For years, readers of George R.R. Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire” series have rested safely, securely, and often smugly in the knowledge that, no matter what else happens in this crazy, mixed-up world, at least they knew who was about to die on Game of Thrones. Not anymore. At the Writers Guild West Awards this weekend, Martin hinted that Thrones’ upcoming fifth season would diverge from the books even more — with fatal results for the few inhabitants of Westeros who have not already been killed. “People are going to die who don’t die in the books, so even the book readers will be unhappy,” Martin told the crowd. “Everybody better be on their toes.” Although, since this is Game of Thrones, those toes have likely already been amputated, flayed, eaten by rats, shot with a fire arrow, and turned into ice-zombies.
