George R.R. Martin comments on Dunk and Egg writing spark fan concern over new series

George R.R. Martin has prompted renewed discussion among fans following recent comments about his Dunk and Egg novellas amid the release of HBO series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

The first season of the show adapts The Hedge Knight, the earliest of Martin’s three published Dunk and Egg stories. A second season, based on The Sworn Sword, is currently in production and expected to air in 2027, leaving only The Mystery Knight remaining as published source material.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month, Martin addressed the limited number of novellas available for adaptation. “The big issue is that I have only written three novellas, and I have a lot more stories about Dunk and Egg in my f**king head,” he said. “I’ve got to get them down on paper. I began writing two at various points in the past year. One is set in Winterfell and one set in the Riverlands.”

The remarks drew attention due to the ongoing delay of The Winds of Winter, the long-awaited next novel in A Song of Ice and Fire, which Martin has previously described as “the curse of my life.” Fans have often linked the book’s delays to Martin’s involvement in multiple projects tied to the wider Game of Thrones franchise.

Following the comments, discussion emerged on Reddit, where one user wrote, “The recent statement George made about being afraid that the Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show will outpace the ‘books’ is crazy.” Others referenced earlier blog posts from 2017 and 2023 in which Martin acknowledged concerns about television adaptations overtaking his writing pace.

Despite the reaction, a contingency plan is in place. Showrunner Ira Parker confirmed that Martin has shared outlines for 12 unpublished Dunk and Egg stories, allowing the series to continue if needed. Martin has also reiterated his commitment to finishing The Winds of Winter, saying, “I would hate that. It would feel like a total failure to me. I want to finish.”

Episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are now streaming on HBO Max.