Andrzej Sapkowski is a name well-known
in Polish fantasy circles. Seeking to
capitalize on his local success, in 2007 Gollancz bought the rights to his Witcher series and began translating and
publishing the works for the English speaking world. The book they chose to release first is a
collection of short stories called The
Last Wish. A test to determine
whether the morally ambiguous Witcher is a character English readers can relate
to, the collection presents a variety of facets to Sapkowski’s world and
character, and sold well enough for Gollancz to go on and release the first two
full novels in the series.
Before reviewing the stories, a brief
introduction to the Witcher is needed.
The main character is Geralt, a witcher (sorcerer/warrior) with special
powers gained by imbibing strange brews and concoctions that aid him in
locating and fighting all manner of monsters, demons, and spirits. Not a super-hero (rather an itinerant bounty
hunter), his moral decisions are rarely clear-cut as he adventures through the
strangely haunted forests and Medieval cities of Sapkowski’s fantasy
world. Unfamiliar to most Western
readers, Slavic mythology is most utilized toward detailing this world. Some elements hint at Arthurian legend, Norse
myth, etc., but by in large strigas,
rusalkas, bruxas, kikimores, etc. are strictly of Eastern European origin,
not to mention the Slavic mind which is the creative force behind the
writing. Taking this into consideration,
the following is a brief rundown of the seven stories in the collection.
