Sapkowski's Witcher books

[Nerds_feather]

Um...wow. I had no idea these even existed until the credits ran at the end of the video game The Witcher 2. So I bought the first book and was instantly hooked. The witty, sardonic and playful style reminds me of Fritz Leiber. The world is largely based on Slavic myths (mixed with the high medieval, Nordic and Celtic myths most other fantasy worlds are based on), and the characters are great. Is sword & sorcery of the highest order. Plus the politics are complex and subtle. Anyone else a fan?

 

[Toby Frost]

I liked the first book, The Last Wish, quite a lot, but I didn't warm to the second, Blood of Elves. My thoughts on it are here: The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

 

[Connavar]

I liked the first book, The Last Wish, quite a lot, but I didn't warm to the second, Blood of Elves. My thoughts on it are here: http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/531239-the-last-wish-by-andrzej-sapkowski.html

I thougtht same, i was real hooked on the first book. It was really good,fun S&S in the old school Solomon Kane like man in black hunter of superantural beings with slavic twist,mythlogy.

Good shorter stories and the next book was generic fantasy that i dont like to read.

I still hope they publish more in english.

 

[Nerds_feather]

I'm going to read it, so don't give me spoilers, but what was it about Blood of Elves that felt like a departure from The Last Wish?

Also, I've heard a problem with Blood of Elves is that the publisher (I think it's Golancz) neglected to publish the second book (which is another collection of connected stories), because "short story books don't sell very well." However, I've heard there are things that happen in the second book that you sort of need to know to really enjoy Blood of Elves.

 

[Connavar]

It didnt feel like good Sword and Sorcery. It became more typical S&S fantasy and lost the weird,the different slavic mythology. Big departure from anything that made The Last Wish good. Let me know when you have read it. Saying the reason,the characters it wasnt good would spoil too much.

By the way im a big fan of Sword and Sorcery/HF of old and new. The Last Wish is good but Paul Kearney Match,Sea Beggar series, Gemmell are better versions imo.

Also look at Vampire Hunter D, its like a japanese The Last Wish. Both are of course like Van Hellsing film inspired by the original man in black S&S hero by certain fantasy legend.

 

[Toby Frost]

Blood of Elves is the start of a much longer sequence - in fantasy, quelle tedious surprise - and doesn't wrap its story up at the end. In fact, it feels like the early chunks of a much longer novel chopped off. It's not as witty as The Last Wish, the references aren't as clever and the sense of each story being actually about something is completely gone. Also, it gives a long section to one of the least likeable characters in TLW. As Connavar says, it just feels like generic fantasy.

 

[Kylara]

A very well translated piece though...I was supposed to do a review of Blood of Elves (never got round to it...ooops) and I quite enjoyed it, but it did have a very open ending, however that is something I am used to, as I have an unfortunate habit of starting series' that haven't been finished...ah Gemmel, you know, I have read a few (I love them, but can never find the one I need next in the bookstore) but I like his "Wolf in Shadow" more than the others, I do love ironic post apocalyptic plots though, where you already know much more than the characters...good writer Gemmel...I really must get more of his stuff, I know not how but it shall all be mine...soon...

 

[Nerds_feather]

Well, after playing The Witcher 2 and finishing TLW (currently have 2 stories left), I'll sink my teeth into Blood of Elves. I hope that I come to different conclusions from Toby Frost and Connavar, because I like the world and characters so much that I really want to like that book!

Any idea when the next installment will be released?

 

[Connavar]

Blood of Elves is the start of a much longer sequence - in fantasy, quelle tedious surprise - and doesn't wrap its story up at the end. In fact, it feels like the early chunks of a much longer novel chopped off. It's not as witty as The Last Wish, the references aren't as clever and the sense of each story being actually about something is completely gone. Also, it gives a long section to one of the least likeable characters in TLW. As Connavar says, it just feels like generic fantasy.

I knew it was the first of a long sequence, wouldnt rap the story up and i was giving many breaks but it wasnt just good enough. Yeah not so likeable character. If it had the same quality as TLW but not as witty,the same sense of story i could still enjoyed like i enjoy a fantasy trilogy of this kind.

