George R.R. Martin’s appearance at Seattle Worldcon 2025 was soured when a reader confronted him aboutThe Winds of Winterduring a panel, telling the author he’s “not going to be around for much longer” before asking if there was any possibility of someone else, like fellow panelist Brandon Sanderson, finishing the book.
The footage of the panel was shared onYouTube, and other attendees have posted to social media (viaCollider) to condemn the incident. The audience booed the question almost immediately, and the other panelists were quick to defend theSong of Ice and Fireauthor. The panel ended shortly afterward, with the hosts moving to regain control of the situation.
This isn’t the first instance of such rhetoric being directed at Martin, with upset fans often taking to the internet to complain aboutThe Winds of Winter’s continued delay. Unfortunately, such discussions often turn toxic rather quickly.
Seattle Worldcon is a perfect example of this, and it’s fortunate that the hosts, audience, and other authors all attempted to defuse the situation. PerCollider,Martin received support on the heels of the Q&A, and the author could be found signing books not long after.
The Internet Has Been Quick To Rally Behind George R.R. Martin
On ther/freefolkthread sharing the full video of the panel, people were disappointed to see Martin treated this way at Worldcon. Commenters noted that the panel was “hard to watch,” with some questioning why the author would evenwantto deliver his long-awaited sequel anymore. AnXpost recapping the incident received similar comments, with many “disgusted” by the behavior Martin is often faced with.
It’s a relief to see pockets of the internet and Seattle Worldcon attendees rallying behind Martin, as this sort of conversation happens too frequently — both with and without the author present. In discussions surroundingThe Winds of Winter,readers too often overlook or ignore the fact that Martin is a human being first and deserves to be treated as such.
Unfortunately, as many fans are noting, readers feel entitled to the author’s next book. This can blur boundaries when interacting with him. He’s not the only famous figure to deal with this, though he’s one of the biggest examples in recent years.
Despite such issues,George R.R. Martinhas continued to attend events, interact with theASOIAFfan base, and provide updates when he can, things we should all be grateful for.
