The Ultimate Guide: The Witcher Books and Netflix Adaptations Unveiled
Discover the captivating world of The Witcher books! With 6 novels and 15 short stories, delve into the epic tale in chronological order Find out which books Netflix has adapted and anticipate more thrilling adaptations to come
Summary
The Witcher TV show, based on Andrzej Sapkowski's books, has made changes to the source material, but the author allows the writers creative freedom.
Sapkowski is the author of six Witcher novels and fifteen short stories. Currently, he is working on a new novel, but information about the plot remains undisclosed.
The Netflix series has taken inspiration from Sapkowski's books and short stories, with each season delving into different aspects of his works.
The Witcher, one of Netflix's most popular shows, is adapted from a book series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The fantasy drama centers around Geralt of Rivia, portrayed by Henry Cavill in the first three seasons, with Liam Hemsworth set to replace him in the fourth season. Throughout the three seasons, the Netflix show made several deviations from Sapkowski's books, which is common in the process of adapting from page to screen. Despite this, Sapkowski maintains a working relationship with the producers and writers, staying informed about the development of his work for the streaming service. According to Redanian Intelligence, Sapkowski grants creative freedom to the television writers, resulting in some differences from the original narrative, although all three seasons are technically based on the books and short stories in Sapkowski's series.
There Are 6 The Witcher Books & 15 Short Stories (Will There Be More?)
The Witcher universe originated when Andrzej Sapkowski entered a short story, appropriately titled The Witcher, into a competition held by Fantastyka, a Polish science fiction and fantasy magazine, in 1986. While he placed third in the contest, Sapkowski garnered immense attention from fans of his work, prompting him to continue writing. In 1990, the author released his initial collection of short stories set in The Witcher universe, followed by another compilation called Sword of Destiny in 1992, and a final collection, The Last Wish, in 1993. Overall, Sapkowski penned 15 short stories before embarking on novels.
In 1994, the Polish writer made his debut in The Witcher series with the book Blood of Elves, followed by Time of Contempt in 1995, Baptism of Fire in 1996, The Tower of the Shallow in 1997, The Lady of the Lake in 1999, and Season of Storms in 2013. Season of Storms serves as a standalone prequel, distinct from the first five books which collectively form The Witcher Saga. However, Sapkowski has not concluded his writing ventures within this universe.
According to CBR,
How To Read The Witcher Books In Chronological Order
the author shared in August 2023 that he was currently working on a new installment for his renowned The Witcher series. He mentioned that the completion of this novel would approximately take a year, however, he remained hesitant in disclosing any specific plot details. As a result, it remains uncertain whether this new addition will act as a prequel, similar to Season of Storms, or if it will serve as a sequel to The Lady of the Lake. For now, fans eagerly await further updates on Sapkowski's anticipated upcoming release in The Witcher universe.
To navigate Sapkowski's intricate Witcher universe, it's important to follow a specific reading order. Begin with The Last Wish, followed by Sword of Destiny, before delving into the novels. For those craving the true chronological experience, proceed to Season of Storms, Blood of Elves, Time of Contempt, Baptism of Fire, and The Tower of the Swallow before concluding with The Lady of the Lake. As for the forthcoming novel, its place within the Witcher timeline remains a mystery, yet to be unveiled.
Which The Witcher Books Netflix Has Already Adapted (& How Many More Will It Do?)
The Witcher (the Netflix television show) deviates significantly from Sapkowski's book series canon. However, it still incorporates elements from the author's novels and short stories. Season 1 of The Witcher adapted The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny in accordance with the established chronological order. Season 2 drew inspiration from Sapkowski's first book, Blood of Elves, as well as "A Grain of Truth" from The Last Wish. Additionally, it delved into the second novel, Time of Contempt.
In season 3, Time of Contempt remained a source of inspiration, while aspects of Blood of Elves and Baptism of Fire were explored. Looking ahead, Netflix has renewed the show for two more seasons, with Liam Hemsworth set to replace Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia. It could be assumed that Baptism of Fire will serve as the basis for The Witcher season 4, while season 5 could draw from The Tower of the Swallow. However, Netflix has yet to disclose the specific books that will inspire the upcoming seasons.
Source: Redanian Intelligence and CBR
