The best short stories by Andrzej Sapkowski

Key Takeaways

• The Witcher began with short stories that defined Geralt's character and established its world.
• Memorable moments in the story include Geralt's deal with Jinn and his hunt for the golden dragon.
• Geralt's encounters with characters like Dudu and Ciri laid the foundation for an iconic story.

Before becoming a critically acclaimed video game trilogy with award-winning writing; the witcher It started as a series of short stories by Andrzej Sapkowski. He never dreamed of the popularity the series would gain after a fledgling Polish video game developer purchased the rights to the IP and transformed it into one of the most popular dark fantasy franchises of all time.

A series of novels followed the success of Sapkowski's short stories, which helped bring the legacy of Geralt and his diverse (and powerful) friends to life. His short stories stand out for their incredible characterization and world-building, detailing the many adventures he embarks on to set the stage for many of his novels. This short story is an incredible work of art that allows you to experience and showcase the powerful world-building in the author's iconic work.

SPOILER WARNING: This list explores story spoilers for Andrzej Sapkowski's two short story collections, The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny.

8 the witcher

It features Geralt's iconic fight with the Striga.

• publishing: last wish

Most fans of the video game series the witcherGeralt takes on the Striga and tries to break the curse. This is an adaptation of one of the most iconic short stories Sapkowski wrote.

To this day, players love the story's great action-packed writing and world-building. the witcher For everyone to see. Geralt's attempt to survive until morning and break this curse creates a memorable scene that fans will never be able to get enough of.

7 less evil

The story of how Geralt became known as the Butcher of Blaviken.

• publishing: last wish

Geralt is known by many nicknames, and The White Wolf is a somewhat flattering way to describe his heritage. However, another nickname he is less fond of is the Butcher of Blaviken, which he earned after slaughtering one of his enemies in the town for all to see.

Even though he was technically correct and the two evil groups prevented their plan from coming to fruition, Geralt was instead mocked for his attempt to save the villagers. Witchers were seen as mutated demons, and after seeing him cut down countless people without any context surrounding his actions, he was cast out and branded the Butcher of Blaviken.

6 price problem

A series of events that lead to Ciri becoming Geralt's surprise child.

• publishing: last wish

The fateful threat that bound Geralt and Ciri's fate emerged after the witcher's intervention in the castle of Cintra. During a royal feast, chaos erupts when a cursed man reveals himself to be Pavetta's lover, setting off a chain of events that lead Queen Calanthe to ask Geralt to help resolve the confusion.

Eventually the curse on Duny is lifted when Pavetta is set to marry him. When the couple asks Geralt what he wants, the witcher surprises everyone by invoking the Law of Surprise, and it is soon revealed that Pavetta is pregnant with the girl who will grow up to be Ciri.

5 last wish

Geralt and Yennefer are bound by fate after meeting Jinn.

• publishing: last wish

Geralt and Yennefer's tumultuous relationship is one of the most intriguing plot points in the film. the witcher series. The two parties met each other in a chance meeting, but it was Geralt's actions to thwart Yennefer's plans that forever linked their fates together.

After Yennefer tries and fails to control the djinn's power, Geralt realizes that it was he, not Dandelion, who technically discovered the djinn, and surprises everyone by making his third and final wish. He wants to tie his fate with Yennefer forever, and so begins one of the hottest romances in dark fantasy literature.

4 border of reason

Memorable Golden Dragon Hunt

• publishing: sword of fate

An incredible story that revolves around Geralt joining a caravan hunting a golden dragon, this mission provides an excuse for Geralt and Yennefer to reunite and rekindle the spark of their romance once again. It helps that meeting the dragon Villentretenmerth makes for a memorable moment in the book.

Yennefer's attempt to reverse her infertility by making a deal with the dragon fails, and she cannot help but feel bitter sorrow over her inability to have children. Our first encounter with the dragon in human form, Borch Three Jackdaws, makes him one of the most interesting characters in the series.

3 eternal flame

It describes the first meeting between Geralt and Dudu.

• publishing: sword of fate

Dudu is a character that players must find in Novigrad to bring Geralt one step closer to finding Ciri. The Witcher 3. Fans of the book know that this was the first time a doppler and a white wolf crossed paths, creating a memorable encounter in the city long before the incident. witcher stratagem.

Dudu assumed the guise of a merchant named Dainty and sold his horses to buy goods he deemed worthless. However, this turns out to be a stroke of genius when it is revealed that the items Dainty purchased will be used to build altars to the Eternal Fire throughout the city. It's a light-hearted story that shows another side of Sapkowski's brutal fantasy world.

2 sword of fate

Ciri and Geralt meet for the first time in Brokilon

• publishing: sword of fate

The moment Geralt and Ciri first cross paths makes for a memorable story. After seeing a group of dead children venturing deep into the forests of Brokilon, Geralt is escorted by the resident dryads to the heart of the forest.

It is here that he first meets Ciri and negotiates her freedom from Eithne, Queen of Brokilon. It's a great story, and neither character will have any idea about the thread of fate that linked them from their first meeting.

1 something more

Geralt tries to find Ciri after the fall of Cintra.

• publishing: sword of fate

The Fall of Cintra is a tragic moment in the series when Nilfgaard invades the city, kills its queen, and takes over. Soon after, the Battle of Soden takes place, and Geralt heads to the scene of the massacre to find the child who, according to the Law of Surprise, is destined to meet him.

He heads to the merchant's house, believing Ciri to be long gone after a fruitless search. There, the family took in the girl they had lost after the invasion of Nilfgaard. Geralt couldn't believe his eyes when Ciri came out. The two ran towards each other and shared a hug, cementing their relationship forever.