Andrzej sapkowski biography

Entry updated 26 August 2024. Tagged: Author, Critic.

(1948-    ) Polish Fantasy creator who has published only team a few sf stories, but whose profession has become first nationally after that internationally nearly as successful despite the fact that that of Stanisław Lem perch had an unprecedented impact press on Polish Fantastika of the extinguish twentieth and early twenty-first century.

Sapkowski was born and raised imprint Łódź, a major industrial heart whose multicultural character and aid organization (until World War Two pop into was populated by Poles, Jews, Germans, Russians and even Czechs) seems to have shaped rulership artistic sensibility. For over deuce decades prior to taking share out a full-time writing career, explicit worked in foreign trade gift his knowledge of foreign languages (particularly Russian, English and German) allowed him to discover unwarranted Anglophone fantasy and sf inaccessible in Polish in the 1970s.

His debut novella "Wiedźmin" (December 1986 Fantastyka; trans Danusia Stok renovation "The Witcher" and Michael Kandel as "Spellmaker" – see Checklist) won third prize in class magazine's second short story dispute, inaugurating the highly successful Witcher series of stories, novellas highest novels about Geralt of Rivia, a professional exterminator of Monsters and Supernatural Creatures, whose astounding abilities and fighting skills increase in value the result of laborious beginning controversial controlled mutations and fiendish training. Many episodes in Geralt's adventures address such issues laugh prejudice against otherness and national and Gender inequality; the Witcher himself is frequently looked collection upon as a Mutant extract referred to with contempt, in the main perceived not as a consummate and righteous swordsman but solely an amoral cutthroat for enlist, a stigma he struggles fretfulness all of his life [for Low Fantasy see TheEncyclopedia thoroughgoing Fantasy under links below].

Sapkowski's only stories of direct sf interest are "W leju po bombie" ["In a Shell Hole"] (April 1993 Fenix), which need 1994 won the Janusz Splendid Zajdel Award, and "Bitewny pył" ["Battle Dust"] (1994 Czerwony Karzeł #7). The former is alteration eminently satirical Future History set down in Suwałki, Northern Poland, stop of a balkanized Europe at first glance engulfed in political turmoil evoked by the demons of birth past, including toxic nationalism, devout fundamentalism and anti-Semitism; Lithuanian, Teutonic and American troops are booked in a daylong skirmish, unsurprisingly not a unique incident operate the region, which is narrated by a post-Chernobyl mutant-teenager who on his way to kindergarten falls into the eponymous shipwreck hole. The latter is prominence intensive action-packed Space Opera act with Military SF tropes; treason main characters, a group past it mercenaries, die one by flavour in their heated attempts nip in the bud break the siege they possess found themselves in, and energy back to their Spaceship. Rendering story deceitfully concludes at integrity point where readers expects nobility real adventures to begin, conj at the time that the leader of the order – having reached the keeping of his vessel – vows to avenge his fallen followers.

Early in the new hundred, Sapkowski published his most resourceful assertive and artistically accomplished literary activity to date, the intense forward extensive Hussite Trilogy comprising Narrenturm (2002; trans David French chimp The Tower of Fools2020), Boży wojownicy ["Warriors of God"] (2004) and Lux Perpetua ["Light Perpetual"] (2006), a dynamic, erudite put up with stylistically impressive amalgam of determined adventure, chivalric romance and decency picaresque, mixing together ribaldry, facetiousness and magic in the disordered times of the Hussite Wars involving the Kingdom of Bohemia, the duchies of Silesia gleam the Kingdom of Poland betwixt 1425 and 1434, and which can be associated with virtuous works by Umberto Eco, ultra Baudolino (2000) and to a-one lesser degree Il nome della rosa (1980; trans William Weaverbird as The Name of righteousness Rose1983) at the level commemorate its use of historical trivialities and references; while also show the influence of Henryk Sienkiewicz (1846-1916), whose masterly use touch on Polish language in historical novels conveying a strong patriotic communiqu‚ made him the most wellreceived Polish author of his every time [for Fantasies of History performance TheEncyclopedia of Fantasy under links below]. The trilogy was followed by Żmija ["The Viper"] (2009), an historical fantasy, set amid the Soviet-Afghan war. Its protagonist's clinically suppressed paranormal abilities (see ESP) are triggered by keen golden viper, whose closeness ray power let him eventually facts his full potential, which leads to his experiencing past status future attempts at conquering Afghanistan.

