I think books 6 and 7 are one big volume like 4 and 5. The real question is if he really cares to finish them.
i'm sure he does. i would assume though there has a been pressure the last few years while he is writing as the tv series kept catching up with the books. he probably got frustrated with that and he just walked away for lengths at a time.
I'm really not even excited for the books anymore. People say it takes him forever to write his books, that it's a long process. But it always wasn't a long process. The original trilogy which is a masterpiece came out in rapid fire. He clearly had no problem writing them, the great ideas just flowed out. Then he took forever to write the next 2 books, and IMO one sucked and the other was mediocre. People can talk about the great "character development" that went on in those books, but they simply weren't enjoyable. If I hadn't read the original trilogy I would have given up on AFFC. I just don't think he has fresh ideas, and that's why it's taking him so long. I'll read it when it comes out, but I'm not expecting much.
I think it's a combination of things. Pressure. Too many distractions. Too much story stuffed into too few books (just release.four books of 700 pages each, not too weighty.tomes that many countries will have to split into two volumes each anyway, thanks to their length, as they did with Storm of Swords; believe me, your publisher will forgive your inability to count).
George needs to step aside and just let a Joe Abercrombie/Jim Butcher collaboration finish for him. The books will be better and will be finished this century.
I think he'll kill himself. All of the astonishing deaths in the book. The ultimate twist and only way to top himself is to say he's done with the final book, come pick it up, and instead they find him hanging from a belt in his living room with the final chapter left blank.
most predictable thing in the whole asoiaf saga http://www.thefrisky.com/2016-01-02...s-his-deadline-for-next-game-of-thrones-book/
Three newly released promos: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Queen of nothing.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoTSeason6?src=hash">#GoTSeason6</a> premieres 4.24.16 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GameofThrones?src=hash">#GameofThrones</a> <a href="https://t.co/TeSFwowwTy">https://t.co/TeSFwowwTy</a></p>— Game Of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) <a href="https://twitter.com/GameOfThrones/status/690656368097792000">January 22, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Winterfell is mine." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoTSeason6?src=hash">#GoTSeason6</a> premieres 4.24.16 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GameofThrones?src=hash">#GameofThrones</a> <a href="https://t.co/UCA8qF0I65">https://t.co/UCA8qF0I65</a></p>— Game Of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) <a href="https://twitter.com/GameOfThrones/status/690656009040166912">January 22, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Together we can overthrow an empire.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoTSeason6?src=hash">#GoTSeason6</a> premieres 4.24.16 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GameofThrones?src=hash">#GameofThrones</a> <a href="https://t.co/YAV9Uo3S3W">https://t.co/YAV9Uo3S3W</a></p>— Game Of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) <a href="https://twitter.com/GameOfThrones/status/690656580212109312">January 22, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Here are some pictures released by HBO... Some are spoilers, so click at your own discretion. http://www.makinggameofthrones.com/production-diary/exclusive-pictures-season-6
Ummm.. let me check the photos again. What will happen.. If you're a Show only watcher, there's 4 photos that are definitely spoilers. If you read the books there really aren't any spoilers but you can make certain connections.