The Last Wish

the Last Wish (original Title: Ostatnie życzenie) is a collection of short accounts of Fantasy of the writer Andrzej Sapkowski published in Poland in 1993 and France in 2003.

Presentation of the work

the Last Wish does not tell a single linear history but a succession of short adventures whose common point is to put in scene the same hero, Geralt de Riv, also known as the Butcher of Blaviken. This colourful, recurring character in the work of Sapkowski, is a sorcelor , a member of a caste of mutants mercenaries equipped of superhuman capacities thanks to the magic and the genetic engineering. The world in which lives Geralt de Riv is indeed infested malefic creatures of all kinds, goules, vampires, wolf-garous etc Being child, it underwent a rigorous drive containing potions and of magic grasses which caused in him a change developing its physical capacities like its five directions. Faster, stronger, Geralt can use its potions to increase its capacities of engagements. The change also made lose any coloring with its hair which became entirely white, like those of the other sorceleurs. Since then, often behaving like a true detective of the magic businesses, it devotes to a pitiless hunting monsters against remuneration. For this purpose, it is armed with two swords, one of iron and the other of money. Cynical and disillusioned, Geralt applies a very personal morals which follows the line of the “less evil”.

Contents of the accounts

The book is cut out in six little stories deprived of bond enters. A history entitled the Voice of reason is inserted between the others and is used as framework with the unit.

Sorceleur : The girl of king Foltest was metamorphosed by envoûtement in a demon called Strige. Each night of full moon it wakes up and leaves its coffin to go repaître of alive. Gerald de Riv takes up the challenge him to return his humanity in exchange of a remuneration consequent. This first history introduces the character with his main features: gifted mercenary of superhuman capacities; venal individual but not stripped of a certain direction of the honor.
a grain of truth : Travelling in the countryside, Sorceleur discovers the corpse of a merchant and that of his daughter obviously massacred by a supernatural creature. Carrying on its way, it arrives in a castle where it is accommodated by a dreadful monster. Against any waiting, this one is shown very gracious and civilized. He at least tells him his history which resembles extremely that of the Beautiful one and the Animal, with regard to his beginning.
the least evil : After having killed a dangerous creature, called Kikimoorrhe, Sorceleur goes in the close village by hoping for a reward. He addresses himself to the magician of the village in which he recognizes an old knowledge, the Stregobor magician who caused him some troubles formerly. This one begs it to help it because it is continued by a woman, the “Magpie Grièche”, whose history resembles that of Blanche snow and the seven dwarves. Gerald will have to choose between the two antagonists by making the choice of the “less evil”.
a question of price : The Calanthe queen engaged Sorceleur to cut down a monster. This one formerly saved the life of the king and it must come, during one evening, to claim the price of its service, i.e. the hand of the princess.
the end of the world : In a region moved away, in extreme cases of the world where still the last Elves live, Sorceleur is called by peasants to drive out a Sylvain, left fauna of wood. It meets there a very old creature, Vivette, which is not other than the spirit of the revival and spring.
the last wish : Whereas they fish at the edge of a river, Gerald and his friend the Jaskier bard discover a strange ballot box. They let escape the Djinn who is inside and who has the capacity of exaucer three wishes.

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