I think that manga's never going to end. (Unless it's canceled but no way that's happening)

What 20 years and ongoing? It's the author's only way of making $$, he's not going to just end it and start up a new one when it isn't set that his new one is going to be a success too.

No the whole "the author might die before he finishes" applies here cause of how slow the story progresses (not cause of pace but of release).  The story has still has a bunch to show us.

I mean they JUST got to the Elf Island.  Expect a good while there.  Unless the next arc after that is the assult on Falconia then I don't see any end in sight.

From what I understand, George knows how it ends and they are well prepared for this eventuality. George knows he is obese and how important this series is to his fans. I would rather that if he did die, then his notes were patched to make into the final books. I don't think that it is a very good idea to just leave the books behind as the TV series progressed

I refuse to make any predictions on how this will end though, there are too many storylines in play, I just hope that all of those plots actually come together at some point

If he dies, then we all die....just a little bit.

To be honest (spoliers) I can only see the story going one way. Which is that the seven kingdoms bands together to defeat the White Walkers and the Starks renuite.

Of course the plot is a lot more intricate than that, because we're all interested in our favourite characters, but the ending of the series won't be the evil White Walkers destroy humanity.

There seems to be only one way it can go, the only thing is how we get there. I don't think George will die before he finishes because hes not that old and he only has 2 books to go (I think).

If he does I'm sure whoever finishes it will be able to figure out how to get to that ending. Dragons, hint, hint. But I have heard that in the event he does die he dosen't want anyone else to finsih his books. Only 2 to go though, so I doubt we'll be left without an ending.

If I remember rightly, in order for the show to be greenlit in the first place, GRRM had to reveal the overall direction of the final books. If he does die then the TV show at least can continue.

Eh, I honestly don't care much, to be honest, since I'm not so much an ASOIAF fan as I used to be.

Although given George all but confirmed the producers about... a certain popular parentage theory being true... and given the last book was to be names "A Time for Wolves," yeah, the producers of the TV series will probably build their end over these themes.

Also, the blue flower blooming in the wall on Dany's dream. The average enthusiastic sadistic fan who loves to say "ooh, GRRM can be predicted,the red wedding and Ned's head yadda yadda" will go on a nerdrage.

Yep, it's normally about 3 months from when he announces a book's done and it appears on shelves.

Now that the Meerenese knot is out of the way we shouldn't have another interminable wait on our hands. Though I expect GRRM will get a bit nervous if Season 5 comes out and The Winds of Winter is still a long way from done.

Do have a release date on Winds of Winter? I mean he has published the first four books within 2, but took 5 years to for Dance with the dragons. And my cousin told me that was not a really good one.