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I enjoy the Game of Thrones TV Series, and am ready to try the books.

However, having waited over 15 years for Stephen King to finish The Dark Tower; I would like to know when the entire series will be available.

This question has two parts:

1. How many books are planned for the entire series?
2. When will they be finished?

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closed as primarily opinion-based by Skooba, Edlothiad, TheLethalCarrot, Jason Baker, Ward Oct 25 '17 at 13:31

Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

  • 18
    It ends when the last main character dies...JUST KIDDING! Here's seven more main characters! – Jeff Aug 9 '13 at 17:16
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    Oh crap, I just started the series (well, I'm on book 4 now...) and I thought it was over in A Dance with Dragons! I ended up waiting 3 (4? too many) years for Wheel of Time to end. – Dacio Dec 17 '13 at 20:01
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    I think I speak for every "Song of Fire and Ice" fan when I say "Hopefully, before GRR Martin dies." – BraveLilToaster Feb 7 '14 at 17:02
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    @BraveLilToaster Oh that is just too true... – Mkalafut May 5 '14 at 17:57
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    I have no hope that the series will be finished before GRRM dies. Seeing how he is an older fat guy...He will pull a Jordan on us, of that I am certain. – Jakob May 20 '14 at 12:23
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There are supposed to be a total of 7 books in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. But could grow to 8. Originally it was going to be a trilogy, then grew to 4, then 6, then 7... And it could be a long wait! Here's the chronology so far:

  1. A Game of Thrones August 1996
  2. A Clash of Kings February 1999
  3. A Storm of Swords November 2000
  4. A Feast for Crows November 2005
  5. A Dance with Dragons July 2011
  6. The Winds of Winter (Forthcoming)
  7. A Dream of Spring (Forthcoming)
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  • 5
    for comparison, The Wheel of Time series was "supposed to be" 3 books, then 6, then 12 books and ended up being 14. So, it will end up being as many books as the author feels he needs to finish the story (or, if you're more the cynical type, as many as he can get paid for.) – KutuluMike Aug 9 '13 at 16:56
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    In the 2012 interview where GRRM guesstimated 2014, he implied that his guess may be optimistic: "I really look forward to publishing it in 2014, but I am really bad for predictions...." – sjl Aug 9 '13 at 17:17
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    Books 4 and 5 clearly indicate that GRRM is going to spin this out as long as he possibly can. – Gaius Apr 10 '14 at 19:04
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    @PaulD.Waite 2016...Still no prospect of WoW being released xD – Aegon Jun 20 '16 at 7:58
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    @Aegon: 2018’s a-comin’! The Winds of Winter will totally 100%* come with it! (* Not totally or 100%.) – Paul D. Waite Oct 25 '17 at 12:02

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