‘The Winds of Winter’ Author George RR Martin Keeps Killing Characters Off in ‘Game of Thrones’ for This Reason

George R.R. Martin is one of the most revered authors today. He is most well- known for the “Games of Thrones” TV series because the story is based on his “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series. Fans have been ardently waiting for his sixth book in the "ASOIAF" collection, titled “The Winds of Winter,” which is long delayed already.

Now, since updates about “The Winds of Winter” are scarce, many fans have focused their attention on “Games of Thrones” for the meantime. With the series already in its finale, some viewers noticed that so many characters have already died since the first season aired.

In fact, Washington Post rounded up the characters who have perished in the “Game of Thrones” series and it discovered that more than 1,243 characters have met their deaths since the show first aired. The detail shows that season 6 had the most deaths, with 540 in all.

Now, George R.R. Martin was asked why he was killing off so many favorite characters in the story. In his recent interview with PBS (via The Statesman), he said that it was because J.R.R. Tolkien, “Lord of the Rings” author, made him do it.

He revealed that Tolkien's fantasy series inspired him a lot. It had such a big impact on him that he wanted to do the same. Martin explained that the “LotR” author’s willingness to kill Gandalf inspired most of the unexpected deaths in his own stories for “Game of Thrones.”

"Tolkien's greatest invention was the characters who struggle with the temptation of the Ring and what to do with it," the author said. "...and then Gandalf dies. I can't explain the impact that had on me at 13. Tolkien just broke that rule."

“The Winds of Winter” author went on to say that although that was frustrating, he loves Tolkien for it. “The minute you kill Gandalf, the suspense of everything that follows is a thousand times greater, because now anybody could die, he shared. “It's had a profound effect on my own willingness to kill characters at the drop of a hat."

With that explanation, more bloodshed is expected to happen in “Game of Thrones” season 8, the finale. With the end of the series, fans are hoping that George R.R. Martin will finally finish and release “The Winds of Winter.”

The “Game of Thrones” final run is set to premiere within the first half of 2019. It will only present a total of six episodes but each one will be more than an hour long.