 

[Toby Frost]

I don't know when the others are due to be released, but I hope it's soon. For all I've said about BoE, it does contain some good stuff, and Sapkowski is a good writer and deserves greater recognition. The Last Wish is the closest thing I've read to The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, which is an excellent book.

 

[clovis-man]

The short stories actually make Blood of Elves the first in the series. As such, it suffered from being just a set-up for more volumes. My Goodreads review:

** spoiler alert ** Typical fantasy elements: Elves are archers; Dwarves wield axes: wizards and enchantresses make arcane hand gestures. The plot was not really a story as much as it was a description of various characters and forces jockeying for position in preparation for the sequel(s). As such, notwithstanding the reasonably well written dialogue, I found this book to be something of a general disappointment. I was not drawn to any of the characters and have no desire to follow any of their further adventures....moreTypical fantasy elements: Elves are archers; Dwarves wield axes: wizards and enchantresses make arcane hand gestures. The plot was not really a story as much as it was a description of various characters and forces jockeying for position in preparation for the sequel(s). As such, notwithstanding the reasonably well written dialogue, I found this book to be something of a general disappointment. I was not drawn to any of the characters and have no desire to follow any of their further adventures.

Sorry I can't be more positive.

I'm afraid the game tie-in has given this series more exposure than it deserves.

 

[Connavar]

The short stories actually make Blood of Elves the first in the series. As such, it suffered from being just a set-up for more volumes. My Goodreads review:

** spoiler alert ** Typical fantasy elements: Elves are archers; Dwarves wield axes: wizards and enchantresses make arcane hand gestures. The plot was not really a story as much as it was a description of various characters and forces jockeying for position in preparation for the sequel(s). As such, notwithstanding the reasonably well written dialogue, I found this book to be something of a general disappointment. I was not drawn to any of the characters and have no desire to follow any of their further adventures....moreTypical fantasy elements: Elves are archers; Dwarves wield axes: wizards and enchantresses make arcane hand gestures. The plot was not really a story as much as it was a description of various characters and forces jockeying for position in preparation for the sequel(s). As such, notwithstanding the reasonably well written dialogue, I found this book to be something of a general disappointment. I was not drawn to any of the characters and have no desire to follow any of their further adventures.

Sorry I can't be more positive.

I'm afraid the game tie-in has given this series more exposure than it deserves.

Have you read The Last Wish? I think that collection deserves the exposure he has but if you have read only Blood of Elves its another matter.

I hope to see another collection of stories, a novel better than Blood of Elves to be published in english.

 

[Nerds_feather]

No word yet if the second short story collection (written after TLW and before BoE) will be released in translation...

 

[tsukuyomi184]

I knew it was the first of a long sequence, wouldnt rap the story up and i was giving many breaks but it wasnt just good enough. Yeah not so likeable character. If it had the same quality as TLW but not as witty,the same sense of story i could still enjoyed like i enjoy a fantasy trilogy of this kind.

If you have the patience, wait for the next books (there are 5 of them). I agree Blood of Elves was quite a disappointment, but don't let that discourage you from reading Sap's further books. I think they are worth a try, providing that they get translated for the English readers.

 

[sozme]

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I noticed this discussion from 3 years ago. Since that time, a number of the books have been published in English.

Series in order:

* The Last Wish (short stories, English edition available)
* The Sword of Destiny (short stories, English edition available)
* Blood of Elves (English edition available)
* Time of Contempt (English edition available)
* Baptism of Fire (English edition available)
* The Swallow's Tower (official English edition unavailable; though there are translations out there)
* Lady of the Lake (official English edition unavailable; though there are translations out there)

 

[sozme]

The thing that is captivating about these stories is the whole background... the politics, Ciri, the geography... I am still on the first in the series, but I've played the games. I wonder how much the books deviate from the story in the game, though I have heard they differ.

 

[Nerds_feather]

Sozme, the next English translation is the Sword of Destiny collection of short stories. Apparently The Swallow's Tower won't be released until 2016. Why? I have no idea. Seems like a missed opportunity, seeing as how The Witcher 3 was just released worldwide.