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diff --git a/content/brain-rot/fantasy/witcher/_index.md b/content/brain-rot/fantasy/witcher/_index.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d9383c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/brain-rot/fantasy/witcher/_index.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ ++++ +title = "Wicher" +author = ["Michał Sapka"] +date = 2024-04-14T18:10:00+02:00 +categories = ["brainrot"] +draft = false +weight = 3001 +primary_menu = "brain-rot" +abstract = "The Witcher series" +[menu] + [menu.brain-rot-fantasy] + weight = 3001 + identifier = "wicher" ++++ + +{{< menu "brain-rot-wicher" >}} +Witcher +{{< /menu >}} diff --git a/content/brain-rot/fantasy/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-baptism-of-fire.md b/content/brain-rot/fantasy/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-baptism-of-fire.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9518a49 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/brain-rot/fantasy/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-baptism-of-fire.md @@ -0,0 +1,88 @@ ++++ +title = "Baptism of Fire (1996)" +author = ["Michał Sapka"] +date = 2024-04-25T16:27:00+02:00 +categories = ["brainrot"] +draft = false +weight = 3002 +primary_menu = "brain-rot-wicher" +abstract = "My review of the third book in the Witcher saga" +aliases = ["/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-baptism-of-fire/"] +[menu] + [menu.brain-rot-wicher] + weight = 3002 + identifier = "baptism-of-fire-1996" ++++ + +_Baptism of Fire_ is the third novel in the _Witcher_ saga. +While I had not that positive reaction to _Time of Contempt_[^fn:1], this time I loved every page. + +We start where we left last time: Ciri joins Rats in the middle of nowhere, while Geralt tries to find her. +Reads like every novel in the series. +Andrzej seems to have a template for a book at this point. + +But I **loved** this book. +And it comes to who is it about. +Yes, we've got Ciri. +Yes, we've got Yennefer. +They exist, but we spend almost the entirety of the book with Geralt, Jaskier and a band of mischiefs who form a fellowship. +We've got Milva, an archer. +We've also got Zoltanm, a dwarf. +And we've also got Regis, a vampire. + +{{< rating 4.25 "sapkowski-baptism-of-fire.jpg" >}} +The classic cover +{{< /rating >}} + +Having spent quality time with an interesting, diverse crowd made it very enable ride. +They even joke sitting by fire! +I think lack of such interactions is why I disliked the last book. +It was full of Ciri, Yennefer and other sorceresses while Geralt was ignored most of the time. +And sorceresses are so up-tight and irritating, so it was not what I would call a nice time. +Also, here, whenever the action moved to, either Rats or mages, my enjoyment went down significantly. + +I don't know why, as I generally don't read fantasy. +Maybe they are written poorly? +I don't know the standards. +For sure the female characters here have nothing to show compared to _Game of Thrones_'s ones. +It is very hard to write powerful characters who are also female. +Most of the time, they are male characters in skanky clothes. +R.R. Martin was able to create menacing woman, who were still woman. +Sapkowski? +Not so much. +And they are not even funny! + +They look as a poor rendition of older hits. +As an example, the sorceresses have a multi-generational plan to mix genomes from selected people in order to create a very specific being. +It's _Dune_, but while Bene Gesrit so much more involved, twisted and multidimensional, here it comes out of nowhere (I think?) and disappoints. + +But let's ignore the woman for a moment, and we've got ourselves an awesome little book. +I loved how, in one introduction to a chapter, we see the same legend told from both sides - Humans and Elves. +This is where _Witcher_ shines. +It's a great commentary about racism and hatred. +No wonder it comes from Poland, with our complex history. +It's as subtle as a bulldozer, but it's not that type of story. +It's obvious, blunt and takes no prisoners. +History is never easy, there is never a clear split between the good and bad guys. +Most likely everything you know is wrong, as it was written by victors. +This is the overarching theme in the _Witcher_. +Even a vampire may be a good person! + +So, for me Witcher is a moral series _dressed_ as fantasy. +The magic system is barely there, no one explains _how_ Witchers work. +And I think it's a plus. +The meat of the story is not diluted by mechanics of the world. +The fact that we've got that lovable bunch here is just icing on the cake. + +Also, the ending here is much better. +I finished my review of _Time of Contempt_ assuming that I will get to know the Rats in the follow-up. +I didn't know anything about them (nor I cared about them), but I assumed they will be the focus. +I was wrong. +I still have no idea who they are outside superfluous facts the short burst of their story the book has. +I _know_ Regis and I want to spend more time with him. + +So, I left very satisfied. +I found charm and a lot of substance. +I hope that Ciri's plot will develop in interesting ways, as her teenage rebellion may be the end of me. + +[^fn:1]: vide [my review](/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt/) diff --git a/content/brain-rot/fantasy/witcher/time-of-contempt.md b/content/brain-rot/fantasy/witcher/time-of-contempt.