The Last Wish (book)
Cover of the American edition of The Last Wish
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| Author | Andrzej Sapkowski |
|---|---|
| Original title | Ostatnie życzenie |
| Country | Poland |
| Language | Polish |
| Series | The Witcher |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Published | |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 288 |
| ISBN | |
| Followed by | Sword of Destiny |
The Last Wish (Polish: Ostatnie życzenie) is the first (in its fictional chronology; published second in original Polish) of the two collections of short stories (the other being The Sword of Destiny) preceding the main Witcher Saga, written by Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski. The first Polish edition was published in 1993, the first English edition in 2007. The book has also been translated into several other languages.
The collection employs the frame story framework and contains 7 main short stories; Geralt of Rivia, after having been injured in battle, rests in a temple. During that time he has flashbacks to recent events in his life, each of which forms a story of its own.
Głos rozsądku - frame story
The Voice of Reason begins with Geralt, slumbering, awakened by the entrance of Iola, who proceeds to make love to him. Afterwards, he falls asleep. Here Geralt dreams of his encounter in Wyzim with a striga ("The Witcher"). In the morning, he is woken up by Nenneke, the priestess of Melitele. He is in the Temple of Melitele in Ellander. Iola leaves, with Geralt musing that in the early morning, she reminded him of Yennefer. She talks with him, worried that he was horrifically injured by a normal striga. Geralt and Nenneke argue about Geralt taking part in a trance. Geralt argues that his inability to be hypnotised and his lack of faith makes it pointless. Here, the second short story, "A Grain of Truth", is introduced.
Afterwards, he meets with Count Falwick and Sir Tailles, both knights of the Order of the White Rose. They are here to chase Geralt from Ellander in the name of Prince Hereward. Geralt says he will leave after three days. Falwick tells him to leave immediately. Geralt and Tailles almost come to blows when the latter insults Nenneke. Tailles and Falwick leave, warning that they will be back (at this point, the third short story, "The Lesser Evil", is introduced). Later, he meets Iola, and carries a monologue explaining himself to her (she unable to talk due to a vow she has made). At the end, he muses on his destiny (introducing the short story, "A Question of Price").
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