fans of the series have drawn links between Martin and the late fantasy author, Robert Jordan, who passed away prior to finishing his 14 book sequence, The Wheel of Time.
The series has since been completed by Brandon Sanderson.
But in an interview with Fairfax Media in 2013 Martin said would never license anyone else to write in the world of Westeros, not whilst he is alive.
Martin is currently completing the sixth book in the series, with no confirmed release date.
