The Witcher writer wants to erase a throwaway line that became lore: ‘Completely Unnecessary’

Andrzej Sapkowski, the acclaimed author and creator of The Witcher book series, has voiced his regret over a minor, throwaway reference that has since been massively expanded upon in the successful video game adaptations by CD Projekt. In a recent Q&A on Reddit, Sapkowski specifically lamented including a mention of “Witcher schools” in one of his earlier works, an “unworthy” inclusion that the games have elevated into a cornerstone of the franchise’s lore.

“A single sentence about some ‘School of the Wolf’ mysteriously made its way into The Last Wish,” Sapkowski wrote. “I later deemed it unworthy of development and narratively incorrect, even detrimental to the plot. Therefore, later I never included or referenced any Witcher Gryffindors or Slytherins again. Never. However, that one sentence was enough. Adaptors, particularly video game people, have clung to the idea with remarkable tenacity and have wonderfully multiplied these ‘witcher schools’. Completely unnecessary.”

An authorial reconsideration

Despite the video games cementing the schools as canon for a vast audience, Sapkowski admitted he is tempted to remove the original reference from his own work entirely. He mused about “eras[ing] the sentence about the ‘school’ from future editions of The Last Wish,” thereby removing it from his literary canon, even if the rich, game-developed lore remains. Alternatively, he suggested he might “expand and clarify the matter somehow in subsequent books,” potentially shedding light on the “issue of Witcher medallions, their significance, and their connection to specific individuals.” This indicates a potential path for the author to reconcile the fan-favorite concept with his original narrative vision.

What are the Schools on The Witcher universe

For the millions of fans introduced to the world through CD Projekt’s trilogy of games, the concept of various Witcher Schools is an intrinsic and fascinating part of the universe. CD Projekt has established that there are at least seven guild-like Schools: the Wolf (to which hero Geralt belongs), the Cat, Griffin, Bear, Viper, Manticore and Crane. Each with its own training methods, ethical code, and signature medallion.

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