The writer released his last Witcher novel ("Season of Storms") 11 years ago. Now, it's time for another story. Although we don’t yet know exactly what the new novel will be about, we do know that it won't be a collection of short stories, but a novel. According to Nowa Fantastyka, the release is planned for December 1st, but a fragment of the book will be available even earlier.
"The only book I’ve wanted to read for the last 10 years"
"In the December issue of Nowa Fantastyka, which will be released earlier than usual on November 22nd, you’ll find an exclusive excerpt from Andrzej Sapkowski’s latest novel set in the Witcher universe," announced the magazine’s publisher. "This is the best news of the day," "The only book I’ve wanted to read for the last 10 years," "I’m waiting and can’t wait" – fans wrote, although they also noted that December 1st is a Sunday, so Sapkowski’s mention of the release might have meant early December instead.
For now, we know the exact date of the Polish-language preview, but translations are likely to follow soon. After all, Sapkowski is the most translated Polish fantasy author after Stanisław Lem. And the publication in Nowa Fantastyka is, in a way, a return to his roots. The first Witcher story, which brought Sapkowski global fame and led to two TV series and a bestselling video game, was published in December 1986 in the magazine Fantastyka. Sapkowski had submitted it for a literary competition and won second place.
"I wanted to please my son, who is a big fan of this kind of literature and a regular reader of your magazine. He once asked me: 'Why don’t you write something like that?' 'No problem,' I said, 'I’ll write it.' And that’s how The Witcher was born," Sapkowski recalled in 1988, referring to his son from his first marriage, Krzysztof, who sadly passed away in 2019.
The Witcher returns in book form this year, and the TV series is gearing up for a comeback, too.
Geralt of Rivia has already inspired video game creators, filmmakers, and even theater productions. Fans of the series are now anxiously awaiting the premiere of the next season of Netflix’s series, as Liam Hemsworth will be taking over the lead role from Henry Cavill. But Geralt is not the only character getting a new face. Netflix is set to release the new episodes next year.
Before that, on February 11th, a new animated feature from Sapkowski’s world will premiere. The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is based on the short story A Little Sacrifice. In this Netflix animation, Geralt will be voiced by Doug Cockle, the "game" Witcher.
