It might not be quite as expansive as the Citadel’s vast library, but the Texas university that holds George RR Martin’s papers has invited the public to pick through the fantasy author’s archives to discover clues about upcoming storylines in his Game of Thrones books.
Martin’s archive was first deposited at the Cushing library at Texas A&M University in 1993 – three years before A Game of Thrones, the first novel in his A Song of Ice and Fire series, was published. Today it runs to more than 300 boxes of notes, manuscripts and papers and more than 1,300 books. Now the university’s chancellor, John Sharp, is encouraging students and members of the public to look through the archive.
“The papers and hand-written notes by George RR Martin possibly could contain clues about upcoming storylines, and anyone is welcome to search for themselves,” Sharp said. “Whether you’re developing fan theories or just want to take the opportunity to see Martin’s fantasy writing in its rawest form, A&M’s library staff are happy to show off a true treasure of modern literature.”
Game of Thrones, the popular HBO television series based on Martin’s books, has now extended its storylines well beyond those written by Martin. Last month, the author said that the sixth book in the series, The Winds of Winter, could be published next year.
This week, he told Metro US that: “several times the plot has led me to a dead end, from where there is no way out. I had to go back and rewrite everything again.” He also revealed that “about 20” of the characters who “are killed right and left” in the television adaptation remain “quite alive to me and will appear in a new book”.
Pressed on his writing speed, Martin said that he had not slowed down. “I was working on the first book for six years and four years on the second one. Fantasists who release their novels every year, do not offer books of large volume. These are not 1,500 pages like mine, but, for example, 500,” he said. “In addition, I have not become younger. Age does not add enthusiasm.”
