George R.R. Martin Reveals Grim Future for Tyrion and Sansa in Winds of Winter

Let's check in on our old friend George R. R. Martin, who is, in case you've been living off the grid, still wrestling with The Winds of Winter—the much, much, much-awaited next chapter of A Song of Ice and Fire. If you're wondering how close we are to seeing the actual ending, join the club. Martin just gave some new tidbits about the book's (eventual) finish, and spoiler: don't expect HBO's version of happily ever after.

Tyrion: Don't Count On A Smile

If you thought Tyrion getting handed the job of Westeros babysitter in the HBO show was the light at the end of the tunnel, Martin sees it differently. According to him, the screen version went a little soft on the outcome.

So yes, if you're rooting for Tyrion to skip off into the sunset, best adjust those expectations. Sounds like we're heading into even darker territory for him (as if that's possible).

Sansa's Fate: Thank Sophie Turner?

Martin also dropped an interesting behind-the-scenes confession: he apparently intended to kill off Sansa, but changed his mind because Sophie Turner pretty much made her too good to lose. If you ever needed proof that casting can influence the source material, there you go. Somebody get Sophie a thank-you card.

Who's Definitely Not Safe?

Not to send you into a tizzy, but Martin made it clear that the book ending won't just copy-paste the show's death list. Here's a quick look at who might not make it out alive (and who the HBO show may have let off too easily):

• Tyrion Lannister: The most obvious walking dead man, given Martin's comments.
• Bronn: HBO gave him an unexpectedly cushy gig, but don't bet on that translating to the novel.
• Bran Stark: Just because the show made him king, don't expect him to stroll to the end in print form.
• Stannis Baratheon and Cersei Lannister: Both are circling the drain with little hope of a miraculous escape.

Of course, all of this is subject to the ultimate twist: maybe none of them survive, or maybe Martin pulls a total swerve. At the pace things are going, we may never know.

Still Writing, Not Delegating

If you're hoping the book will finish faster if Martin brings in a co-author, forget it. He's flat-out not interested in letting someone else finish his story, no matter how endless this process gets. Martin even compared the idea of dying before finishing Winds to Dickens leaving The Mystery of Edwin Drood incomplete. In his words:

In other words, he'd sooner take it to the grave than hand it off. Tough love for the readers, but points for artistic integrity, I guess?

So, How Long Is This Book?

Martin hinted Winds could end up being the biggest doorstopper of the whole series, if he gets everything in. Because after 14+ years, might as well give us our money's worth, right?

Other Martin Projects (Because Apparently, He's Not Busy Enough)

If you're worried Martin might never get around to finishing Winds, take solace (or lose hope) in knowing he's also got plans for another Fire and Blood book, plus more Dunk & Egg stories. So, he's not half-assing the world-building, at least.

On the plus side, Martin seems just as stubborn about finishing as he is about staying vague. For now, all we can do is speculate about character fates, and keep rewatching Game of Thrones on HBO Max if we're desperate enough.