George R. R. Martin, author of the Game of Thrones series of books which serves as the basis of the wildly popular HBO television show, believes his novels will soon outpace the show and could end up causing an extended Sopranos-like hiatus in the process, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Fans of the show and the original books that it is based on have become more and more concerned that Martin's two Song of Ice and Fire novels will cause the HBO TV show to lag behind the author's written stories.

According to the report, Game of Thrones executive producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss, who are closest to Martin, are mulling the possibility of ultimately wrapping up the series before the author completes the seventh and final novel in the series.

Martin told the Hollywood Reporter that he is aware of the fanbase's concern but stated it is an issue which he is optimistic will never come to light.

"My dream chronology is that the books finish first, and I do have a considerable lead over them," he told told the website. "It's true that they're moving faster than I am, the series has its own speed, but I don't see us catching up for another three years or so -- by which time another book will be out. That should give them another two seasons of material. And while I'm writing the last book, they'd be making those."

The author signed a deal with HBO recently which guarantees Martin will stay on with the show's production as well as other HBO projects for at least two more years. As a result, the prolific author understands why some may fear he could burn out.

Martin joked that he wished someone would create a 48-hour day and that he still had the energy he possessed at age 30 so that all aspects of the Game of Thrones story could be completed in as few days as possible. However, the writer is still energized by the potential projects which he's had stored away for just such an occasion.

"I have a considerable desk drawer full of material that I think would be excellent on television," he said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "In the 90s, when I had a development deal, I had a couple pilot deals where I was going to direct a couple of episodes a season. It's a really different discipline, and I think I'm a writer. And the writing is hard enough."

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