The Witcher Reading Order
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Last Wish | 1993 | Buy |
| Sword of Destiny | 1992 | Buy |
| Blood of Elves | 1994 | Buy |
| Time of Contempt | 1995 | Buy |
| Baptism of Fire | 1996 | Buy |
| The Tower of the Swallow | 1997 | Buy |
| The Lady of the Lake | 1999 | Buy |
| Season of Storms | 2013 | Buy |
Andrzej Sapkowski was a sales representative for a Polish foreign trade company when he entered a fantasy short story contest in 1986. His entry, “The Witcher,” won third place and introduced Geralt of Rivia to readers. He has been writing about the monster hunter and his world ever since.
Sapkowski’s background is in economics, not literature. This shows in his pragmatic approach to fantasy. His characters negotiate fees, complain about economic conditions, and treat magic as a professional skill rather than mystical destiny. Geralt is essentially a tradesman who happens to kill monsters.
The Witcher series built slowly in Poland before exploding internationally. The books were bestsellers in Polish throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, but English translations didn’t begin until 2007. By then, CD Projekt Red had licensed the property and was developing the first Witcher video game, which helped drive interest in the source material.
Sapkowski has famously expressed skepticism about the games. He sold the rights for a one-time payment, declining royalties, because he didn’t believe games would amount to anything significant. When the franchise became worth billions, he sought additional compensation through Polish courts and eventually reached a settlement with CD Projekt.
Beyond The Witcher, Sapkowski has written the Hussite Trilogy, a historical fantasy set during the Hussite Wars of 15th-century Bohemia. These books showcase his interest in history and his ability to blend real events with fantastical elements.