[Lowlander]

I know there are many people on this forum who would like to see some fantasy written outside the Anglo-Saxon world. Now British imprint Gollancz are publishing Poland's most popular fantasy author : Andrzej Sapowski.

The book is called "The Last Wish" and it tells the story of a mutant assassin in a world that is a mix of Tolkien, Slavic mythology and pulp noir (Ph. Marlowe). I think the book consists of six episodes (six novellas). It sounds interesting. It reminds me a bit of John Brunner's excellent collection "The Traveller in Black" way back in the 70's.

I'll check it out probably just out of curiosity. It would be interesting to see how a Polish author (who started this series back in the 80's) writes fantasy.

More info at :

www.orionbooks.co.uk/PB-37340/the-last-wish-htm

[odo]

Five or six of Sapkowski's books have already been translated into Spanish and they have been a huge success here in Spain. I think I'm not wrong if I say that it is almost as popular here as A Song of Fire and Ice, and each new book is eagerly awaited.

I have only read the first one (The Last Wish) and was a bit dissapointed, maybe because I was expecting a lot from all the good reviews. Anyway, I have two other books of the series in my shelves and I've heard that the better stuff begins after the third one, so I might give it a try again soon...

[kcf]

I have a copy of this sitting on The Stack - it'll be the in the next 5 books I read for sure (so hopefully this month). I've heard lots of good stuff about him from a few Polish posters who frequent boards like this, so I'm looking forward to reading this translation.

[Mithfânion]

I'm definitly buying this, looks very good and the man has a great rep. I'm only a bit disappointed sofar that they chose to go for the short story collection rather than his novel series, plus the fact that the book is so short ( 280 pages).

I'd like to see some reviews from KCF and Werthead who've had arc's for some time now ;)

[Lowlander]

It's rather thin indeed (288 pages). Especially since Gollancz often publish thick fat omnibus editions (Mary Gentle comes to mind).

For those who can read french, the book has also been published in French (Le Dernieu Voeu). Reviews at Amazon.fr are pretty good. One reader even makes a comparison with Elric.

Problem is that this book probably won't be a bestseller so I don't know if it's likely they will publish the rest of the series.

[Werthead]

Oddly enough, I finished this today, and it was great. There are eight books featuring the world and characters, consisting of three mosaic novels/anthologies and a five-novel epic fantasy sequence, all featuring the character of Geralt, the Witcher (although 'Witcher' is possibly a mistranslation; 'Hexer' is more accurate, but 'Witcher' has now stuck).

Apparently the decision to publish The Last Wish first was taken because one of the short stories directly sets up the forthcoming tie-in PC computer game, The Witcher (which, for gameplayers, looks extremely promising on its own merits), and because it stands alone better than the other books. However, the five-novel sequence will be published in English translation starting in August 2008 with Blood of the Elves.

Gollancz sent me this book to review and I was intrigued, having never heard of the author or the series before. Apparently Sapkowski is a major fantasy author in this native Poland and this is the first English translation of his work.

Full review here (http://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2007/04/last-wish-by-andrzej-sapkowski.html). However, in summary, I think anyone who likes Jack Vance (and that should be everyone) will enjoy this book. It alternates between melancholy and comedy, with some witty, sparkling dialogue and some genuine laugh-out loud moments (such as the innkeeper curiously unmoved by the destruction of his inn by an enraged genie: we later find out he's insured for 'magical damage to the property'). Terry Goodkind will hate this book: the nobility of goats is harshly abused in a sequence where the semi-hero, Geralt, is forced to engage in battle with an evil goat-man hybrid thing whose preferred method of combat is to hit people in the face with iron balls.

This is the second in a series of eight books featuring the Witcher. A five-novel sequence will be publishd by Gollancz starting late next year, and there are two other mosaic novels as well to come (all of the books were completed and published in Poland long ago; The Last Wish was originally published in 1993, for example). Although only available in the UK at the moment, I imagine imports of the book will make their way across the Atlantic, and it is well worth checking out.

[LeStat]

somy people told me about this famous Polish fantasy author but I can't find his books... famous in russia nad eastern europe + spain, italy, portugal... one person i chated with said his much better then his west european/american/ canadina counterparts...

[Werthead]

There's already a discussion going on here (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16408) ;)

[Lowlander]

Thanks for the great review Werthead. Comparing him with Jack Vance is a great compliment indeed. Since Vance is one of my favorite writers and has almost no disciples left (I only recall Michael Shea and Matthew Hughes) I'll certainly give Sapkowski a try.

[Werthead]

I think the reason you may not be able to find him is that he has never been translated into English before. The Last Wish is his English-language debut, and isn't out for a couple more weeks in the UK (and there is no US edition listed at the moment).

As for better than his West European/American counterparts: not really, at least on the quality of the first book. He's very good but, so far, unexceptional.