Brandon Sanderson Says He’d Refuse to Finish A Song of Ice and Fire, Insists George R.R. Martin “Owes” No One Books

In a candid new interview with IGN, bestselling author Brandon Sanderson revealed that he would decline any offer to complete George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy saga A Song of Ice and Fire should the Game of Thrones creator pass away before finishing Winds of Winter. Speaking about one of the most persistent questions in modern speculative fiction, Sanderson made clear that despite having successfully guided Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series across its final volumes, he does not believe he is the right person to pick up Martin’s unfinished work.

The comments arrived during a wide-ranging conversation with IGN that touched on authorship, creative responsibility, and the very human struggles behind some of contemporary fantasy’s most anticipated books. Sanderson, who has spent years building his own literary empire including the Stormlight Archive and Mistborn series, offered both a firm answer to the “who finishes GoT?” question and a thoughtful defense of Martin against the relentless speculation surrounding his health and productivity.

“I’m the Wrong Person to Do This”

When directly asked whether he would consider finishing the A Song of Ice and Fire series as he did with the Wheel of Time, Sanderson was unequivocal. “Respectfully, I’m the wrong person to do this – and I think most fans of both of our works would agree,” he said.

Sanderson drew a parallel between his own career trajectory and Martin’s, noting that his body of work is in many ways a response to A Song of Ice and Fire, just as that series responded to 1990s fantasy like the Wheel of Time. He explained that even if he accepted such a task, he would write it exactly how fans wanted, but insisted there are far more natural candidates for the job.

“If I were to say yes, I would do my best to write it exactly as fans want and expect, but I would not say yes – because there are much more natural fits out there, and if George decided to go that direction, he’d deserve someone who is as good a fit for his world as I was for Wheel of Time. That said, I don’t think George wants to go that direction, so let’s just support him in writing his books at the speed he’s capable of going.”

Brandon Sanderson

Acknowledging Martin’s Struggles

Sanderson’s stance aligns with what Martin himself has said this year, confirming there is no plan for anyone else to step in and that the series simply “won’t be finished.” The 77-year-old author recently acknowledged the lack of updates regarding his famous book series, describing the year so far as having been “stressful, to say the least.”

“So much has been happening, it’s been overwhelming,” Martin wrote in a post titled ‘Better Late Than Never.’ “Some great things, exciting things. Dreams coming true. But there have been nightmares too. I have lost friends. Battled sadness and depression. The worst may be yet to come.” He added that turning 77 last September had not been easy, though he noted amazing times as well.

Sanderson urged readers to keep Martin’s wellbeing at the center of any conversation about his unfinished books. “I implore people, in this discussion, to remember the person,” he said, praising Martin as one of the greats of the genre who has treated him with kindness and spent years fostering new talent.

The Creative Process Is an Art, Not a Transaction

Sanderson pushed back hard against the notion that authors owe their audiences finished sagas. “George doesn’t owe people books, as he cannot actually make that promise – none of us can,” he argued, pointing out his own inability to guarantee when his Stormlight Archive will conclude.

Yet he also acknowledged a certain responsibility between writers and readers, admitting personal guilt in the GoT delay conversation. “I am as guilty as anyone of, now and then, making light of the fact that we don’t have a conclusion to Game of Thrones,” he said, referencing his own long-delayed Rithmatist sequel.

“That from the outside, this seems like a trade (like making cabinets) when in reality it’s an art, much like making music… and sometimes, you lose that music. [Let’s] just hope it’s not forever.”

Brandon Sanderson

Looking Ahead

Sanderson noted that fans can track the progress of his own ongoing projects directly on his website, where he maintains percentage bars for everything from the Mistborn screenplay to Songrise 4.0 and Ghostbloods Book 1 Draft 2.0.

As for Martin’s magnum opus, no completion date remains in sight. The author has repeatedly expressed frustration with health speculation at convention panels, telling fans he “really didn’t need that shit.” For now, Sanderson’s message to readers is one of patience and support rather than expectation.