Author George R.R. Martin
George R.R. Martin, author of the "Song of Ice and Fire" fantasy series that is the basis of the television series "Game of Thrones", pauses during his masterclass at the Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF) in Neuchatel July 10, 2014. Reuters/Denis Balibouse

Fans who are eagerly waiting to know the release date of “Winds of Winter” may have something to cheer about soon. According to a popular theorist the book will be out by 2017. The prediction is based on an analysis of George R.R. Martin’s speed in writing the previous book in the series.

The popular theorist who goes by the name BryndenBFish is active on the Song of Ice and Fire subreddit and also has his own Wars and Politics of Ice and Fire blog. In an interview with The Verge the theorist said that the next book in “A song of Ice and Fire” could be released next year.

The theorist has analysed Martin’s speed in finishing “Dance with Dragons” and concludes that the next book could be out as yearly as the first quarter of 2017. The bigger concern for the theorist is not when the book will be out, but “whether the book is going to be good.”

The theorist pointed out that Martin had to push Battle of Winterfell and Battle of Fire to “Winds of Winter.” The two battles were supposed to come towards the end of “Dance with Dragons” and since that didn’t happen; many fans were left disappointed.

Talking about some of things that can be expected in the book, BryndenBFish said that the fact that Jon Snow is the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen will be confirmed in the book, just as it has been confirmed in the “Game of Thrones” TV adaptation.

However, the theorist said that there will be some things that will not be featured in “Winds of Winter” or “Game of Thrones” TV series. BryndenBFish explained that Martin will also not address these concerns and leave it to the fans to speculate and theorise about it for years.