The Last Wish (The Witcher, #0.5)

Title: The Last Wish (The Witcher, #0.5)

Author: Andrzej Sapkowski

Published in: 1993

Date read: 6th December 2021

Score: 4/5

Genre: Fantasy, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Last Wish," first published in Polish in 1993 and later as part of "The Witcher" saga (often considered #0.5 because its short stories lay the groundwork for the main novels), is a collection of interwoven short stories that introduce readers to the grim, morally ambiguous world of Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster slayer known as a Witcher.

The book is framed by Geralt recovering from injuries at a temple, recounting past contracts and encounters to the priestess Nenneke. These "flashbacks" form the individual short stories that make up the bulk of the book, each exploring a unique monster, a moral dilemma, or a pivotal character introduction.

Geralt is a genetically mutated human, trained from childhood to fight supernatural beasts. He possesses enhanced strength, speed, senses, and uses basic magic (signs) along with his signature silver sword. However, his profession is often met with fear and prejudice by the very people he protects, as Witchers are seen as unnatural and emotionless.

The stories in "The Last Wish" often subvert classic fairy tales and folklore, giving them a darker, more realistic, and often cynical twist. For example, "The Lesser Evil" presents a horrifying moral choice reminiscent of Snow White, while "A Grain of Truth" reimagines Beauty and the Beast with a more monstrous edge.

Key characters introduced in this collection include:

Dandelion (Jaskier in Polish): A flamboyant bard and Geralt's best friend, who chronicles (and sometimes exaggerates) Geralt's adventures.

Yennefer of Vengerberg: A powerful and beautiful sorceress with whom Geralt shares a tumultuous and fated romantic connection. Their first encounter, involving a djinn, gives the collection its title story.

Queen Calanthe: The proud and fierce ruler of Cintra, whose destiny is mysteriously tied to Geralt's.

Through these various contracts and encounters, Sapkowski establishes the brutal politics of the Northern Kingdoms, the pervasive racism against non-humans, the corruption of magic, and Geralt's own code of ethics. The overarching theme is often the question of who the real monsters are – the beasts Geralt hunts, or the humans he serves. "The Last Wish" serves as an essential entry point into "The Witcher" universe, defining its tone, characters, and the complex moral landscape Geralt navigates.

Comments:
Great stories that link in with the other parts of the Witcher books very well.

Books that we've read by Andrzej Sapkowski (5):
Sword of Destiny (The Witcher, #0.7) (1992), The Last Wish (The Witcher, #0.5) (1993), Blood of Elves (The Witcher, #1) (1994), The Time of Contempt (The Witcher, #2) (1995), Baptism of Fire (The Witcher, #3) (1996)