James Barclay

Parmenion · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 584

The Last Wish
Andrzej Sapkowski
A European superstar comes to the UK for the first time!

Sold over 2 million copies in europe

Geralt de Riv is a witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. Yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent. He roams the country seeking assignments, but gradually comes to realise that while some of his quarry are unremittingly vile, vicious grotesques, others are the victims of sin, evil or simple na?vety.
One reviewer said: 'This book is a sheer delight. It is beautifully written, full of vitality and endlessly inventive: its format, with half a dozen episodes and intervening rest periods for both the hero and the reader, allows for a huge range of characters, scenarios and action. It's thought-provoking without being in the least dogmatic, witty without descending to farce and packed with swordfights without being derivative. The dialogue sparkles; characters morph almost imperceptibly from semi-clich? to completely original; nothing is as it first seems. Sapkowski succeeds in seamlessly welding familiar ideas, unique settings and delicious twists of originality: his Beauty wants to rip the throat out of a sensitive Beast; his Snow White seeks vengeance on all and sundry, his elves are embittered and vindictive. It's easily one of the best things I've read in ages.'

Drizzt · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 1081 Location: Easington, UK

Robin, have you any publishing info? Amazon's having a laugh and I'm hearing a lot of good things about this guy's work. When's he hitting our shores?

**Never mind, typically I've found out not 10 seconds following the question! It's out on April 19th**
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Pagan Music

Parmenion · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 584

its is a good read as well, im about 50% through it and its good stuff so far.

Drizzt · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 1081 Location: Easington, UK

Are you selling copies yet? So far as I can now tell, it's not out until June 7th.
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Pagan Music

Parmenion · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 584

Not selling copies of this title at all im linking out to Amazon from my web site http://parmenion-books.co.uk/view_doc.php?view_doc=32&PHPSESSID=099ba5ceb584c1ea3d0c49bfbff898c0

Mrs Parmenion has done a review for me i ran out of reading time. It looks like there has been a publishing delay as it was to have been released on the 19th April. amazon do have it at a bargain ?5.99 though

Drizzt · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 1081 Location: Easington, UK

I'm about 50% through it and this is an excellent read. The book is effectively a collection of short stories about Geralt, a 'Witcher'. In essence, he's a hunter of monsters and things which go bump in the night. However, there's a lot more to him than that. He's not a saint, doesn't suffer fools and doesn't pretend to be a hero. He just does his job, very strictly in accordance to his personal honour and the Witcher's code. You can't help but like him.

There are also loads of references to fairytales, only with an adult tone - this isn't a child's book.

It also seems Sapkowski is being backed rather massively. A PC game is coming out later this year which features Geralt. Gollancz are also publishing his 5-book saga, 'The Blood of the Elves', which has already been published in Europe for many years and is massively popular. So, watch out, seems this chap is being geared up to be a major player in England and possibly the US.

Oh, and special mention to the translator of 'The Last Wish'. An outstanding job has been done.
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masrock · Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 14 Location: United Kingdom

Read the book - loved it.

Played the game - loved it

Read the book again - still loved it

Playing the game again........guess what, loving it!

'Nuff said.

Masrock
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"Time flies like an arrow.Fruit flies like a banana."

Alia · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 246

Let me tell you this - I'm Polish, I love Sapkowski's work, and I'm really glad to hear that you also like it and that the English translation is good.

Drizzt · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 1081 Location: Easington, UK

I'm itching, itching for 'Blood of Elves' to come out. I just wish Orion/Gollancz would stop push backing the release date!
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Pagan Music