It has now been over five years since the release of Dance with Dragons, the last book in the Song of Ice and Fire series that everyone just calls Game of Thrones now. There are no indications that the release date for the next book, Winds of Winter, are particularly close. It could be years away, or it could be right around the corner. We really don’t know. But consider this: George R. R. Martin looks a lot like Santa Claus, and it’s almost Christmas. Put two and two together, and imagine what could happen if we got a Christmas surprise.

All I Want For Christmas Is The Winds Of Winter Release Date

George R. R. Martin originally wanted to have Winds of Winter finished and on store shelves before the premiere of Game of Thrones season 6 last spring, and he announced in early January of this year that he had whiffed it: It wasn’t going to happen, and the book wasn’t done. His last-minute deadline extensions, which seemed to suggest that GRRM was somewhere close to being done, made no difference in the end. And he still isn’t finished—he’s promised he’ll tell us as soon as he’s done.

Well, it’s been a year since that note, and although GRRM has done a fair number of conventions and other work, he’s had much of the year to focus on Winds of Winter. We can hope he really did focus on it, and if so, there’s still plenty of time for the book to come out before Game of Thrones season 7.

And the ultimate surprise, the ultimate holiday gift, would be for the Santa-like author to announce on Christmas day that the book is done. What do the letters R. R. stand for, anyway? Could it be “kRis kRingle?” Or “Reindeer Ranger?” Or is the R. R. short for “Santa?” We’ve known for years that George R. R. Martin is not our bitch, and can finish Winds of Winter whenever he darn well pleases. This isn’t a call for him to finish the book up tonight and announce it tomorrow, unless he’s good and ready.

We’re just sayin’, though. George R. R. Martin and Santa Claus have a lot in common—a taste for flying magical animals, elves and spirits from cold places, bloodcurdling sex and violence. Maybe GRRM has a Christmas surprise for us this year—a release date for Winds of Winter, and eight tiny reindeer.