The latest Witcher novel, Crossroads of Ravens, finally arrived in English last September, giving fans their first proper look at Geralt of Rivia's earliest days as a monster hunter.
I personally loved it, which probably won't come as much of a surprise given I've been eager to badger Andrzej Sapkowski with questions ever since I first picked up The Last Wish many moons ago.
I recently had the opportunity to chat with Sapkowski, the creator and author of The Witcher books, over email, alongside David French, the English translator of Crossroads of Ravens.
And, perhaps unsurprisingly, Sapkowski is every bit as sharp and disarmingly honest as you'd expect, with a wonderfully dry wit and a talent for delivering remarkably incisive answers. There's a scholarly flair to his responses, defined by a penchant for weaving classical Latin phrasing in wherever possible—a habit his English translator, David French, has also playfully dubbed "linguistic snobbery." Ha!
As a longtime fan, I'm delighted by the interview with both gentlemen, and I can't wait to share it.
We discussed (amongst plenty of other topics) the new Witcher prequel, Geralt's early years, the possibility of returning to that period of his life in future books, more short stories, and where Sapkowski sees the wider Witcher franchise going next. Whether that's a stage show like Game of Thrones, or another musical (yes, a musical, there have been two, I checked), Sapkowski said he's nevertheless open to unorthodox suggestions.
In Crossroads of Ravens, we meet a younger, more inexperienced Geralt. What were the most rewarding and challenging parts of stepping back to write his early years?
Sapkowski: Well, it's not easy for an author nearly 80 years old to step into the shoes of an eighteen-year-old teenager. Fortunately, I still remember a thing or two from my youth. Including some experiences I shall never forget.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.ign.com/articles/andrzej-sapkowski-interview-witcher-new-book
