Owen answers “I was thinking about reading The Witcher...”

Pete asked this question about Blood of Elves (The Witcher, #1):

I was thinking about reading The Witcher books in anticipation of The Witcher 3 video game. Having no prior knowledge of The Witcher universe, I wondered if anyone could tell me the relationship between the books and the games - Are they direct adaptions, borrow elements, or just the same characters in the same universe with no other links? Thanks!

Owen Hopefully someone who has finished all the books will be able to correct me if I'm wrong about, or expand upon, any points here, but as I understand i…moreHopefully someone who has finished all the books will be able to correct me if I'm wrong about, or expand upon, any points here, but as I understand it, the games are set roughly five years after the final book of the saga. Characters are referenced to - and occasionally return - from the books. However, from the beginning of the games, Geralt has amnesia, and so some significant details from the books and the story set between the two media are gradually revealed throughout the games. Even the second game explains enough of the story from the first to get new players up to speed (admittedly, after four or five hours of initial confusion). As for the overall relationship between books and games, in regards to main series canon, the author, Andrzej Sapkowski, has taken no part in the creation of the games and does not consider them part of his story, though he wishes the developers well and is pleased for their success.(less)

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