HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones is based on the book series entitled A Song of Ice and Fire by author George R.R. Martin. The first book in the series by Martin is entitled Game of Thrones, hence the name for the TV show. Martin has five of his planned seven-book series done, while the show is finishing up season seven of eight this weekend.

With Season 7 winding down and Martin working on the sixth book, The Winds of Winter, the critically acclaimed author is doing interviews about the show and his books.

In a conversation with Metro, the 68-year-old Martin spoke up about the difference between his books and the show, and told Metro that he doesn’t even watch the show:

That’s because, despite creating the books upon which they’re based, the author does not watch the hugely popular series. The 68-year-old insists he just doesn’t have the time because of writing and “touring”.

This seems especially odd when you consider that Martin has helped write the show in the past. I’d be absolutely shocked if Martin has stopped watching altogether. While he may not watch when the episodes are released, my guess is that Martin watches on his own time.

After all, Martin said he doesn’t have the time to watch because of “writing and touring.” That just adds to the possibility that Martin watches when he can and that may even be before the season is released to the public. If Martin asked HBO for advance copies of each episode, I’m sure they’d oblige.

Here are some of Martin’s other interesting quotes from the interview…

On if he is writing slower now compared to in the past:

“I did not start to write slower over the years,” Martin said. “I was working on the first book for six years and four years on the second one… In addition, I have not become younger. Age does not add enthusiasm.”

On how his series may relate to modern political topics:

“Seven kingdoms are trying to unite against a common enemy –White Walkers, but this is not an allegory,” Martin said. “If I wanted to write about the real world, I would have done it.”

On why Game of Thrones is so popular:

“Epic fantasy was born with the advent of “The Lord of the Rings” by Tolkien. After that, there were very popular book series – for example, made by Robert Jordan and Terry Brooks. Nevertheless, they remained being made for teenagers. And if they were made a series, then it would be a story for children about magic and dragons. HBO, which launched the “Game of Thrones,”pushed through all these conventions. They left a complicated plot, sex and violence.”

On Game of Thrones nearly becoming a movie before HBO picked it up:

“(Hollywood Studios) asked me about a possible adaptation,” George Martin said. “But at that time it was only about the big screen. It could have been a movie or three.”

[Metro; Deadspin]

About David Lauterbach

David is a writer for The Comeback. He enjoyed two Men's Basketball Final Four trips for Syracuse before graduating in 2016. If The Office or Game of Thrones is on TV, David will be watching.