There's a new dog in Westeros.
George R. R. Martin's long-awaited “The Winds of Winter” is finally going to hit shelves, but possibly not in the form that fans were expecting.
Martin confirmed this past weekend that he is in talks to publish his sixth novel in the epic fantasy series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” but instead of being a follow-up to “A Dream of Spring,” it will now just be an Air Bud sequel.
Fans were left scratching their heads after the announcement, but were not entirely against it. Most readers just want something from the author, and a crossover between the Air Buddies and the Starks, Greyjoys, and Lannisters seems to make sense in a strange way.
People are happy to hear any news of “Winds of Winter,” since It has been delayed several times, such that Martin has refrained from making hard estimates for the novel's final release date.
Word is that Martin has met with his British publishers to discuss the release and legally how he will be able to actually publish it since he does not own the rights to any characters from the Air Bud universe.
Rumor has it that Disney is open to negotiating with HBO as long as they can retain the film rights, but hinted that the crossover event might not be able to happen due to various legal reasons and monopoly laws that would prevent the two best franchises ever from combining.
But Martin is pressing ahead. He's been working on this book since 2012 and allowed the creative process to evolve organically, leading him to experiment with new characters and storylines. He claims he's sitting on 1,800 pages of new content that he refuses to cut.
The novel promises to take the beloved golden retriever Buddy on a journey far beyond the hardwood court, thrusting him into the treacherous world of Westeros. It's not long before Buddy earns the love and respect from Arianne Martell, and a romantic relationship ensues.
Could this move put him in line to take the crown, or is he just loyal to her because she has some gravy on her dress?
One rumor of a chapter leaked online where Buddy enters the Hastilude, or martial games, where events like quintain, axe-throwing, and archery are all played to determine a champion. Most are excited to see how he’ll fair at the Melee, the weapons combat segment of the games. Watch out for that flail, Bud!
Publishers confirm the novel will still feature recurring viewpoint characters like Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister, but will also feature Air Buddies favorites like Budderball, B-Dawg, and even the old bloodhound, Sniffer.
"I've always been a sucker for a good underdog story," Martin reportedly said
"I've always been a sucker for a good underdog story," Martin reportedly said, with a twinkle in his eye "and this just makes sense since it is the final installment of the series."
"All good stories eventually become Air Bud," said the author.
There are concerns, of course. Will Air Bud's signature slobbery charm translate to the cutthroat world of Westeros? Will he succumb to the same gut-wrenching, brutal fate as so many beloved canine characters in Martin's other works? (RIP to Sansa's poor direwolf, Lady).
In Westeros, winter always comes for everyone, even good boys.