The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
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Book Reviews of The Last Wish
Book Review: Fairy Tales for the Fright-Fantasy Buff
Summary: 4 Stars
I read this book with no knowledge whatsoever of the game called the Witcher, so for better or worse I approached this work with literary expectations.
It's great to type that I wasn't disappointed! The translation is well done (in terms of just good writing), and I greatly appreciated the obvious effort that the translator and editor(s) put in to make this such a great read.
The structure of the plot - framing vignettes within an over-arching "Voice of Reason" story line - was initially disorienting, but that was only because I didn't know the protagonist's situation and characteristics yet. As with the beginning of most books, it's best to have patience for a while to see how things develop. By the time I reached "Voice of Reason" the second time, I was totally hooked. In the end, I can strongly assure you that the way this story is framed is a fantastic way to present this character and his adventures.
There is a lot of romance presented in this book, incidentally, and of the variety that actually pulls at the heart and makes one care for the characters - whether they are mostly fairy tale re-visionings or not. I personally like to see new twists on fairy tales, so much of Geralt's adventures suited me just fine.
There is some sexual content, but that is mainly off-page (as it were) and described in tame language for the most part. But, make no mistake, this a book for adults - or older teens, at least.
All in all, I was very pleased with this book. I could hardly set it aside, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes the horror-fantasy genre; but expect a little more romance and a little less gore to go with the steady and excellent action and the often deep philosophizing... and understand that sometimes it's fun not to know the answers to all the questions a story can raise!
Book Review: It's A solid book, but I was looking for just a little more
Summary: 4 Stars
The Last wish is written by Polish sensation Andrzej Sapkowski, recent winner of the David Gemmell Legend Award for Fantasy.
Geralt de Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin.
And a cold-blooded killer.
His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.
But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good
. . . and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.
The book is basically a collection of short stories involving Geralt of Rivia, aka The Witcher. The Witcher is one of those tough guy heroes that's easy to get behind. Taken as a child, trained, given potions and other treatments to turn him into what he is. Deadly with a blade, Geralt is tough, sarcastic and thoroughly enjoyable. I wouldn't say that this book gives the kind of depth that I would have liked to see to a character like Geralt, but things certainly could have been worse.
My only complaint about the novel was that the text seemed a little short, almost as if it somehow suffered from translation. Then again, I have been reading The Wheel of Time, so I'm used to a little more exposition and a little more detail....okay, a lot more detail.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was fun to see how Sapkowski twisted fairy tales and fairy tale creatures into something bold and interesting. I'll look forward to reading Blood of Elves, and getting my first crack at an entire novel with The Witcher.
Score: 8/10. An exciting, fast paced group of short stories with a bold protagonist.
Book Review: compilation of six "Voice of Reason" short novellas
Summary: 4 Stars
Geralt de Rivia enters Vizima where after a barroom brawl in which he leaves three dead, he meets the king's castellan Velerad, whose monarch King Foltest needs his help. Seven years ago, recently crowned as the ruler, Foltest impregnated his sister. She and their opffspring died during childbirth. Now his daughter has awakened as a striga mass killing anyone in her way. Foltest say he will kill Geralt if he harms his daughter, who if she fails to return to her coffin within three rooster crows she will become human. However, if she remains a striga he is to kill her with his silver sword that slays magical beings.
THE LAST WISH is actually a compilation of six "Voice of Reason" short novellas ("The Witcher", "A Grain of Truth", "The Lesser Evil", "A Question of Price", "The Edge of the World", and "The Last Wish") that served as the base to the Witcher video game. The above paragraph is the opening gamut to the adventures of Geralt de Rivia the Witcher with each subsequent tale building from previous escapades. Geralt is consistent throughout as a cold blooded killing sorcerer whose adventures are fun to follow due to his strange code of ethics while hunting monsters many of whom hide as beatific humans afflicting his plane with their evil.
Harriet Klausner
Book Review: Very Interesting
Summary: 4 Stars
I really like the premise behind this book. It is an interesting world that has been created, and the stories are a good mix of suspense and action. The anti-hero, Geralt, is a sort of Batman-like character, dark and brooding, but trying to prevent others from having to deal with what he fights against, protecting the innocent. He is a very likeable character, and definitely one I'd love to read more about.
The downsides are that is is obvious this is a collection of short stories with a similar theme, which culminate to a story in the end. Some relate, but most are simply unrelated side-stories. In a way this breaks up the novel in an interesting way, and makes it a different read. Each "chapter" is actually a whole story. Something in the translation also makes it feel off-beat at times, though it is hard to put your finger on it.
All in all, the good outweighs the bad by a great deal, I just had to knock it a star for its few faults. A good read.
Book Review: Don't Fear the Witcher
Summary: 4 Stars
I wasn't expecting much from this book because I don't read much fantasy anymore, so it came as a good surprise. The best thing about it is that, though it's basically about a guy who runs around, killing monsters, the plots are a bit deeper and more tantalizing than most books of its ilk--a notch or two above standard fare. And I say "plots" because this is not a novel; it's a series of short stories, loosely tied together. Which you can't really tell from the cover alone--so heads-up.
This book has a gritty, dark atmosphere, which I like, having read heavily in the horror genre. And it's a world and a character I'd love to visit with again. It really grew on me and the stories seemed to get better and better. Hopefully we'll see more translations from this author soon.
Recommended for those who like their fantasy dark.