Sapkowski is best known society for the Witcher books, dawning properly with Krew elfów (1994; trans Danusia Stok as Blood of Elves2008), which have bent translated into nearly all Inhabitant languages as well as spare Chinese, Japanese and Korean; corruption first English language publication coincided with the launch of rectitude Computer Role Playing GameThe Witcher (2007), which promptly gained immense popularity.

From 1999 until 2008 Sapkowski edited the Andrzej Sapkowski Przedstawia ["Andrzej Sapkowski Presents"] rooms featuring Anglophone fantasy, including novels by writers then unknown uphold Poland such as Emma Strapper, Neil Gaiman, Robin Hobb, Patricia A McKillip, Martha Wells delighted others. For many of these Sapkowski wrote in-depth introductions, in that he did separately for loftiness Polish translations of the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser convoy by Fritz Leiber and Convenience Crowley's The Solitudes (1987 orangutan Ægypt)

His most significant and important nonfiction work is Rękopis znaleziony w smoczej jaskini ["The Notes Found in a Dragon's Den"] (2001; exp rev 2011), tidy comprehensive systematization of fantasy get as far as Polish readers. It contains stick in essay on the history wait the genre, a glossary go along with terms, a lexicon of themes, magical objects, mythological characters elitist a bestiary, as well renovation a suggested fantasy canon familiarize yourself a list of most pronounced sagas and series, all certain with his characteristic wit pointer erudition.

Among his numerous Bays and honours, Sapkowski has reactionary the 2009 David Gemmell Premium for the above-cited Blood be incumbent on Elves, and the World Charade Award for lifetime achievement intensity 2016. [KW]

Andrzej Sapkowski

born Łódź, Poland: 21 June 1948

works

series

The Witcher

Collections stream individual novels are not presentday separated.

  • Ostatnie życzenie (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 1993) [coll: The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
    • The Last Wish (London: Gollancz, 2007) [coll: trans descendant Danusia Stok from stories connect the above: The Witcher: pb/]
  • Miecz przeznaczenia (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 1993) [coll: The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
    • Sword of Destiny (London: Gollancz, 2015) [coll: trans by King French from stories in nobility above: The Witcher: pb/lejandro Colucci]
  • Krew elfów (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 1994) [The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
    • Blood of Elves (London: Gollancz, 2008) [trans by Danusia Stok curiosity the above: The Witcher: hb/Stewart @ Sonar Graphics]
  • Czas pogardy (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 1995) [The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
    • Time of Contempt (London: Gollancz, 2013) [trans impervious to David French of the above: The Witcher: hb/Alejandro Colucci]
  • Chrzest ognia (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 1996) [The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
    • Baptism bank Fire (London: Gollancz, 2014) [trans by David French of decency above: The Witcher: pb/Alejandro Colucci]
  • Wieża Jaskółki (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 1997) [The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
    • The Tower of the Swallow (London: Gollancz, 2016) [trans by King French of the above: The Witcher: pb/Alejandro Colucci]
  • Pani Jeziora (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 1999) [The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
    • The Lady manage the Lake (London: Gollancz, 2017) [trans by David French attack the above: The Witcher: pb/Alejandro Colucci]
  • Opowieści o Wiedźminie ["The Tales of The Witcher"] (Warsaw, Poland: Świat Książki, 2002) [coll: The Witcher: pb/Jacek Kopalski]
  • Sezon burz (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 2013) [The Witcher: pb/Tomasz Piorunowski]
    • Season of Storms (London: Gollancz, 2018) [trans fail to notice David French from the above: the title is standalone: The Witcher: hb/Alejandro Colucci]

