Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin flips bird at suggestions he may die before finishing his books — but he has a plan in case

WHAT if Game of Thrones’ next high-profile death is its creator? George R.R. Martin saya ‘F%$* you’ to fans who fear he’ll die before finishing the series. (But he has a plan.)

WHAT if the Game of Thrones’ next high-profile death is its author itself? George R.R. Martin is so sick of the question he flicked fans the bird — but he’s already secretly covered that plot point.

The famous author — who has become the butt of many a joke about the slow rate he is producing new instalments of the epic fantasy novels — expressed his frustration about fears for his demise during an interview with a Swiss newspaper.

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When 65-year-old George R.R. Martin was asked by a Tagesanzeiger reporter about such fears, he replied:

“I find that question pretty offensive, people speculating about my death and my health … So f*ck you to those people”.

To emphasise his point, he flipped the bird.

But, as with everything Martin writes, there appears to be wheels within wheels when it comes to this plot point.

He’s already taken his mortality into account.

The producers of the immensely popular TV series spin-off of his books have already spilled the beans: They hold the secret to the unwritten end of his epic story.

And all showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss have said about the ending has been a short reponse to fan questions about whether or not it will provide a satisfying plot pay-off:

Benioff: “Absolutely yes.”

Weiss: “100 per cent.”

That’s all they told Entertainment Weekly. Nothing more has been said since.

So it’s not Martin’s mortality that fans should be worried about.

It’s his productivity.

When asked last month if he wished HBO had waited until he’d finished his novels before adapting it to a TV show, he replied:

“I wish that all the time! That would be so good. I am laying track for a locomotive and it’s coming up very fast and in full speed. I look behind me and I can see the smoke, so I better lay that track …”

Power behind the thrones ... George. R.R. Martin is feeling the pressure as the immensely popular TV show based on his series of novels catches up with his written work.

Martin published the first novel in the Game of Thrones series back in 1996. The pace was initially good, with the third instalment — A Storm of Swords — appearing in 2000.

The fourth — A Feast for Crows — did not appear until 2005.

It was not until 2011 that the fifth appeared: A Dance with Dragons.

The series of novels is supposed to be a seven-tome epic. At this rate, the last book won’t be making an appearance until 2023 — or later.

It’s already looming as potential issue for the immensely popular TV series spin-off of his books.

But only if it sticks to the seven-book cycle of the novels. And if Martin can’t up his output rate.

Season six of the TV series arrives in two years. It may not be so bad: If Martin maintains his six-year cycle of publishing, Winds of Winter — the sixth novel — will just about be hitting the presses.

It’s the following year — 2017 — that will likely hobble the producers of the small-screen classic.

The book, A Dream of Spring, will likely still be six years away.

Will the machinations of this TV versus paperback contest mean we will see the first instalment of this final novel on the small screen?

Stranger things have happened in this Game of Thrones.