How does the witcher change from book to game?

[Hazzard]

I'm planning on getting the witcher 2 at some point, this has led me to consider finding translated versions of the witcher books. So I am trying to find out how the books are different from the games.

Captcha: Broken Heart? That explains his attachment issues.

 

[ColeusRattus]

The games are actually sequels to the books, so the story is new. There are some recurring characters though, and you'll appreciate the lore of the game better if you read the books.

 

[Kahunaburger]

In my experience, it's pretty hard to find good translations in English. Certainly not the official versions - the translation is very direct and utilitarian, and apparently a large appeal of the books in Polish is the prose style. From what I hear, the closest English parallel is probably something like Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser stories.

In general, the short stories strike me as a lot more comedic than the games - more along the lines of the quest with the bridge troll, for instance. Same emphasis on deconstructing fantasy and fairy tale tropes, though. Apparently the books are closer in tone to the games.

 

[endtherapture]

Apparently all the side quests are like stories from The Last Wish and other Witcher short stories, whilst the main quests are more inspired by stuff like The Blood of Elves.

The games begin 5 years after the end of the last book after Geralt

Spoiler

dies in Rivia.

 

[Zhukov]

I've only read some of the short stories, not the complete books.

The biggest difference is that the books do not take themselves anywhere near as seriously as the games. They read a bit like parodies.

Also, like Kahunaburger says, the English translations are very barebones. They just get the point across without any frills or flair.

 

[Hazzard]

I've only read some of the short stories, not the complete books.

The biggest difference is that the books do not take themselves anywhere near as seriously as the games. They read a bit like parodies.

Also, like Kahunaburger says, the English translations are very barebones. They just get the point across without any frills or flair.

Is it likely they will ever get a good translation?

 

[Zhukov]

I've only read some of the short stories, not the complete books.

The biggest difference is that the books do not take themselves anywhere near as seriously as the games. They read a bit like parodies.

Also, like Kahunaburger says, the English translations are very barebones. They just get the point across without any frills or flair.

Is it likely they will ever get a good translation?

I haven't the slightest of clues.

 

[Smertnik]

The Russian translation is very good, in my opinion. In case you speak Russian

The biggest difference is that the books do not take themselves anywhere near as seriously as the games. They read a bit like parodies.

Really? Maybe the first two short stories but once the actual series starts the story gets pretty serious. In fact, I'd say it's far more serious than the games' story. I really don't see the novels as parody in any way.

The games are actually sequels to the books, so the story is new. There are some recurring characters though, and you'll appreciate the lore of the game better if you read the books.

Eh, it depends. I think I actually would have liked the games more if I haven't read all the books beforehand. All the character and setting changes really bugged me at first.

 

[MercurySteam]

I've read translated passages and they seem to be written very well. I'd wager that you may be able to take even more away from the games if you read the books.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

I've read The Last Wish and Blood of Elves, both Translated into english. I found it okay, it helps in that I had a clear image of what Geralt was like from the games, but honestly I think the translation doesn't do the world or the characters any justice.

It's also filled with grammatical errors and is generally dull to read (by that I mean the writing itself is dull... the plot and characters are there).