[clydeglavine]

It's been 10 years since the 5th book. The 6th will probably come out at some point in the next couple of years, but the 7th? Who knows?

Is it worth it to start the series, in spite of this uncertainty?

[Wtfits]

Not in my opinion

[vinseye]

For what they are, they're still very entertaining reads that will use up around 200 hours of your free time - to that end probably still worth it. Especially if you've not seen the show, book 3 will slay you.

[Randall_flagg]

I think they are, personally. The world-building in the books goes so much deeper than the show could. Even if the series never ends, I don't regret my time reading the first five

[harrytheheir]

They are very good books so if you don't mind the story being unfinished then go for it! Martin's writing and the story and characters are just amazing.

Personally I think 1 of 2 things will happen with the series. Either 1) Martin's spent the last 10 years finishing both 6 AND 7, and they will both be released fairly close together (book 7 like a year after book 6). Or 2) He never releases anything else, saying he can't get it perfect.

[Pero Ces]

Honestly Martin will probably pass away before we see them finished. I heard he does have the an outline of the story in case he dies.

[harrytheheir]

He's specifically said that he doesn't want another author finishing his books if he dies, a la Robert Jordan and Wheel of Time. There's a chance his outlines and notes get organized and published in the future, like how Christopher Tolkien did with his dad's papers and unfinished stories, but it would all depend on what GRRM's wishes were. If I doesn't want another author finishing it I can't see him wanting his notes and stuff published either.

So we will probably be stuck with that letter he sent to publishers back in the 90's where he outlines the plot and tells some of the ending.

[thundereder9t8y]

If you're into reading then why not?

[clydeglavine]

If you're into reading then why not?

Because it's a big time commitment and there are lots of other books I could read instead.