The Witcher Saga

Short Story Collection 1: The Last Wish (available in English translation)
Short Story Collection 2: The Sword of Fate/Destiny
Novel 1: Blood of Elves (available in English translation)
Review 1 by Lorraine Cormack, Review 2 by Ben Julien
Novel 2: Times of Anger
Novel 3: Baptism of Fire
Novel 4: The Swallow's Tower
Novel 5: Lady of the Lake

Gollancz (2007)
ISBN:0575077824
$32.95
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Reviewed by Adam Bales, Sep 2007

Andrzej Sapowski's The Last Wish is a collection of short stories framed around the reminiscences of a witcher, Geralt, during his stay at a temple while he is healing. Sapowski is a Polish writer and this book preceded his Witcher saga. However, having not read any of Sapkowski's other books myself, I feel confident in saying that this book stands strongly by itself.

Prepared from birth through induced mutations and training, a witcher hunts down monsters in return for payment. Put so simplistically, it sounds like this book will present a stark black and white image of good and evil with a shining hero battling the evil monsters. This couldn't be further from the truth. The Last Wish explores the worldview of the witcher and of the monsters and suggests that in both cases there are shades of gray.

It would be pointless to summarise each of the stories within as, despite the format, they merge together and form a continuing narrative and none could be properly described independently of the others. As a whole, the book tells of Geralt's struggles to make a living by hunting down monsters. In many of these quests, Geralt's strict code of ethics is exposed to difficulty and he must try to find a stance appropriate for the situation. The stories are as much about Geralt's development as a person as they are about his contact with monsters. These stories are not straight sword and sorcery style stories. In fact, it is Geralt's knowledge and his analytical take on situations that aids him the most, rather than his combat abilities.

One of the main problems with such short story collections is that they can often fail to hold the readers attention. The framing narratives can sometimes be boring and the stories can become repetitive. Sapkowski avoids the first of these problems by making the framing narrative short and the second by writing well.

The Last Wish isn't the most original work I've read recently but it is a well written and enjoyable book. Not only does it reflect well on Sapkowski but also the translator, who managed to craft an English version of the novel that flows naturally and reads nicely.

In summary, a book worth reading.

Orion (2008)
ISBN: 9780575083189
$32.99
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Reviewed by Lorraine Cormack, Mar 2009


Blood of Elves is a translation of a Polish bestseller. It's difficult to consider the novel without also considering the fact that it is a translation. On the whole, it's a literate and flowing translation. Every once in a while the translator is betrayed by a minor error, such as incorrect word choice (early on, for example, a character shouts “incomprehensively”, which was probably meant to be “incomprehensibly”), but generally it makes sense and flows well. However, for me the novel was flat and lacked the spark to raise it above average, and it's impossible to avoid the prospect that the fault may lie in the translation. Although the novel has many strengths, it never really came to life for me.

Of course, that may also be because this appears to be the second novel in a series. It doesn't say so, and there's no recapping of an earlier novel. But there's something about the story and the rhythms that suggest it's a sequel; and it certainly isn't a standalone. The novel ends on an inconclusive note - a minor cliff hanger - and indeed nothing is really resolved in this volume. That was annoying.

Blood of Elves tells the story of Ciri, the Princess of Cintra. Some have long presumed Ciri dead in the massacre that was the invasion of Cintra. However, from relatively early in this novel we know that she has been rescued by the witcher Geralt and taken to the witchers' winter refuge for training. We don't know precisely how all that came about; it's one of the reasons I suspect the existence of an earlier novel, as the writing has an air that suggests we should know such things. There are also many obscure references to a prophecy which makes Ciri Geralt's “destiny”, although it doesn't seem that this necessarily means romantically. The novel wanders rather aimlessly through Ciri's training, and a lot of political plotting which (I assume) will bear fruit in a future volume.

