“We’re Gonna Start Out With A Big Smash”: GRRM’s The Winds Of Winter Tease From 11 Years Ago Is More Exciting Even After So Many Delays

When it comes to The Winds of Winter, the biggest focus, understandably, is on when it will arrive. It’s been 14 years since A Dance with Dragons and, an entire TV show – plus a Targaryen history book that also became a TV show – later, there’s still no sign of it. The Winds of Winter is taking a long time due to a variety of factors, from George R.R. Martin’s other projects to the sheer scale and complexity of the narrative. The author, though, remains positive, and ensuring the novel is right isn’t a bad thing.

But what about when it does arrive? Beyond the release, there is so much to happen in the book, which makes it less surprising Martin is struggling. Jon Snow will be resurrected, Daenerys Targaryen will meet Tyrion Lannister and may finally make it to Westeros, and dozens and dozens of other plot lines, big and small, will unfold. There are a few things we can expect, thanks to Game of Thrones‘ ending (and the seasons before it), as well Martin’s own comments, which include an exciting tease of how the book will begin.

George R.R. Martin Promised Two Big Battles To Open The Winds Of Winter

There’s Already A Clear Idea Of What They’ll Be

Martin has revealed various details about the next A Song of Ice and Fire book over the years, and one intriguing tease came from an interview with Entertainment Weekly back in 2014. Discussing his plans for the novel (which, at that point, he still hoped to finish before the show ended), he said:

“I think we’re gonna start out with a big smash with the two enormous battles.”

The two battles in question both occurred, at different points, in Game of Thrones. The first is the Battle of Ice, which is Stannis Baratheon’s forces going up against those of Ramsay Bolton. It’s a little wild to think that something Thrones did in season 5 (that’s 10 years ago!) hasn’t actually happened on the page yet, but here we are. While the pink letter in A Dance with Dragons claims Stannis has died, he’s alive and preparing for battle as The Winds of Winter begins.

The other battle will be the Battle of Slaver’s Bay or, to pair it with Stannis’ battle, the Battle of Fire. Indeed, The Winds of Winter‘s preview chapters actually kicked this off, with Tyrion Lannister witnessing the events taking place in Slaver’s Bay, where the Yunkish are laying siege to Meereen against forces commanded by Ser Barristan Selmy, while there’s also the not-so-small matter of Victarion Greyjoy and the Iron Fleet’s arrival.

The Winds Of Winter’s Battles Will Ensure It Hits The Ground Running

The Differences From Game Of Thrones Are Also Exciting

The battles to begin The Winds of Winter are exciting for a couple of different reasons. First is how they’ll be different from Game of Thrones. With the Battle of Ice, there’s actually a good chance Stannis will win and take Winterfell, rather than being swiftly defeated as in the TV show.

Similarly, the Battle of Meereen will be different to how it played out in Game of Thrones, where Daenerys and her dragons defeated the slavers. Barristan being alive, the presence of Victarion, and a much more complex and detailed political landscape in Slaver’s Bay can make this unpredictable even after the events of the show.

Differences aside, the combination of these two events should be a thrilling way to begin The Winds of Winter. After so many delays and such a long gap, it’s important the book hits the ground running and thrusts readers right back into the thick of the action. There’s a lot to love about Martin’s worldbuilding, attention to detail, and page-after-page describing great feasts, but really ramping it up with a “big smash” can help make it feel like a bigger reward after waiting so long.

Importantly, this is also likely to be the longest book in A Song of Ice and Fire, given the amount it has to cover. The Winds of Winter can’t afford to waste any time, because so much has to happen, and so diving straight into these battles, which have already been so well set up, can really help it avoid that, and makes it an even more exciting prospect, if that’s possible at this point.