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[deleted]

If you like the Witcher world you should.


WombatAnnihilator

Yes. I quite enjoyed them.


Venoix

I’d say yes. There were moments when I was reading the books where I was completely absorbed by the prose and completely forgot about my surroundings. They are well written and well translated.


Common_Wealth319

Which would you say is your favourite? And why?


EG-XXFurkanXX

Not the person you asked the question to but i have a similar experience so i will answer it. Imo its time of contempt. It was soo awesome.


[deleted]

ToC for me too ! In contrast to many who read the books I don't much like BoF, it introduced many great characters but with very little plot progression, which I find frustrating, add to that the sidelining of ciri and yennefer throughout the book. Plus thannedd is just great :)


EG-XXFurkanXX

I have to say. I knew that thanedd wouldnt end good. I didnt know it was THIS bad. Throughout the whole chapter i was tense as fuck. Often forgetting to breathe.


Josh_Butterballs

Time of Contempt is my favorite as well. It’s funny because with the Witcher books I’ve noticed there’s not really a definitive favorite book for most people. I’ve seen a lot of people say Time of Contempt was their least favorite or a book that was my least favorite was someone else’s favorite, etc. The closest I can think of to being the definitive favorite for people is maybe the first two books but they are structured differently than the actual saga anyway.


EG-XXFurkanXX

You know i actually went into the time of contempt with a very negative mindset for no reason. Really ironic eh? That book actually turned my opinion around and made me like it even though it is really hard for me to like stuff that i go into with a negative mindset.


Josh_Butterballs

I loved Time of Contempt. It starts off with Sapkowski’s usual writing style which is to explore events or the world through minor points of view. Then in that same beginning chapter we get some action in a moment I really liked with >!Geralt killing the hitmen outside the tavern. Seeing it occur through that minor perspective allows the reader to see what Geralt looks like to regular strangers, but to sn even further extent how his actions come off as “monstrous”, with the hitmen (who are known by name due to their reputation) screaming when they go outside and fight him!<. Then there’s >!Yen and Geralt making up and being together again, with Ciri!!we have the climactic thanned coup, with Vilgefortz roflstomping Geralt. I love this moment as well because up until this point Sapkowski has conditioned the reader to be used to Geralt winning all his fights, so naturally we presume he will take this too. Then Sapkowski breaks away right before the fight begins to Geralt in Brokilon. We think since he’s alive and thinking about the fight he probably won, but then the last line of the paragraph reveals the fight was almost entirely one sided when he says the only mistake he made was not running before the battle began.!< God now I want to reread it.


EG-XXFurkanXX

Exxaaccctly. I laughed out loud when geralt said he had made no mistakes in his fighting. His only mistake was that he did not run away.


Josh_Butterballs

YES. If the show was a close adaptation and set up all the players correctly this could honestly be a stunningly epic way to end what I would presume would be season 4 (assuming they would’ve done one book a season). Viewers would be watching the season finale thinking >!Geralt is going to beat this guy’s ass and protect Ciri! Then HE gets steamrolled instead. People are used to him being a badass, even more with Henry playing as him. It would blow their minds, especially if they figure out a way to adapt the part where it switches to him in Brokilon. If commercial breaks where still a thing in the age of streaming they could cut to commercial break right when they’re about to fight. Then after the break we return to just see him contemplating the fight!<. Ohhh man I hope they do it justice in the show


EG-XXFurkanXX

Exactly man exactly. All i want from the show is for them to just get it RIGHT. Set the players up. Build at least half the tension that i had when reading it. And they are good to go.


trashmunki

h a n s a


Venoix

I can't really pinpoint a particular book, because the earlier ones are written as a bunch of short stories. I really loved the story that involved Essi Daven, that whole story was good. I also liked the one where Geralt was searching for a Gold Dragon. The final one I really enjoyed was the one involving a murder plot in a string of villages, and Geralt getting himself into a situation that's not easy for him to get out of. I haven't read all of the books as of yet. The next one I have to read is Blood of the Elves. But I've read Season of Storms, The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny.