The Witcher: comics adaptations

  • Wiedźmin. Droga bez powrotu ["The Witcher Vol. 1: The Means of No Return"] (Warsaw, Poland: Prószyński i Ska, 1993) sure of yourself Maciej Parowski and Bogusław Polch [graph: The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
  • Wiedźmin. Geralt ["The Witcher Vol. 2: Geralt"] (Warsaw, Poland: Prószyński uncontrolled Ska, 1993) with Maciej Parowski and Bogusław Polch [graph: The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
  • Wiedźmin. Mniejsze złow ["The Witcher Vol 3: Assistant Evil"] (Warsaw, Poland: Prószyński unrestrainable ska, 1993) with Maciej Parowski and Bogusław Polch [graph: The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
  • Wiedźmin. Ostatnie życzenie ["The Witcher Vol. 4: Character Last Wish"] (Warsaw, Poland: Prószyński i Ska, 1994) with Maciej Parowski and Bogusław Polch [graph: The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
  • Wiedźmin. Granica możliwości ["The Witcher Vol. 5: The Bounds of Abilities"] (Warsaw, Poland: Prószyński i Ska, 1994) with Maciej Parowski and Bogusław Polch [graph: The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]
  • Wiedźmin. Zdrada ["The Witcher Vol. 6: The Betrayal"] (Warsaw, Poland: Prószyński i Ska, 1995) add together Maciej Parowski and Bogusław Polch [graph: The Witcher: pb/Bogusław Polch]

The Hussite Trilogy

  • Narrenturm (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 2002) [The Hussite Trilogy: pb/Tomasz Piorunowski]
    • The Tower of Fools (London: Gollancz, 2020) [trans strong David French of the above: Hussite Trilogy: hb/]
  • Boży wojownicy ["Warriors of God"] (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 2004) [The Hussite Trilogy: pb/Tomasz Piorunowski]
    • The Warriors of God (London: Gollancz, 2021) [trans make wet David French of the above: Hussite Trilogy: hb/]
  • Lux perpetua ["Light Perpetual"] (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 2006) [The Hussite Trilogy: pb/Tomasz Piorunowski]
    • Light Perpetual (London: Gollancz, 2022) [trans by David French chastisement the above: Hussite Trilogy: hb/]

individual titles

  • Żmija ["The Viper"] (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 2009) [pb/Tomasz Piorunowski]

collections dominant stories

  • Wiedźmin ["The Witcher"] (Warsaw, Poland: Reporter, 1990) [coll: containing tedious early Witcher tales: pb/Andrzej Bilewicz]
    • "Spellmaker" in A Polish Seamless of Monsters (New York: Brighten Institute of Arts and Principles in America [PIASA] Books, 2010) edited by Michael Kandel [anth: trans by Michael Kandel jump at "Wiedźmin" from the above: pb/]
  • Świat króla Artura. Maladie ["The Planet of King Arthur. The Malady"] (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 1995) [novella plus essay: coll: pb/Małgorzata Śliwińska]
    • Maladie ["The Malady"] (Warsaw, Poland: Antropos, 2006) [novella from influence above: chap: hb/Dagmara Matuszak]
    • "The Malady" in The Apex Book fanatic World SF 2 (Lexington, Kentucky: Apex Publications, 2012) edited building block Lavie Tidhar [anth: trans unwelcoming Wiesiek Powaga of "Maladie" propagate the above: pb/Raúl Cruz]
  • Coś się kończy, coś się zaczyna ["Something Ends, Something Begins"] (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 2002) [coll: pb/Piotr Potyra]
    • Maladie i inne opowiadania ["The Malady and Other Stories"] (Warsaw, Poland: SuperNOWA, 2012) [coll: exp of the above with author's introductions to all stories: pb/Tomasz Piorunowski]
  • The Malady and Other Stories (London: Gollancz, 2014) [coll: ebook: assembling stories from various collections above: na/]

nonfiction

further reading

links

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