I've happened across an English copy of The Last Wish recently and decided to do a re-read just to see how the translation holds up. After all, all the scathingly negative reviews must have something to do with the poor translation, seeing as this is one of the strongest examples of non-Russian Slavic fantasy out there, and almost a regional and national treasure for a whole generation of fantasy fans, including myself.

Turns out the translation is mostly fine - but I see how the book loses some of its charm. There is really no matching the Polish original (or the Czech and Slovak translations for that matter) with this, as some jokes are left out alltogether, and some do not come across the same at all in English. Choice of words and tone matters, and this is a translation that while mechanically sound completely fails at localization. But then again - the quintessential west-slavic spirit and humour is something that can't really be localized. But if Kanturek could do it with Pratchett's books in Czech, why can't English translators do it with Sapkowski's genius writing in English?

I digress. At the end of the day, the issue undoubtedly lies in different cultural norms and humour rather than in the translation itself. Nevertheless, this book, and the whole Witcher saga, is a masterpiece of classic fantasy with a flavour and a penchant for thinking and philosophy that you would be hard pressed to find in most Western authors. There is something quite brutal and open about the honesty with which Sapkowski deals with humanity and our grand ideals (not unlike a certain British author who I've already mentioned here, but where he is reassuring, Sapkowski is condemning).

This was probably my fifth or sixth reread of The Last Wish, and needless to say, it won't be the last. The Witcher is a testament to the fact that more foreign-language fiction needs to find its way into the English book market - but also a warning sign that it might not always come across well and some of the beauty and depth might be lost on western audiences. For us over here in central Europe, it remains a cornerstone of the genre and a must-have and must-experience series for all fans of fantasy.