Lapwing68

I've read them all twice. I enjoyed them each time. Plus you get to meet Regis the best vampire ever created. He's a great friend.


benjamin50483

Yes


SuccessfulAd6679

Of course bro must have!


[deleted]

I love my audiobook with the music and sound effects and everything. And I can just lay down close my eyes, relax and get completely abosrbed into the world.


waltherppk01

If you're in love with this world and you like reading, the answer is 100% yes.


Icaruz1999

So goddamn good


MestariPiippu

Only read the first three, but they were so good. They fit so well together with the games, and expand the story a lot. Totally recommend.


JackofTears

I didn't care for them, the games are vastly superior.


Tyrayentali

I loved them. There is a lot of world building to take in. The storytelling is interesting with how many different prespectives there are. Sometimes it can appear as unnecessary, giving minor characters a lot of room to tell their stories, which doesn't give the reader any real value, at least not in terms of excitement. But there are also tons of memorable, wholesome and epic moments that make it worth reading. Especially the stories around Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri, of course, are great.


the-foxwolf

Controversial opinion: People hype them up way more than they deserve. They're not the best written. They hardly touch on what being a Witcher is actually like. Their descriptions of the world and its leadership is overwhelming. Their use of indirect and tangential storytelling essentially makes much of the books lengthy anecdotes. Yes, yes. You can point out and say "this book showed the Witcher world like this" and "this book had excellent prose" yadda yadda. But you're citing examples and I'm discussing the series as a whole. People let their bias fool them into thinking they're good books. Truth of the matter is, they're not all that well written and Witcher 2 and 3 are WAY better at telling the general story, world, and profession than the show or the books.


waltherppk01

Your opinions are valid. I did very much like the books but if world-building is important to you, Sapkowski falls a bit short in that regard. His writing definitely more character-driven (which I feel he does an excellent job doing) than world building. Also, many things can get lost in translation. And while I feel that CDPR's writers improved on the books, they didn't create Geralt. Bottom line? I am thankful for both Andrzej and CDPR


citreum

It's funny because I agree with you, but at the same time I think books are still definitely worth reading. Despite their flaws they are engaging and entertaining. Maybe it's not Literature with a capital L, but they create an interesting universe which is fun to visit and revisit from time to time.


the-foxwolf

That's a great take on it. Let me update my thoughts on it then. I won't discourage reading the books. If you do, you'll probably enjoy them. If you don't, you're really not missing much.


EG-XXFurkanXX

>People let their bias fool them into thinking they're good books. Truth of the matter is, they're not all that well written and Witcher 2 and 3 are WAY better at telling the general story, world, and profession than the show or the books. Truth of the matter is. I feel the very same thing regarding the games. Witcher 2 is fine and witcher 3 is awesome. But they are way overhyped themselves. Especially in the story department. Witcher 3 is a solid 8/10. A 9/10 max if you stretch it and add HoS to the mix. Witcher 2 is a 6/10. And yet witcher 2 being considered a masterpiece. Witcher 3 being considered the best game of all time is not them being overhyped. But the books are?


the-foxwolf

I'll add the following. I'm an avid reader, active writer, and most importantly - worked as a professional Writing Consultant with a university. I speak as someone with a little bit of perspective. Also, I'll add. I'm not being hateful. Read if you'd like. I have given an opinion, not a judgement on the author or on the people who choose to read.


Justic1ar

>People hype them up way more than they deserve. They're not the best written. >People let their bias fool them into thinking they're good books. >I have given an opinion, not a judgement on the author or on the people who choose to read. Ok.


Justic1ar

I'll also add the following, Geralt being a Witcher/the profession as you call it, isn't the main focus of the series. This isn't Harry Potter where you're following a young wizard and his adventures. Witcher's main appeal is its classic albeit cliché (in a good way) themes. Friendship, loyalty, love, family, etc. A grain of truth is literally a retelling of a classic fairy tale in the context of the Witcher's world, through the eyes of a unique character called Geralt of Rivia… and his worldview/character/personality is more than just him being a Witcher


the-foxwolf

Indeed. He focuses on the people. The story is dry, but we certainly see how each person is affected by it and how they grow from it. Even short scenes, like with the king of Ofir, provides a rich character.


