Skip to main content

COVID-19 silver lining: Will George R.R. Martin finish Winds of Winter?

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed millions of people into self-isolation, disrupting many lives and postponing events throughout the tech and entertainment industries.

There may be a silver lining for one of the most popular entertainment properties in the world, however. Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin may get around to finishing The Winds of Winter, the long-awaited next book in the saga that inspired HBO’s Game of Thrones. As he self-quarantines during the pandemic, Martin finally seems to have the time to devote to the sixth and penultimate novel in the popular series.

Recommended Videos

In a post on his website, Martin provides an update on the state of his many projects. The post is an ardent reminder that Martin has much more on his plate than The Winds of Winter, despite that fans likely wish he would just finish the follow-up to 2011’s A Dance with Dragons.

Although Martin never explicitly states he plans to finish The Winds of Winter, he does say he’s writing daily and the list of closures and hiatuses seems to indicate he will have significantly more time on his hands.

Meow Wolf , the interactive art museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has been closed down, as has Martin’s movie theater, the Jean Cocteau Cinema. His nonprofit, the Stagecoach Foundation. is also on hiatus. His bookstore, Beastly Books, remains open and continues to operate its mail-order service, but has canceled events.

Martin, 71, is also a member of the most at-risk demographic for catching coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19. He acknowledges this in his post.

“For those of you who may be concerned for me personally,” he writes, “yes, I am aware that I am very much in the most vulnerable population, given my age and physical condition.  But I feel fine at the moment, and we are taking all sensible precautions. I am off by myself in a remote isolated location, attended by one of my staff, and I’m not going in to town or seeing anyone.  Truth be told, I am spending more time in Westeros than in the real world, writing every day.  Things are pretty grim in the Seven Kingdoms … but maybe not as grim as they may become here.”

Martin contends that times feel more and more like a science fiction novel but not “the sort of science fiction novel that I dreamed of living in when I was a kid.”

While there is little positive to take from a world in self-isolation to fend off a disease that has already afflicted thousands and killed hundreds more, the arrival of a long-awaited entry to a beloved book series might just be the silver lining we need.

Nick Perry
Nick Perry is a freelance writer who bounced from Hollywood to Silicon Beach to pajama pants. His work has been featured on…
One of the best TVs ever made is below $2,000, and comes with expert delivery
Panasonic Z95A

When you look through our current list of the best TVs, there are exactly two TVs that should stand out to you, even if you're a casual skimmer. The first is the Sony A95L QD-OLED, simply because it is at the top of the list. The second is the Panasonic Z95A, not because it's the runner-up (which it is) but because it's... Panasonic. It's just not a brand we see making winning TVs, but wow, what a winner the Z95A is. We immediately called it one of the best TVs ever made, something that will be apparent to your eyes if you get it. Now, what's exciting about this TV right now is that it has a low price. You can get the 65-inch version of the TV for $1,998 right now, a savings of over $1,200 off its usual $3,200 price point. You can even get a deluxe delivery and unpack for free if you select the right option on the sales page (accessible by tapping the button below). But, this deal has been around for some time now, since around the start of summer. With Prime Day here and ending soon, it's very likely the time for this deal to end as well. If you want one of the best TVs ever for under $2,000, be sure to tap the button below now.

$1,998 at Amazon

Read more
An amazing TV under $1,000 has a sub $500 Prime Day price (and it’s ending soon)
TCL QM6K

We're now in the final moments of Amazon's summer Prime Day 2025 event, and finding critical last-minute deals. Here's one that almost fundamentally changes how you'll likely think about a product. See, we have a whole list of the best TVs under $1,000, a price point that a ton of people that love TVs just don't feel comfortable crossing. Then, we have a separate list for budget TVs, the best TVs under $500. Even though prices (which move up and down!) are quantitative data points, the differences between a sub $1,000 and a sub $500 TV feel almost categorical in nature, like the difference between water and steam. This deal take the $600 55-inch TCL QM6K (one of the TVs in our 'under $1,000' list) and pushes its price down by $152. This puts it at a price of $448, which is an all time low for it on Amazon, transforms it into an 'under $500' TV. Tap the button below to get the transformative deal while Prime Day is still here or continue reading to see why we liked it so much even when it was over $500.

$448 at Amazon

Read more
Our favorite soundbar is 41% off for Prime Day, but time is running out
Samsung HW-Q990D Dolby Atmos Soundbar.

There are a lot of soundbar deals that are still available as we approach the end of Prime Day, but this is the one that you should target -- the Samsung HW-Q990D with a huge 41% discount from Amazon, slashing its price from $1,998 all the way down to just $1,178. It's still expensive, but if you want to make an investment to dramatically improve your home theater setup's audio, you shouldn't miss this chance at $820 in savings. You have to hurry though, as there are only a few hours left before the shopping event closes.

$1,178 at Amazon

Read more