It has been 20 years since George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series hit the shelves and five years since it has gained a popular following as an epic fantasy HBO television series. The author, well known for not shying away from breaking our hearts by killing off beloved characters, promises a victorious ending to the series - albeit a bittersweet one.
Having taken to the War of the Roses and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings for direct inspiration for his writing A Song of Ice and Fire, Martin reveals that he plans to end the series in the same way. Middle-earth defeated the Dark Lord Sauron, but Frodo was never the same again.
In an interview with Sean T. Collins of Observer, Martin explains that although he has not yet written the ending to his series, it has always been his plan to end it on a bittersweet note. He certainly has no intention of throwing everyone into a horrible, unescapable apocalypse where everybody loses.
"That's certainly not my intent. I've said before that the tone of the ending that I'm going for is bittersweet. I mean, it's no secret that Tolkien has been a huge influence on me, and I love the way he ended Lord of the Rings," he says. "It ends with victory, but it's a bittersweet victory. Frodo is never whole again, and he goes away to the Undying Lands, and the other people live their lives."
Martin also speaks about the final chapter of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy titled The Scouring of the Shire. Although this chapter is rather bleak, showing the Shire, home of the hobbits, nearly razed by Saruman and his cohorts. It is perhaps a telling clue as to how Martin plans to end his own fantasy novel series after decades of captivating readers and fans.
"And the scouring of the Shire-brilliant piece of work, which I didn't understand when I was 13 years old: 'Why is this here? The story's over?' But every time I read it I understand the brilliance of that segment more and more," he says. "All I can say is that's the kind of tone I will be aiming for. Whether I achieve it or not, that will be up to people like you and my readers to judge."
Who will end up sitting on the Iron Throne? Perhaps someone will set it ablaze once and for all? Will the Lannisters finally get their comeuppance? Will the Starks return to the North?
Only George R.R. Martin knows the answers, and from what he has shared, it looks to be an interesting finale to his tale with more heartbreak, battles and finally, victory for some.
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