Time of Contempt UK version in US

[hajalie24]

Time of Contempt UK version in US

I started reading The Witcher series a little over a week ago. Well I absolutely loved it and already got through the first three books. I used the community translation for The Sword of Destiny and found it a good enough read. Since the US version of Time of Contemp is two months away I figured I'd just use the translations again, but then I noticed on amazon.co.uk that it is released in 10 days for those in the UK. Does anyone know if I'm able to purchase the digital version somehow?

 

[Wazhai]

I don't see why you couldn't order the digital or the physical edition. Amazon UK and DE ship to the rest of Europe so you should be able to have it shipped to the US.

 

[Calrabjohns]

I've been out of luck when I've tried ordering from amazon.co.uk for my Kindle app and I'm stateside. No idea why they do that but they do, in my experience. If you have any luck though, let me know. There are some e-books I'd love to get that haven't been brought here yet.

 

[hajalie24]

I've been out of luck when I've tried ordering from amazon.co.uk for my Kindle app and I'm stateside. No idea why they do that but they do, in my experience. If you have any luck though, let me know. There are some e-books I'd love to get that haven't been brought here yet.

I set up an account at amazon.co.uk and used a made up London address. It seems to allow me to purchase books. I only tried a free book, but when I order it it's available to read on my android device via the kindle app.

 

[Calrabjohns]

That's very encouraging. I'll try that when my replacement phone arrives. Thanks

 

[hajalie24]

That's very encouraging. I'll try that when my replacement phone arrives. Thanks />

Just realized you don't even need a new account, you can just change your kindle country. So this way you can keep all your books in one account.

 

[username_3266374]

"Due to a lack of availability, we will not be able to obtain the following
item(s) from your order:

Andrzej Sapkowski "The Time of Contempt"

Amazon you B%$^#$&%!!!

GAH!!!!

 

[Pangaea666]

For all I know they could have the same problem, but....

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Time-Contempt-Andrzej-Sapkowski/9780575085084

Edit: I've ordered it myself there. They sport free worldwide shipping and it says it'll depart within 24 hours, so will see how that goes...

 

[hajalie24]

The kindle version was fine for me. I've already finished reading it. The translation's a bit weird with the vocabulary, so I'm glad that I could look up the definitions instantly. There's no way I'm going to wait for the next official translation, so I'll be using the community translations again for the next 3 novels.

 

[pbpoovanna]

so you fans who bought the book didn't like it ? any chance sword of destiny will also be translated officially ??

 

[pbpoovanna]

i have read somewhere online that Baptism of Fire will also be releasing this year itself!

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Is there any DRM free digital edition?

 

[jediknight16]

You guys aren't lucky at all, it's surprising that all the books weren't translated yet, since they're all in french already. Be patient, the books are worth waiting !

 

[Cs__sz__r]

i have read somewhere online that Baptism of Fire will also be releasing this year itself!

Don't hold your breath.

 

[johnners2981]

I've just started reading the fan translation of times of contempt and I was thinking of getting this new official translation to read instead. Is it worth it? From the reviews it seems like the quality of translation is poor.

 

[GuyNwah]

I've just started reading the fan translation of times of contempt and I was thinking of getting this new official translation to read instead. Is it worth it? From the reviews it seems like the quality of translation is poor.

The translation is journeyman, while the community translation is amateur, but from what I read at Amazon, it is rather a bore. David French, the official translator, uses an excessive vocabulary [moderator's note: pot calling the kettle black here], interpolates too many explanations, has no ear for peasant dialect, and spoils the ring of phrases with modernisms.

 

[Pangaea666]

Crud, so I've just ordered a dud then I also see there is a new version coming out in August, which is apparently from Stok, who have translated previous English editions. Wish I knew that beforehand and ordered that instead

 

[GuyNwah]

Crud, so I've just ordered a dud then />/> I also see there is a new version coming out in August, which is apparently from Stok, who have translated previous English editions. Wish I knew that beforehand and ordered that instead />/>

I am not sure it will be better. My experience with the Danusia Stok translations is that they read like they were written like exercises for an English composition class. The phrases are too perfect, the characters speak with perfect grammar (such as low-class innkeepers consistently using "whom" in the right context) -- everything is just too damn perfect.

