Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

Please post here if you have finished The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski, Book 1 in The Witcher series.

Spoilers Likely! (You have been warned...)

I am just about done with this one....did anyone finish yet?

Maggie wrote: "I am just about done with this one....did anyone finish yet?"

Yes, but I have erroneously posted my thoughts in the "First impression" thread.

"I read the "Last Wish" for the second time and it was as good as I remembered it. I think the character of Geralt of Rivia it is what really makes this collection of stories interesting.

I've always wanted to read the other books in this series and I'm looking forward to starting Sword of Destiny."

I've finished it too, for the first time. I have to agree about the character of Geralt, it is unusual and interesting, but...I don't know, I didn't felt a conection with the character.

I mean, I liked the stories in general, specially the first ones (and I loved the retellings of classic fairy tales in a darker and twisted version of themselves) and I'm definitely going to read the rest of the books, but I expected more? Something a little bit different?

The last story was great, too...what do you think about the romantic bit? I'm not convinced about that. Yennefer is a good character and I saw her more of a rival/friend with a friendly hate between Geralt and Yennefer.

I am a bit more than halfway finished with the book. I went into this with no expectations. My son asked if I had read the books because he plays video games & is interested in the Netflix series coming up.

I was pleasantly surprised. We have some new twisted versions of Snow White and Beauty & the Beast with sprinklings of Baba Yaga, Cinderella, Princess & Pea, and others. I suppose I could have at least read the back of the book before I started, "...and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth."

Finished the book. I with Fer, somehow I expected something more although I did enjoy the stories and will continue the books. The title story was probably my least favorite, it seemed a bit more male juvenile than the others.

I'm half-way through (just finished A Question of Price) now and I like this very much.

I also went in without expectations. One of my best friends loved the video games and I intend to watch the upcoming Netflix series, maybe also play the Witcher III when it comes out for the Nintendo Switch.

I think the short story format makes this very easy to read. Sometimes I get confused or discontent when I don't understand things happening in the story due to lack of wordbuilding. E.g. I didn't know half the monsters Geralt listed when talking to the king about his experience during the first story. Then again, I manage and generally (theoretically) speaking too much exposition is bad writing.
How do you feel about this?

So far, I think, the twist on Beauty and the Beast was my favorite story. I would never have expected the re-use of fairy-tales and this is another reason why I'm intrigued by this book.
I rather expected some very dark very brutal story for some reason.

I also think that the short story format mirrors the video game world. It was totally easy to adapt this kind of story. The player (Geralt) travels the open world, meets some NPCs, talks to them, gets a quest, gets more information, maybe needs to make decisions and in the end there is a big boss battle. The chapter/quest is done and he continues on his travels.

While reading I also listen to the YouTube livestreams I mentioned in the no-spoiler thread. Those guys really are amazing! E.g. they give background information on the real life use of the plants in the story and mythological background.

Philina wrote: "... generally (theoretically) speaking too much exposition is bad writing. How do you feel about this?”

I have mixed feelings. Depending on the story, exposition can really contribute to world-building or make it possible for the reader to more fully understand and appreciate a concept with which the reader is unfamiliar. I find the latter to be especially true in science fiction. Since I don’t have a strong science background, I find myself lost without adequate exposition. Drawing the line between adequate and excessive exposition is tricky, I agree.

On the other hand, it can disrupt the flow of action or slow the pace in such a way that damages enjoyment of the story.

I got triggered to read this after seeing the trailer for the upcoming netflix series and I have to say that I'm pleassantly surprised. Although this is basically a collection of short stories, I like how all the stories are connected to eachother through the 'a voice of reason' chapters which makes the whole thing read like one novel! I take it that this book serves mainly as a introduction into the character and the Worlds of the Witcher, and this tells some of the character defining backstories of Geralt that other books build upon and most certainly will refer too. It leaves me curious to the other books which I will certainly read.