Is The Last Wish The Best Entry Point To The Witcher?

For me, 'The Last Wish' is a fantastic gateway into the world of 'The Witcher' — but calling it the single best entry point depends on what you want from the series. I picked it up because I wanted to know who Geralt really was beyond the memes and the game posters, and those short stories deliver a perfect blend of introduction, tone-setting, and character snapshots. Sapkowski uses the episodic format to drip-feed lore, moral puzzles, and humor, so you meet monsters, politics, and the weird little moral greys that make this universe addictive.

Reading it felt like sipping a strong, peculiar tea: every story has a different flavor. You get early glimpses of Yennefer, a sense of Geralt’s code, and a kind of folktale poetry that later novels expand into an epic. If you care about language, wit, and the philosophical undercurrent — plus little things like the banter and the world’s sideways twists on fairy tales — start here. It’s short enough to not intimidate newbies, but rich enough to make you want more.

That said, if you’re coming from gaming or just want a tightly plotted saga, starting with 'The Witcher 3' or the novels beginning with 'Blood of Elves' (or 'Sword of Destiny' which collects companion shorts) can be more immediately gripping. And if the show hooked you, watching it first isn’t a bad path — you’ll still get different beats when you read. Personally, I’d recommend reading 'The Last Wish' before the main saga if you can: it preps your expectations, sharpens the humor, and makes the later emotional hits land harder. But hey — there’s no wrong door into this messy, brilliant world.

Honestly, I often tell friends to try 'The Last Wish' first, especially if they like short-form stories or are the kind of reader who needs quick wins. The book’s structure lets you meet Geralt in little vignettes rather than throwing you into a multi-book commitment right away. That was perfect for me when I was juggling work and reading — each story felt satisfying on its own, while also teasing the bigger arcs.

On the flip side, if someone’s all about action and cinematic storytelling, suggesting the TV series or the games as a starting point makes sense. The Netflix show condenses and reshuffles events and characters, which can be confusing if you then switch to the books without knowing which pieces come from which stories. The games, especially 'The Witcher 3', give a visceral way to live the world and fall in love with it, but they’re a different medium that adds new lore and changes tone in places.

So my practical take: start with 'The Last Wish' if you like language and moral complexity, start with 'The Witcher 3' if you want immediate immersion, and start with the show if you want visual drama. If nothing else, give 'The Last Wish' a shot after a few episodes or a chunk of gameplay — it will often enrich what you already enjoyed and make you notice details you missed before.

Would I say 'The Last Wish' is the best entry point? Mostly yes, with caveats. I discovered 'The Witcher' through those short stories, and they’re brilliant at showing the series’ signature mix of grimness, wit, and fairy-tale subversion. The episodic format introduces Geralt, key relationships, and recurring themes without demanding you commit to a long saga right away.

That said, the best starting point depends on your preferences. If you want a literary experience and to understand Sapkowski’s voice, read 'The Last Wish' (and then 'Sword of Destiny'). If you want spectacle or immediate emotional payoff, the games or the show might hook you faster. Personally I think the book route deepens appreciation for character choices later on, so I usually nudge people toward it — even as a weekend audiobook — because those short tales stick with you in a special way.