The community translation makes no claim to perfection, but it shows a much greater artistry of language; for example, the peasants who speak th-fronted dialect, mangle words and names, and stutter over unfamiliar words at the beginning of Time of Contempt are caught just right.

Translations as tone-deaf as Danusia Stok's and David French's, when fans who love the stories have produced work that is so much better, make me want to scream and demand work as good as William Weaver's translation of the opening lines of Baudolino,

ego habeo facto the greatest stealing of my life, I mean from the cabinet of the Bishop Oto I have stollen many pages that may belong to the Imperial Chancellor.... if they find out the pages are gone God knows the Hell they will raze.... but maybe nobody cares in the chancellery they write and write even when theres no need and whoever finds them (these pages) can shove them up his wont do anything about them

Now that's translation.

 

[hajalie24]

Is there any DRM free digital edition?

You can strip the DRM from the amazon version and use it on any device. That's what I did. Though the formatting got a bit messed up (There were no line breaks to distinguish between two different scenes).

I've just started reading the fan translation of times of contempt and I was thinking of getting this new official translation to read instead. Is it worth it? From the reviews it seems like the quality of translation is poor.

I never read the fan version but just started doing some quick comparisons side by side, and I think the official translation is a lot better. I would say it's worth it, plus by buying the book you may encourage the publishers to release the other books earlier.

 

[GuyNwah]

You can strip the DRM from the amazon version and use it on any device. That's what I did. Though the formatting got a bit messed up (There were no line breaks to distinguish between two different scenes).



I never read the fan version but just started doing some quick comparisons side by side, and I think the official translation is a lot better. I would say it's worth it, plus by buying the book you may encourage the publishers to release the other books earlier.

I agree with your sentiment that we need to support the publishers, if we are to see more of the books in English print. If this sells poorly, it may be unlikely that we will see another.

But I don't agree that the official translation is any better; I believe it is less true and less effective. I've given reason, but examples may prove my point more directly.

David French:

'It was like this,' he began quickly, still trotting alongside the wagon. 'That witcher comes up to the officer. He says his name's Geralt. The officer said it's all the same to him, and it'd be better if he made a start. Shows him where the monster is. The witcher moves closer and looks on. The monster's about five furlongs or more away, but he just glances at it and says it's an uncommon great manticore and he'll kill it if they give him two hundred crowns.'
'Two hundred crowns?' choked the other old man. 'Had he gone cuckoo?'
'The officer says the same, only his words were riper. So the witcher says that's how much it will cost and it's all the same to him; the monster can stay on the road till Judgment Day. The officer says he won't pay that much and he'll wait till the beast flies off by itself. The witcher says it won't because it's hungry and pissed off. And if it flies off, it'll be back soon, because that's its hunting terri-- terri-- territor--'

Community translation:

‘Twas like this’ started the boy ‘The witcher came to the commander. Said his
name’s Gernant. Commander said that one name or another, he better get the job
done. And he showed where the monster were. The witcher came up, stared for a
while and said that it’s an unusually big manticore and he’ll slay it for two hundred
crowns. ‘
‘Two hundred?’ Gasped the elderly ‘Was he mad?’
‘Commander said same thing, ‘cept a bit more colourful. And the witcher answers
that this is the final price and he doesn’t give a damn, right, the creature can stay here
‘till the bleedin’ end of the chuffin’ world for all he cares. Commander says he won’t
pay this much, right, he’d rather wait for it ter fly away. The witcher replies that it
won’t fly away, ‘coz it’s hungry and pissed. And even if it leaves, it’ll come back soon
‘coz it’s his hunting trierri... Teri... terotor...’