The games help immensely with knowing the map and locations of cities and their corresponding kings, I’d love if they had a map for the standard readers though
I keep seeing this issue of the books lacking a map being mentioned and I agree it would be a nice thing to have. However, there is actually an interesting explanation of why Sapkowski hasn't made a map: as he says himself, he doesn't actually visualize ANY of his writing. He doesn't have a mental picture of Geralt or any other characters, the monsters, nothing. He says that to him, "it's just letters on a page". I think he might have a condition known as "aphantasia" - the inability to form mental images, which would explain why there is no map and some inconsistencies in the geography. Also I think he just doesn't care about the worldbuilding that much, he just wants to tell his story - the part of it he clearly enjoys the most is digging up historical terminology and making up names, and in interviews he emphasises the importance of onomastics in fantasy. He's an unconventional and fascinating author for sure.
From what I remember, him saying all that corresponded with the marketing of the first season of the Netflix show and was mostly used to deflect the anger of many fans about the casting decisions. Also I don't think he had ever used that explanation before.
Great review! I only played the third game before reading the books. Even with that game alone it definitely helped me with knowing about the geography of the world, the characters, and their relations to each other.
I totally agree with the point about the map. When Dandelion is explaining to Geralt what's been going on etc. I was skim reading that towards the latter half as I had no real understanding where, who and what the consequences meant prior or going forward. Very good review!
The Wizard party and the shitshow that happens in this book are the 2 best bits of this book... the Ciri stuff before and after are not enjoyable even though I do like Ciry as a character It is INSANE that this series doesnt have a map... border struggles and conquering are CRUCIAL to the plot wtf it really makes no sense. Halfway through the witcher series now! Definitely a mix bag that I do tend to enjoy!
The games help immensely with knowing the map and locations of cities and their corresponding kings, I’d love if they had a map for the standard readers though
I keep seeing this issue of the books lacking a map being mentioned and I agree it would be a nice thing to have. However, there is actually an interesting explanation of why Sapkowski hasn't made a map: as he says himself, he doesn't actually visualize ANY of his writing. He doesn't have a mental picture of Geralt or any other characters, the monsters, nothing. He says that to him, "it's just letters on a page".
I think he might have a condition known as "aphantasia" - the inability to form mental images, which would explain why there is no map and some inconsistencies in the geography. Also I think he just doesn't care about the worldbuilding that much, he just wants to tell his story - the part of it he clearly enjoys the most is digging up historical terminology and making up names, and in interviews he emphasises the importance of onomastics in fantasy. He's an unconventional and fascinating author for sure.
From what I remember, him saying all that corresponded with the marketing of the first season of the Netflix show and was mostly used to deflect the anger of many fans about the casting decisions. Also I don't think he had ever used that explanation before.
Great review!
I only played the third game before reading the books. Even with that game alone it definitely helped me with knowing about the geography of the world, the characters, and their relations to each other.
did you struggle without a map?
I totally agree with the point about the map. When Dandelion is explaining to Geralt what's been going on etc. I was skim reading that towards the latter half as I had no real understanding where, who and what the consequences meant prior or going forward. Very good review!
The Wizard party and the shitshow that happens in this book are the 2 best bits of this book... the Ciri stuff before and after are not enjoyable even though I do like Ciry as a character
It is INSANE that this series doesnt have a map... border struggles and conquering are CRUCIAL to the plot wtf it really makes no sense.
Halfway through the witcher series now! Definitely a mix bag that I do tend to enjoy!
Such a thorough review. Do you take notes when you read or is this all off the cuff?
#LFLR