The Witcher and Game of Thrones books

[vindafarna]

The Witcher and Game of Thrones books

Hi all,

I've only read the English translations of The Witcher (Blood of Elves) and (The Last Wish), and enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of The Witcher books translated to English in the near future.

I've also decided to begin reading George RR Martin's Game of Thrones books as well, and have been enjoying it thus far. The HBO TV series adaptation is especially exceptional.

For those who've read both The Witcher and Game of Thrones books, what are your thoughts between the two? How would you compare their strengths and weaknessess in terms of plot device, setting, and character development? Would you favour one over the other?

 

[Aditya]

I haven't read the 2 witcher novels and definitely hope they are translated in english soon in then near future. Read in some other threads there are some translation/publishing issues but hell with that not something I can do.
As for GOT (that is the name of the first book, series is called "A Song of Ice and Fire") they are brilliantly written. To keep it short, the entire plot revolves around multiple characters around a world with different events connecting in direct/indirect manner., while (I assume looking at the games) TW revolves around our beloved Geralf of Rivia.
Also strongly advisable not to be attached to any character if your that type of person... (quiet literally) anything can happen!
Recommendation: 10/10

 

[volsung]

Not that I'm trying to get on everybody's nerves or anything but what is the point of comparing these two sagas? Why not go ahead and compare any other random series/saga with The Witcher?

I know A Song of Fire and Ice is rather popular right now but come on, there were, are and will be countless more fantasy books and this kind of comparison is well, rather pointless.

 

[JayShadow]

For those waiting for Witcher English translations, I would point you to this thread where a few forum members decided to do the translations themselves, and have taken care of most of the series so far.

 

[crowseye]

Both The Witcher and Ice & Fire series fit the trendy fantasy labels of "grey" and "gritty" as most people use them in the sense that both authors write about whores and drunkenness and sex and illness and describe ghastly wounds and both will make you want something for one or more characters, then dash your hopes for them.

The Witcher series is unmistakeably fantasy: the main character and most of his plot-critical friends have supernatural powers (in the literary sense) and are perpetually in conflict with other characters and creatures with supernatural powers.

The Ice & Fire series is part historical epic and part television soap opera. The fantasy is certainly there under the hood, the engine driving the series, but it's not an essential characteristic of most of the characters and scenes Martin portrays. To the extent that some of the characters are or will likely become heroes in the fantasy sense, the story is arguably more concerned with the what will happen as a result of their actions, rather than what their individual fates will be.

I think there is also a difference in tone: although Sapkowski's characters have faults and make mistakes, there is IMO an underlying belief in an innate goodness in people that offers hope for a better future no matter how much they go about screwing things up in the present. Martin's world, by contrast, exposes the notions of "good" and "deserving" as lies; the world is shaped, for better or worse, by the interests of those who hold the power.

Finally, whereas Sapkowski accomplished what he wished to accomplish with the Witcher series AFAIK, don't expect any meaningful closure for the Ice & Fire series for many years yet.

 

[nocny.945]

TW revolves around our beloved Geralf of Rivia.

(Google Translator)

A story in the Saga revolves around Ciri. In the second place around Geralt. Even the characters of the second plan, and even the pretty side have their own five minutes. Many of them remain in the memory not only as a name ..

However, in the collections of short stories, the story revolves around Geralt.

Unfortunately I have not read "Game of Thrones", because a lot of hype around it. Anyway, for some time, I do not read fantasy.

Maybe someday I will read "Game of Thrones". I'm going to read a book a Polish author Jaroslaw Grzędowicz "Pan Lodowego Ogrodu" ("Lord of the Ice Garden") because the folks recommend it ..