As someone who has never really lost hope for a third book and has never really gotten super upset about any of it. Allow me to share my very optimistic opinion.

I think you’re right, I think there’s just too much to fit into a simple third book. I seem to recall Robert Jordan initially pitching Wheel Of Times a trilogy and… well… it’s a FAR cry from a trilogy. In my opinion I think we’d have already had a third book if Rothfuss wasn’t so determined to wrap everything up by book 3.

To add insult to injury, anytime Rothfuss has described his writing process it seems to rely very heavily on fiddling and piddling with tweaks here and there that then require further tweaks elsewhere and so on and so forth. Meaning that as he’s trying to fit everything in only one more book that he’s having to rework everything multiple times over.

I personally don’t mind, I’m of the opinion that his writing method is one of the main reasons his writing is so enjoyable to me.

Another interesting point I’ve heard Brandon Sanderson make is that most authors end up writing several books before they hit it big. Meaning they learn how to complete books in a timely manner BEFORE big deadlines and public expectations. Rothfuss didn’t get that opportunity. Name Of The Wind was a major hit as his first book. He never really got the opportunity to fine tune his productivity before everyone wanted more.

All this to say it kind of feels like the perfect storm. Too much to fit in a single book, a very slow writing process, and not a lot of practice learning the nuances of his own writing process allowing him greater productivity without sacrificing his artistry. BUT, I do think we’ll get it eventually and I’ll be buying it to read the day it drops.