George R.R. Martin Clarifies Game of Thrones Books Situation, Talks Season 4 Differences

Fans of HBO's Game of Thrones and George R.R. Martin's epic A Song of Ice and Fire saga flipped out Tuesday when Martin's editor indicated the author, infamous for his lengthy periods between book releases, might publish eight books instead of the planned seven for the series.

The show is rapidly catching up to the books, so fans naturally panicked at the thought of another installment at the end of the series. Martin spoke to EW.com and revealed that seven is still the goal, although he answered in typical GGRM fashion.

"My plan is to finish in seven," Martin said. "But my original plan was to finish in three. I write the stories and they grow. I deal with certain things and sometimes I find myself not at the end of a story. My plan right now is still seven. But first I have to finish Book Six. Get back to me when I'm half-way through Book Seven and then maybe I'll tell you something more meaningful."

EW asked Martin in 2011 if he were "firmly committed" to seven books. "I'm as firm as I am," he replied, "until I decide not to be firm."

Season 4 of Game of Thrones has featured some of the most radical departures from the books thus far, but Martin seems pleased with the direction of the TV series.

"It's been a great season," Martin said. "Though by and large we are seeing more differences from the books and I've been predicting that from the beginning. There's a certain snowball effect of making changes and I think that will continue."

The author particularly praised Pedro Pascal's performance as Oberyn Martell. EW also asked if he liked or disliked a particular change.

"I like many of the new scenes they've inserted along the way, though I miss the things they leave out," Martin said. "Obviously I put those scenes in the books for a reason, I felt they added to the story. As I've been saying for years, I wish they had more hours - every time I see another HBO show I wonder why we only have 10 and they have 13. But we've done some major stuff this year. The Purple Wedding and Tyrion's trial - with incredible performances by Peter Dinklage and Sibel Kekilli. And the trial by combat was amazing, too. I'm really looking forward to next week as I'm told we have a battle that dwarfs the Battle of the Blackwater."

Martin said the producers' plan to make seven seasons of Game of Thrones likely would not "be enough to tell the story we're telling in the books."

For more from Martin, including his plan to solve the time issue for the series, read the rest of the interview here.

Do you think the series will eventually catch up to the books? Let us know in the comments below.