'Winds of Winter' release date rumors, updates: Early excerpt to be included in upcoming 'Game of Thrones' digital edition; new installment set for 2018 launch?
George R.R. Martin's long-anticipated "The Winds of Winter" book was previously reported to arrive sometime next year. Unfortunately for fans, it seems the wait will be much longer since recent reports claim the new installment's release has been pushed back to 2018.
While the best-selling author has yet to confirm claims about the book's delay, multiple reports say that the new installment won't be released until 2018. Some blame Martin's hectic schedule for the delay, making him distracted from finishing the bok. The scribe is also known to be working on many commitments right now. Aside from writing his own novels, Martin edits other books, takes part in conventions and is still working on the "Game of Thrones" TV series.
Meanwhile, a "Game of Thrones: Enhanced Edition" was launched a few weeks ago on Apple's iBooks to celebrate the epic fantasy novel's 20th anniversary. According to publisher HarperCollins, the offers readers lots of additional content, ranging from detailed annotations to interactive character maps. It will also include audio clips, family trees and numerous character journeys.
As a special treat, early parts from "The Winds of Winter" will be included in the enhanced editions. Although it was briefly published on Martin's website, the extracts will now be available only in the new enhanced editions.
"We're now entering a new period in the history of publishing," Martin said in a press statement. "The digital book gives readers the ability to experience all this rich secondary material that had not been possible before. These enhanced editions, available only on iBooks, include sigils and family trees and glossaries. Anything that confuses you, anything you want to know more about, it's right there at your fingertips. It's an amazing next step in the world of books."
The digital version of "A Song of Ice and Fire" is now available on iBooks, while "A Clash of Kings," is scheduled for Oct. 27. "A Storm of Swords" is set to arrive on Dec. 15, while "A Feast for Crows" and "A Dance with Dragons" will be released in February and March 2017.