Geralt is a witcher, which means he has been mutated, apparently to produce his magical powers. He has also been trained relentlessly in fighting, as a witcher's sole reason for being is to kill various evil beasties who prey on humans. Wizards also exist; they are magically talented by nature, and although they need training they do not need to submit to mutation. Ciri appears to have yet another kind of power; she is a Source, with great but not necessarily controllable power. Witchers, wizards, kings, queens, and a mysterious “other” all seem to be battling to control or manage Ciri in various ways. And Ciri herself doesn't seem too clear about who she is or what she wants.

This novel isn't as bad as that makes it sound. It is kind of aimless, and not so much as a minor plot strand is resolved in the course of the novel. But the characters are generally understandable, and the action moves along at a decent pace. So much so that it's not really until you put the novel down that you realise how incomplete it felt. Although I found the prose flat, it nevertheless flows well and keeps your interest while you're reading. It's just that it's very easy to forget it when you put it down. There's no emotional kick to it, and if you put the novel down between chapters there's not a lot to drag you back to find out what happens next. I found the political plotting a little difficult; it appeared fairly late in the novel, and then in one fell swoop we were treated to a lot of rulers and a lot of scheming without much lead in or background. Again, that may be reasonable if there is an earlier novel where the groundwork was laid. Here it meant I skimmed a little, as too many characters were introduced too briefly to engage with, and in all honesty the scheming was unsurprising and a bit routine.

Ciri in particular is a fairly realistic character, with her childlike innocence just starting to be battered by the onset of adolescence and a greater awareness of the world. Other characters are also realistically drawn, and feel genuine. Most couldn't be described as either sympathetic or likeable, but you'll believe in them in the context of this story.

Blood of Elves isn't a bad novel, and many readers will find something to enjoy in it. However, most won't find it memorable or outstanding, and there are better novels around to spend your time on. I didn't dislike it, exactly, but I won't be bothering to seek out the next in the series and I wouldn't strongly recommend it.

Gollancz (2009)
ISBN: 9780575084841
$22.99
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Reviewed by Ben Julien Oct 2009


Blood of Elves by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski was first published in 1994 in Poland. Newly translated into English, it won the David Gemmell Legend Award in the UK last year. The author is very well known in his home country, with numerous publications and even an online role-playing game based on his world and witcher characters.

The story centres on Geralt, a witcher, who learns that his destiny is to protect Ciri, the deposed princess of a conquered land with untapped and undiscovered powers.

The cover and title suggested a cookie-cutter high fantasy novel with elves, dwarves and magic. The blurb and quotes on the back cover were also less than promising with one particular quote already over the top: “…no equal in the field of Fantasy…”

While the novel is happily not a stock-standard fantasy novel, I found it unsatisfying for two main reasons:

1. It isn’t a standalone novel, despite no warning or indication on the cover, or anywhere for that matter. It is in fact the first in a series, but (after checking online) apparently preceded by a collection of short stories (The Last Wish) featuring the same characters, same world and earlier plot narratives. Presumably because it is the first in a series, the author felt comfortable introducing new characters in the final chapters and the heroine was even learning to use her powers in a training montage in the last pages. Not your typical story arc by any means.
2. Sapkowski likes to introduce new characters. Often. The novel is overflowing with them. While he does create generally convincing and entertaining personalities with a minimum of introduction (necessary given how many he uses), the net result was that as a reader I did not feel engaged by any of them. The main characters in particular moved me little because of this disconnect.
   

The dream sequence that begins the novel, anachronistic references and understanding of chemical compounds and science, a 13 page discussion with over a dozen participants and the somewhat novel use of dialogue to completely replace narrative and action description (which lends the impression all the characters are extroverts) all serve to leave this occasionally humorous and occasionally entertaining novel more memorable for its weaknesses than its strengths.

For those interested in reading Sapkowski, having not previously done so myself, I would recommend beginning with the first collection of short stories. You may have a different experience of Blood of Elves.