In 1975, Martin met Dune author Frank Herbert at a book convention and they shared a drink. The meeting was “near the end of Herbert’s life,” Martin says. Herbert had written many acclaimed novels, but all fans seemed to want was more Dune. Herbert’s publisher had just offered him a modest advance for a story he wanted to write, or six times that number for another Dune novel.
“He didn’t like Dune anymore and he didn’t want to write any more Dune books,” Martin says. “But he felt locked in by the success of Dune, so he kept writing them.”
Martin finishes … and waits.
I ask: Do you relate to how Herbert felt?
“I’m not necessarily tired of the world [of Ice and Fire],” he says. “I love the world and the world-building. But, yes, I do.”
He may just be saying shit at this point. He cannot believe he will finish the story and wants to have as many seeds out there so if someone else finishes it, their bases are covered saying it was all his plan from the start.
Also I remember reading all of these multiple times and my thought throughout was if anyone survives it all it was going to be Sansa.
Not because she was the most sinister or most coniving but because she was always going to be a pawn and would stab the last man/woman standing. It was going to be pure dumb luck she lived through it all.