海角大神

For some time now, the plan for the 鈥淪ong of Ice and Fire鈥� book series by George R.R. Martin 鈥� the books which are the basis for the HBO fantasy series 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� 鈥� has been to finish the story in seven books.

But will the series now extend to eight?

That鈥檚 the question many fans are asking after Martin鈥檚 editor Anne Groell participated in an interview with fans. When one inquired whether the author could finish the 鈥淔ire鈥� story in seven books, Groell said, 鈥淚 begin to wonder.鈥�

In the interview, Groell said that the original plan had been for the series to be a trilogy, as so many fantasy chronicles are, but that soon changed.

鈥淚 remember when he called me, years and years back, to confess that his little trilogy was 鈥� well 鈥� no longer a trilogy.聽He predicted four books. I said Seven Books for Seven Kingdoms鈥�. As I recently learned while editing聽鈥楾he World of Ice and Fire鈥� 鈥� there are really technically eight kingdoms. So, maybe eight books for Seven Kingdoms would be okay.鈥�

As for a publication date for the much-anticipated sixth book in the series, 鈥淭he Winds of Winter鈥�? Groell said, 鈥淲hen I have a date, you will have a date.鈥� A publication date has not been set for Martin鈥檚 planned seventh book either.

And will there be another after? Maybe better not to accept that eighth book as fact just yet 鈥� Martin鈥檚 UK publisher Jane Johnson told the Guardian that 鈥渙nly George knows how many books there will be in the series and he's not saying: indeed at this stage of the writing, with the many branching pathways of the characters' stories still to intersect, he may not know. As an editor I can say that it feels as if there's a lot to tie up in just two more novels 鈥� albeit very long novels 鈥� but if George continues to kill off characters in his usual ruthless fashion it could easily be over in the planned seven books!鈥�

Fans will have to wait and see.