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Andrzej SapkowskiPolish science fiction writer and publicist
Date of Birth: 21.06.1948
Country:  Poland |
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Biography of Andrzej Sapkowski
Andrzej Sapkowski is a Polish science fiction and fantasy writer and journalist, best known as the author of the popular fantasy saga "The Witcher". Born in 1948 in the city of Lodz, Sapkowski graduated from the University of Lodz with a degree in foreign trade.
Early Career
From 1972 to 1994, Sapkowski worked in the trade industry. In 1986, he wrote his first fantasy novella, "The Witcher" (Polish: Wiedźmin), introducing his main character Geralt of Rivia, a swordmaster and sorcerer who hunts monsters and mythical creatures in a fantasy world. Several stories about Geralt were published in the book "The Witcher".
Success with "The Witcher"
In 1990, Sapkowski's second book was released, titled "The Last Wish" (Polish: Ostatnie życzenie), which consisted of seven novellas, both new and previously published. In 1992, he published another book about Geralt, titled "Sword of Destiny" (Polish: Miecz przeznaczenia), including six additional stories. These 13 stories were later translated into Russian and published as a single volume titled "The Witcher".
In 1994, Sapkowski began a five-volume saga about "The Witcher and Ciri": "Blood of Elves" (Polish: Krew elfów) in 1994, "Time of Contempt" (Polish: Czas pogardy) in 1995, "Baptism of Fire" (Polish: Chrzest ognia) in 1996, "The Tower of the Swallow" (Polish: Wieża Jaskółki) in 1997, and "Lady of the Lake" (Polish: Pani Jeziora) in 1999. The adventures of Geralt were also adapted into comics, illustrated by Bogusław Polch and with text by Maciej Parowski.
Other Works and Recognition
In addition to "The Witcher" series, Sapkowski has written numerous short stories and essays. He is the author of the rock opera "Road with No Return" (Polish: Droga bez powrotu) based on his "Witcher" saga. In 1998, he was awarded the "Passport" prize for his contribution to Polish culture. Sapkowski has also written critical articles on fantasy literature, such as "A Guide for Aspiring Fantasy Writers", "Pirug, or There is No Gold in the Grey Mountains" (an article about contemporary problems of fantasy literature), and "Sword, Magic, Screen" (about film adaptations).
Sapkowski's works have been translated into many languages, including Czech, Russian, German, Spanish, Finnish, Lithuanian, French, English, Portuguese, Bulgarian, Italian, Swedish, Serbian, and Ukrainian. He is considered one of the most published authors in Poland.
In July 2016, Sapkowski was awarded the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement. He continues to write and is currently working on a new novel set in "The Witcher" universe, titled "Season of Storms".
