George R. R. Martin Discusses Game of Thrones Ending

While we’re all reeling from some Game of Thrones withdrawal, the author of our misery, George R. R. Martin, is hard at work on the next few installments of the epic fantasy. With the fifth season of the television series caught up with the events of the first five books, it is most likely that anything we will see in season six will already be a spoiler for faithful book readers.

It will be a long wait for the last two volumes of A Song of Ice and Fire, but George R. R. Martin does have an ending in mind.

In an interview with The Observer the author discussed the tone he’s aiming for when he concludes his epic saga, and compares it with the ending of another iconic fantasy series:

“I haven’t written the ending yet, so I don’t know, but no. That’s certainly not my intent. I’ve said before that the tone of the ending that I’m going for is bittersweet. I mean, it’s no secret that Tolkien has been a huge influence on me, and I love the way he ended Lord of the Rings. It ends with victory, but it’s a bittersweet victory. …But every time I read it I understand the brilliance of that segment more and more. All I can say is that’s the kind of tone I will be aiming for. Whether I achieve it or not, that will be up to people like you and my readers to judge. “

Considering all the things we’ve seen in both the books and the show, it comes as no surprise that the ending will not be a straightforward, happy affair. But part of the appeal of the series in the first place was how realistic it has always been in terms of the stakes involved. Fans probably aren’t expecting a happy ending at this point but something that is satisfying, nonetheless, especially with regard to the fates of their favorite characters.

But the bittersweet conclusion is still a long way off and we will still have a few more years to enjoy in the Seven Kingdoms.