Exactly! In Martins world, if you don't "see" them die.. They aren't dead. I think he's alive still at least, and hopefully will have a role to play. He's too badass of a character to let go.

A bit of a bump here!

Question for anyone who watches the story and read the books... I'm just about to finish up Book 3 (A Storm of Swords); after all these years I started reading them thinking the TV series was caught up... but it seems like Book 3 is (basically) even with the series. I can't understand how two more books will "only" cover the events of Season 5.

So, question - should I stop reading now? I know there's got to be some stuff in Book 4 that's covered in Season 5 (I'm guessing the Boltons at Winterfell, the "journey East," Daenerys in Mereen, LC Jon Snow going North and King's Landing Sparrow stuff).

However - there's no way that's all of it. Without too many spoilers - is there stuff in Books 4 and 5 (Book 4 especially) that "could" appear in an upcoming TV Season? I committed to the TV show first a while back and I don't want to keep reading the books if something that could have been occurring congruently in the timeline ends up being a major plotline of Season 6 (TV).

Thanks!

And a bump for the end of the weekend just in case someone wandering the forums has an answer or eight for me...

Depends. I say keep reading. There's still plenty of good character details and of course even a character or two that don't show up in the tv series. Books 4 and 5 definitely start introducing some new characters... lots more action with the Greyjoys. So far the tv series has left out introducing these newer characters to focus on wrapping up old subplots.

They have enough material for more seasons because the books don't always feature the same characters' stories. By having less characters but parallel storylines in the tv show they managed to condense the material for continuity. So far it's worked, but yeah, they're getting down to the nitty gritty for material.

I have not read the books, but have read "spoiler" comments about them. As far as I understand, the last book ends the same spot as the TV series. The thing is there are a number of differences between the series and the books, and some things from the books have not been part of the TV series. There is always the possibility, and I keep reading reckless fan speculation, that certain events from the books could still be used in the TV series albeit later.

Specifically, I've read some things about the book version about Arya and the House of Black and White which flushes out that situation more than the series has done so far and could be spoiler-ish for the next season if the TV series goes the same way.

And there are some "coming of Winter" events that have not been portrayed in the series which some believe may be yet to come.

I also recall reading a little more information about Greyscale that might be a little ahead of the TV series.

But beyond these few things, which may have been just outright dropped or changed from the books, but could have also had their timelines delayed, the books do not generally cover anything later than the TV series.

This is the sort of stuff that makes me a bit nervous as it seems like prime Season 6 plot fodder, especially as the show has left out the Greyjoys. Seems like (based on where last season left off) unless they're going to abandon a "North" plot beyond Sansa and Jon Snow (there's no way he isn't coming back ;) ) there's got to be some stuff in the books I haven't read that will be major events of the next (TV) season.

By the way, when is the next book supposed to come out? Before next summer? Or is HBO strictly now working off the "What If" sketch created in the event the show moved beyond the books / the book series wasn't concluded in time.

It's a no-win situation. Either Martin goes into Superman mode and gives us the deux ex with Dany riding in on a dragon to make all the bad things go away (with Taylor Swift singing the new pop radio theme song in the background), or the books/show clings to the darkness and it all ends with a small group of petty, squabbling tyrants and would-be-kings hacking away at tides of zombies in endless winter. Unrealistic family friendly fantasy, or nihilistic seppuku tournament. Those are the choices. Either way, I doubt fans are going to be happy.

The understanding is that the TV series has been given the direction the major characters are going to the end. I would suspect that since the next book is in progress, they probably will have advanced copies of it.

I would almost say that its very likely at least some small points overlooked from the past books seeps into the next season. At the same time, a couple things might have also been clarified better in the TV series than the books so far. For example, I recall some people claiming that what the walkers were doing with the children was still very unclear in the books.

With the North, the whole "war south of the wall" has been changed around and simplified. The books dwell a lot more into various personalities and groups. Its far deeper than Stannis getting supplies from the Wall and marching on WInterfell. There is a lot more about attempts to gather support from others in the North against the Boltons. I suspect (having not read the books yet), this consumes a large portion of the story that has been written but not appearing on screen. The whole situation with Dorne is also completely different.

But generally speaking, from all the reckless speculation on the Internet, those who have read the books seem just as clueless as us TV watchers about what is coming next. I can only think of one really big "event" that book readers have been crying about being absent since the end of season 4 that would be a shocker if you've somehow avoided those spoilers thus far. By all appearances, it has been completely written out, but again, one never knows.

Other things have had their order moved, usually in the same season (for example, the Hound's injury didn't occur at the end of the season and Stannis didn't get a loan from the bank until after he had defeated the Wyldlings. So one never knows if they've just pushed something until later in the story...