The Witcher (Polish: Wiedźmin) is a character in a dark fantasy setting by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, featured in short stories and some novels.
Geralt of Rivia is a Witcher: a man who, by trials (and 'mutagens'), has been 'mutated' to become someone with, well, 'superhuman' abilities.
After intense training, Witchers are sent out to 'deal with' monsters and curses (but, I think, primarily as 'monster hunters'), by means of cunning, knowledge or their abilities and the sword.
The setting is rather 'dark': while 'fairy tale' figures are present, the world is rather oppressive. Non-humans, like Elves and Dwarves, are subject to racism; countries are at war; and, especially in the games, moral choices tend to be 'grey'.
To date, only the short story compilation, 'The Last Wish', and the first novel, 'Blood of Elves', has been translated into English. A second novel, 'Times of Contempt', is due for a Spring 2011 release.
There have also been comics, a movie and TV series (The Hexer), and the games from the Polish developer, CD Projekt RED.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witcher
The Witcher and The Witcher 2 official site:
http://www.thewitcher.com/
The first PC game, 'The Witcher', was released in 2007, with an 'Enhanced Edition' released about a year later.
The second PC game, 'The Witcher 2', is set to be released on May 17, 2011 and is already available for pre-order on various sites.
GOG.com, a sister company of CD Projekt, is the only one to offer the game without DRM, as well as some other 'extras'.
http://www.gog.com/en/page/tw2v3
Both games are rated 'M' for Mature by the ESRB, and are PEGI 18+.
Trailer for 'The Witcher: Enhanced Edition':
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/ci...-witcher/40361
Trailer for 'The Witcher 2':
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/ex...-witcher/63500
A console (XBox 360 and PS3) version of 'The Witcher', 'The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf', was put on indefinite hold.
Trailer for 'The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf"
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/de...-witcher/43292
Screenshots for 'The Witcher 2' (other than the ones on the official site):
http://ve3d.ign.com/images/game/1434.../5/Screenshots
http://games.gamepressure.com/screen...st.asp?ID=8680
(warning: large images)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422113
(don't mind the posts, and just browse through the images, I guess...there are also some NSFW pics, but they're in link form. Just a head's up. )
So, yeah, this is mostly about the games.
(I did read both of the released books, tho', and I really recommend 'The Last Wish': while a bit 'dark', it was also quite humorous, if memory serves )
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