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa5f977 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/brain-rot/fantasy/witcher/time-of-contempt.md @@ -0,0 +1,77 @@ ++++ +title = "Time of Contempt (1995)" +author = ["Michał Sapka"] +date = 2024-03-24T22:27:00+01:00 +categories = ["brainrot"] +draft = false +weight = 3001 +primary_menu = "brain-rot-wicher" +abstract = "My review of the second book in the Witcher saga" +aliases = ["/blog/2024/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt", "//brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt/"] +[menu] + [menu.brain-rot-wicher] + weight = 3001 + identifier = "time-of-contempt-1995" ++++ + +It's a stain of my honor - I am a Pole, but I've never read The Saga. +It's not that I've never read any of The Witcher, but somehow I always stopped after the short stories. +Last year I've decided to finally fix this. +I am a proud nerd for crying out loud! + +{{< img-r "sapkowski-time-of-contemt.jpg" >}} +The classic cover +{{< /img-r >}} + +_Time of Contempt_ is the second part of The Witcher Saga, but it's also the 4th book about Geralt and his world. +Let's ignore the short stories for a second and let's talk about this book in context of The Saga. +Here it suffers from being the middle child: Andrzej is developing the characters and story, but it lacks a impactful begging and an end. +I haven't felt like that after finishing the _Blood of Elves,_ as it had a _begging_ and the ending was emotional. +Geralt reunited with Ciri. +The story is clearly not over, but we have a kind of closure. +We know she is safe and ready for what's coming next. + +Here? +Here we have no beginning as it follows the last book. +It was to be expected. +But I fail to notice anything new created here. +Yes, we've got _amazing_ development of Ciri (I can't wait what how her blood heritage will screw over everyone), but nothing more. +It just moves from scene to scene[^fn:1], not spending any meaningful time anywhere. +After 300 pages of this, it ends with Ciri joining some random group. +I guess I will get to know them in _Baptism of Fire_, but I am not yet there. +Are they good? +Are they cool? +Who the hell they even are? +For me it was a huge let down. + +But the biggest thing missing in The Saga is humour. +Both, _Sword of Destiny_ and _Last Wish_ were hilarious. +It was not on Pratchett's level of humor, but Geralt was amazing when it came to deadpan. +Moreover, I have no idea how well it translated to other languages, as it was based on Polish humour, but: +the books were written for Polish reader who was expected to know _Szewczyk Dratewka,_ and therefore the way Geralt dealt with dragon was a funny refernce. +But this aspect is now completely missingm[^fn:2], but it was what made the short stories for me. + +The biggest problem for me however was the fact I saw two seasons of The Witcher TV Series[^fn:3]. +It was terrible and had nothing to do with the book (luckily for me!), but the TV versions of Ciri and Yennefer were irritating at best. +Their book counterparts are not like that - Ciri is extremely cool and Yen is, well, not so bad - but the visual image is etched in my brain. +I finally start to have a separate personnas for them, but it was difficult. +Yes, to some extent Netflix ruined the books for me. + +I was never a fan of _fantasy_, as I always preferred _SciFi_. +Give me a blaster or give me death[^fn:4]! +If I found _Time of Contempt_ as a random book, I would not care for the rest of the series. +It was ok, but nothing to write home about. +Sapkowski has a great style and I very much want more, but he has not told anything interesting here. +I will continue reading The Witcher, but mostly because it **is** The Witcher. + +I liked reading _Blood of Elves_ much more. + +I give it 3.5/5. + +[^fn:1]: ... _No one had a chance to interrupt_. + _It was really quite hypnotic_. +[^fn:2]: We've got **huge** reference to _Enemy Mine_ in the single best part of the book, but it's not funny at all. + Sad, scary - sure; but not funny. Just like the movie. +[^fn:3]: And not an episode more. + It was already too much. +[^fn:4]: If you get the refence know, that I am no longer that type of a person. |