George R.R. Martin (GRRM) posted a heartfelt apology to his blog early in the New Year, admitting that the writing of Winds of Winter is behind schedule and now has no chance of beating the release date for Season 6 of the HBO adaptation, Game of Thrones.

“The Winds of Winter is not finished,” GRRM began, “ Believe me, it gave me no pleasure to type those words. You're disappointed, and you're not alone. My editors and publishers are disappointed, HBO is disappointed, my agents and foreign publishers and translators are disappointed... but no one could possibly be more disappointed than me.”

'The Winds of Winter' Release Date Update

After assuring readers that “hundreds of pages” and “dozens of chapters” are complete, Martin admitted that there’s currently no end in sight and that The Winds of Winter release date will arrive whenever he feels the book is ready.

Some Game of Thrones fans posted long-winded complaints. This limp ramble from Kinja user “Zoom” is typical of the genre, simultaneously contemptuous of GRRM’s recent output and paradoxically demanding more, more, more:

“ There has been a portion of the fandom that has started to come to GRRM’s defense by saying that deadlines do not help the creative process, or that GRRM is just making sure that he does not publish a subpar book that was created just to meet a deadline.

I am here to say Stop. Stop defending GRRM, he does not deserve your benefit of the doubt. If you look at the timeline of published books, there are no excuses for GRRM missing these deadlines.”

Many GRRM Fans Aren't Like Zoom

But the majority of George R.R. Martin’s fans have proven themselves mightier—less small, less pathetic, and less petulant—than Zoom. GRRM’s comment field was soon deluged with words of support from people willing to acknowledge that creative work takes time and that great writing isn’t produced on an assembly line.

The support for GRRM’s Winds of Winter release date delay was so overwhelming that Martin soon had 40 pages of supportive comments. He replied to his many fans in a brief statement of thanks:

“The outpouring of support in response to my post on THE WINDS OF WINTER has been astonishing.

Thank you all, so very much.
…
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all the kind words and good wishes.”

Game of Thrones Spoilers

While acknowledging that Game of Thrones Season 6 will indeed contain spoilers for The Winds of Winter, GRRM promised, in this spoiler-laden description that The Winds of Winter will still have plenty to offer readers apart from the HBO adaptation:

“ Just consider. Mago, Irri, Rakharo, Xaro Xhoan Daxos, Pyat Pree, Pyp, Grenn, Ser Barristan Selmy, Queen Selyse, Princess Shireen, Princess Myrcella, Mance Rayder, and King Stannis are all dead in the show, alive in the books. Some of them will die in the books as well, yes... but not all of them, and some may die at different times in different ways. Balon Greyjoy, on the flip side, is dead in the books, alive on the show. His brothers Euron Crow's Eye and Victarion have not yet been introduced (will they appear? I ain't saying). Meanwhile Jhiqui, Aggo, Jhogo, Jeyne Poole, Dalla (and her child) and her sister Val, Princess Arianne Martell, Prince Quentyn Martell, Willas Tyrell, Ser Garlan the Gallant, Lord Wyman Manderly, the Shavepate, the Green Grace, Brown Ben Plumm, the Tattered Prince, Pretty Meris, Bloodbeard, Griff and Young Griff, and many more have never been part of the show, yet remain characters in the books. Several are viewpoint characters, and even those who are not may have significant roles in the story to come in The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. ”

We all can’t wait to see what you’ve created for us, George.