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George R R Martin confirms new Game of Thrones 'prequel' shows
George R R Martin has confirmed he is working on four Game of Thrones prequel scripts with HBO, which will be new stories set in a "secondary universe". He also reiterated that he is still working on the next Game of Thrones book, The Winds of Winter.
The author has revealed there are now five scripts in development for the Game of Thrones spin-off series with HBO, one more than previously reported. He told fans in his blog that he is working with all of the other writers, that he does not like the term “spin offs” implying some of the same characters may be used, but rather that the stories are set in a “secondary universe” of Westeros.
Martin met HBO to discuss two possible “successor shows” a few months ago, one of which has been picked up along with another four scripts. Each one is a prequel. The four other writers involved are: Max Borenstein, Jane Goldman, Brian Helgeland, and Carly Wray with a fifth to be announced. HBO confirmed the new shows last week as reported in the Guardian.
Martin said: "For what it's worth, I don't especially like the term "spinoff," and I don't think it really applies to these new projects. What we're talking about are new stories set in the "secondary universe" (to borrow Tolkien's term) of Westeros and the world beyond, the world I created for A Song of Ice and Fire.”
The author said he is still finishing the next Game of Thrones book: “And yes, before someone asks, I AM STILL WORKING ON WINDS OF WINTER and will continue working on it until it's done. I will confess, I do wish I could clone myself, or find a way to squeeze more hours into the day, or a way to go without sleep.”
The title was originally due to be published in March 2016 to coincide with the sixth series of the TV show.
In February, it was announced that Martin's upcoming novella about the family history of the Targaryens “The Sons of the Dragon” in the US this autumn. A spokesperson for HarperCollins, Martin's UK publisher, told The Bookseller that "nothing has been finalised yet" regarding the UK publication of Book of Swords.
A Game of Thrones: The Illustrated Edition was published by HarperCollins in the UK last October. The books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series are published in the UK by HarperVoyager.
