Andrzej Sapkowski to Fans: Don’t Ask About The Witcher 4 — I Don’t Play Games, Read Books Instead
Andrzej Sapkowski, the author behind The Witcher books, is back with a new prequel novel due Sept. 30. However, he kept answers short and direct in a brief email Q&A, and he made clear he’s not keen to talk about adaptations or play video games. Below you’ll find the key facts from that exchange.
- New Witcher book and release
- Prequel focus: Geralt young and Holt
- What Sapkowski said about The Witcher 4 and games
- Thoughts on Netflix and readers who haven’t read the books
New Witcher book and release
Sapkowski has published a new prequel, titled The Witcher: Crossroads of Ravens, and it arrives on Sept. 30. The story looks at one of Geralt’s earlier adventures and explains some events that lead into the better-known books.
Prequel focus: Geralt young and Holt
The new novel centers on Geralt when he’s younger. In the story, Geralt meets Holt, a veteran Witcher who might retire and who trains him in ways different from Vesemir. Sapkowski said the plot itself demanded Holt’s presence — in his words, “The plot is the queen; it decides who appears in the book, what they do, what they say, and what fate befalls them.”
He also suggested the prequel gives readers a chance to see Geralt from a different angle and to connect known effects to their causes.
What Sapkowski said about The Witcher 4 and games
When asked whether CD Projekt RED had contacted him about The Witcher 4, Sapkowski answered directly:
“I don’t recall. Maybe. In any case, whenever I was asked for advice or guidance, I certainly provided it.”
However, he made his stance on games very clear. Again, in his words:
“I can’t respond because I don’t know the topic. As I’ve mentioned on various occasions, I don’t play games. Any games. Therefore, I don’t know what any particular game is about or what I hope to see, so please don’t ask me about it.”
Thoughts on Netflix and readers who haven’t read the books
Sapkowski gave brief comments about adaptations. He said his views vary by situation, and he prefers not to get deep into them. He has also said he doesn’t like sharing many details about his writing process or talking at length to journalists; for more on that side of his views, see this Gizmodo interview.
About readers who discovered The Witcher through TV or games rather than the books, he stuck to his opinion on the value of written fiction. He said:
“True book lovers need no convincing about the value of books and their advantage over visual adaptations; they know well that the written word always and decidedly triumphs over images, and no picture — animated or otherwise — can match the power of the written word.”
Finally, he expressed patience rather than judgment:
“We simply need to wait for them to mature and discover books in their own time. And they surely will, eventually.”
