Brandon Sanderson Pushes Back on Suggestions He Could Finish George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones Books

Brandon Sanderson has firmly rejected suggestions that he could complete George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones series if the author passes away before finishing the final book. During an interview with IGN, Sanderson stated that he believes he is not the right person to take on the task, as his career is fundamentally a response to A Song of Ice and Fire, much like Wheel of Time was a response to Martin's series.

He added that there are more natural candidates for the job and that if Martin were to decide to continue the series, he would deserve someone with a similar fit for his world.

Sanderson emphasized that Martin doesn't owe fans a completed saga, as no author can make such a promise. He acknowledged Martin's recent struggles with mental health and the stress of the past year, noting that getting old is not easy for anyone. Sanderson also reminded fans that Martin is a great figure in the fantasy genre who has supported new talent and helped the fantasy community.

Despite the challenges, Sanderson believes that the only way for A Song of Ice and Fire to be finished is through the fans' support, patience, and understanding of the individual effort involved in creating each book. He reiterated that authors are making a contract with their readers to work on the series, give it their best effort, and aim to deliver the books in a timely manner. However, he stressed that this is an art, and sometimes, creative endeavors may not go as planned, even when authors make their best efforts.