Posted in: Comics | Tagged: fantasy fiction, game of thrones, george rr martin, tv, Winds of Winter

Brace Yourselves, The Winds Of Winter Isn't Coming In 2015 But An Illustrated Anthology Is

Published Fri, 30 Jan 2015 18:31:04 -0600

By Cameron Hatheway

Book publisher HarperCollins announced this Friday to The Guardian that it has no plans to release the long-awaited sixth novel from George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series in 2015. The Winds of Winter is now thought to be released in 2016 instead. Fans of the novels and television show Game of Thrones are starting to worry that the show's storylines will catch-up and overtake the ones in the novels, with Martin going at his steady pace of one new book every 4-6 years. A Dance with Dragons was released in 2011.

But it's not all bad news: the publisher did announce that this October would see the release of an illustrated anthology of previously uncollected novellas set in the A Song of Ice and Fire universe. From The Guardian article:

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place nearly a century before the bloody events of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, when the Iron Throne was still held by the Targaryens. Out in October, it is a compilation of the first three official prequel novellas to the series, The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight, never before collected, and now set for release in a new illustrated edition.

The Hedge Knight was originally published in the anthology Legends in 1998, then released as a six-issue comic book adaptation by the Dabel Brothers with Martin and Ben Avery on writing duties, Mike Miller the penciller and Michael Crowell as inker in 2003, and then released as a graphic novel in 2004. The Sworn Sword first appeared in the anthology Legends II in 2003, and later adapted as a six-issue comic book series (then collected graphic novel) in 2007 with Martin and Avery on writing duties and Miller as the illustrator. The Mystery Knight was originally published in the Warriors anthology back in 2010, and unlike the other two stories, has not been adapted to a graphic novel. One can only assume though that Martin, Avery and Miller will be reunited once again for its conception and execution.

So fear not wildings and White Walkers, you'll have plenty of Game of Thrones goodness to keep you busy until The Winds of Winter is eventually released. I mean, have you seen that bootlegged Game of Thrones season 5 trailer yet?? It's pretty badass.

Cameron Hatheway is a reviewer and the host of Cammy's Comic Corner, an audio podcast. You can remind him that he knows nothing on Twitter @CamComicCorner.

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