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George R.R. Martin addresses whether that was 'the real ending' of 'Game of Thrones'

Author George R.R. Martin waves to photographers at the premiere of the film "Tolkien," at the Regency Village Theatre, Wednesday, May 8, 2019, in Los Angeles. The film explores the formative years of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the classic fantasy novels "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings." (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
George R.R. Martin (Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Spoilers follow for the series finale of Game of Thrones...

Say what you like about who ended up as the ruler of the seven – well, six – kingdoms, there aren't many who thought it would be Brandon Stark.

But after a stunningly brief speech by Tyrion, the boy who was pushed from a window by Jaime Lannister in episode one was given the dubious sobriquet 'Bran The Broken' and handed the keys to the Red Keep.

Read more: Game of Thrones final episode round-up

So is that really it? The HBO series outran the source material of George R.R. Martin's books two or so seasons ago, and while he met with showrunners Dan Weiss and David Benioff to let them in on the unwritten remainder of the story so they could complete the show, is that really what happens?

Martin has taken to his blog to address this very matter, calling the whole business ‘a wild ride, to say the least’.

“How will it all end?” he wrote. “I hear people asking. The same ending as the show? Different? Well… yes. And no. And yes. And no. And yes. And no. And yes.”

Thanks, George.

Arya, Bran and Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones (Credit: HBO)
Arya, Bran and Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones (Credit: HBO)

“I expect these last two books of mine will fill 3000 manuscript pages between them before I’m done… and if more pages and chapters and scenes are needed, I’ll add them,” he went on.

“Book or show, which will be the ‘real’ ending? It’s a silly question. How many children did Scarlett O’Hara have?”

“How about this? I’ll write it. You read it. Then everyone can make up their own mind, and argue about it on the internet.”

Read more: How to fill the void left by Game of Thrones

Oh, the arguments have started already George, with many fans pretty gutted at how things turned out.

As for the remaining two books, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, Martin says that he's still working on them, as he has been since 2011 (A Dance With Dragons took him six years, and that was with one or two fewer distractions).

“I’m writing. Winter is coming, I told you, long ago… and so it is. ‘THE WINDS OF WINTER’ is very late, I know, I know, but it will be done,” Martin added.

“I won’t say when, I’ve tried that before, only to burn you all and jinx myself… but I will finish it, and then will come ‘A DREAM OF SPRING.'”