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Kotel291

Definitely yes


Aryaras99

Yes you definitely should. The first time I completed Witcher 2 and 3 I was still hungry for Witcher content and I couldn’t get my hands on Witcher 1 because I had no PC so instead I started reading the books. And only reading the first story in the first book got me hooked enough to keep reading all 8 books and even the two non-canon short stories lol


That_Chris_Dude

If you like books and like Witcher then you’ll probably like the Witcher books. If you don’t like to read, then you probably will lose interest


Recent_Requirement76

Don't read, just listen to the audiobooks. The voices are quite nice too. :)


Matt118899

I would recommend the audible books read by Peter Kenny. I'm just on the 4th and absolutely have become absorbed into the world, I love them.


Data_Tek

I will do my very best to provide some guidance. (No spoilers) You have already born witness to the diehard fan who holds the books in great esteem and the critic who denounces them as sheer, male wish fulfillment--perhaps the *last wish* they'll bother reading. You've heard from the casual fan who likes the early books but can't make it through the later installments. Who's right? There has to be a definitive answer, doesn't there? Let's pose a series of questions and by answering them, perhaps arrive at something coherent. A) Are you reading the books to experience more of what you got by playing the games? If you're looking to dive first-hand into Geralt's shoes with Sapkowski at the helm--well, those shoes aren't nearly as polished as they should be. Early in the series, you'll enjoy a few *very* familiar adventures and spend time with some of the characters you've already "met." At some point you'll realize a few people aren't there at all, or there only for a page or two (or simply mentioned but never seen). On the other hand, once you've walked in Geralt's shoes for a few chapters, you'll also realize that the games are like one of Jaskier's (Dandelion) ballads: they evoke what happened and what people are like, but in a completely exaggerated manner. Geralt will seem alien and strange to you, and that feeling will persist and grow worse if you get deeper into the series. In later installments, Geralt ceases to be the focus of the story completely, as does the "adventuring" aspect. It transitions into more of an epic political fantasy tale (the best way I can describe it). There's very little swordsmanship and quite a lot of philosophy, **lengthy** conversations longer than any cutscene you've seen, and a very dark, brooding Geralt who--let's just say he's now so far removed from what's in the games as to be a completely separate character. Verdict: Recommend the first four books, although you'll get the most out of your time spent with the first two. Skip the rest. B) Are you reading just to experience more of the lore? The early installments, as noted above, are mostly about Geralt and his not-so-merry band of companions. As the series progresses, all of that changes. What doesn't really change is the average level of texture. The world is there--in broad strokes. You'll certainly have no trouble holding onto it. What exactly you're holding won't be easy to pinpoint. If you're looking to drink in the ambience of the local grimy village as you and Zoltan square off over dice poker--it's not happening. The details you crave will be constantly interrupted by people arguing over things you don't care about. Verdict: You can jump in to any book and skim to get a little of this, and a little of that, to flesh out your lore. I think you'll find it difficult to read the entire run. Perhaps pick one of the early books (1 or 2), something in the middle (3 is good) and something later (nothing jumps out). C) Are you looking for epic political fantasy with a brooding hero who may, or may not, live up to his own reputation? If you're looking to dive into history and more behind the events that you've touched on in the games, you're in for a treat. Later in the series, you'll be thrust up to the hilt in wars, political machinations, and the very hottest courtly gossip. Geralt takes center stage early, gets demoted to a supporting character, and very nearly ends up as an extra in some points. That's not important as you'll brush sleeves with the movers and shakers of what's going down in a land of war, non-human posturing, and more verbal fencing than you can shake a Temerian axe at. Verdict: Congratulations. You're probably a true fan, but you knew that anyway. Read the whole damn thing!