Optron #39 13 сентября 2000

Opinion - Sapkowski - constructive criticism.

   Sapkowski - constructive criticism


  {} Paul Vysotsky, 2000


  One of the biggest mistakes of those who
Fantasy does not love and never tires of talking about
This - this is what they read, basically,
BAD fantasy. I have long noticed that
any inveterate bibliophile - a fan of detectives or there, 
science fiction - just some amazing flair for all

a loser, a purely commercial and imaginary, that is in the 
fantasy genre. Well, Of course, then stuck a label -

say, "a fantasy - it's just immature
entertaining reading, a refuge for the fearful reality of our 
kusuchey wimps. " 

  Fans of fantasy try harass this label
peel. Sometimes they are obtained,
sometimes it does not: a label, it turns out, nailing
rusty nails, and whoever did it, and
does not want to hear any objections.

  Well, I will not argue. I will only,
that any literature, much less a detective and science fiction 
- it is also a kind of escapism. And so

Is too much of a difference in which of the fictional worlds to 
escape - in the one that like as two peas similar to ours, or 
one that is created by slightly different rules? 

  However, the really good fantasy
Indeed, a little bit. A desire to please
the general reader, to make a "best seller"
(Somehow very much the bourgeois terms, is not it?) Often 
spoils, and the book and its author. 

  The only pity is that no one saw this
"General reader", and does not know what he
not so stupid as it sounds.


  For a good fantasy, in my opinion, include books of Polish 
author Andrzej Sapkowski. Author, of which many have heard and 
discussed by many to read, It is repeatedly mentioned in our

"Optocouplers. Author of strange and mysterious:
after all and it is not clear who he is, and why wrote.
Whether he was shrewd businessman, well
who knows what readers expect, and who knows how it is
write, and then - and sell it written ... whether a person who 
knows how to express their thoughts, and most importantly - 
these thoughts (and quite interesting), having. 

  Take, for example, all kinds of literary and historical 
stamps, abundantly - and often very successfully! - Nesting

pages of his books: that between the lines, painting a sinister 
palace intrigues, we slyly wink Maurice Druon, with its "Cursed 
King", then the smoke of battles clearly meet again beard of 
the Leo Tolstoy ... And because all this does not take 
definitely! Some consider it malicious plagiarism, while others 
- inexperienced - no trick did not notice, and the third will 
see here nifty parody, the fourth - the elegant "postmodernism" 
... 

  So we will not label and give unambiguous estimates. Better 
first try to understand.



  The very first book was a cycle of Sapkowski
stories about the Witcher Geralt ...

  Such a successful and beautiful compositions, such 
luxuriously-undetectable plot weaves between the stories I had 
not seen long. Each piece of the cycle looks solid, the story 
had a smooth and do not bother the constant repetition of names 
in the story text. Because at the end of one of the heroes in 
very handy to say the phrase, reminiscent of that very name, 
and the story becomes faceted until the end of a diamond, and 
it turns out that the idea of ​​it is, and it is easy to 
remember ... And then the questions of friends: "Who am I for 
you, friend or not? ", a fan of Sapkowski is a mysterious kind 
of answer:" Do you - something more ... " 

  More ... Something more than just tales of the strange 
Superman, who does the dirty work and killer accidentally 
vlyapyvaetsya in history with Purpose. Something more than the 
usual fantasy with a couple of fresh ideas. And here's why. 

  First, the "Superman" - was not
Superman, at least, the merit of this is not
him. Foundling, who had been subjected to genetic mutations, 
and is then trained for a long time ... rather, were trained - 
as a watchdog. 

  Secondly, he's fine Witcher
acknowledges and tormented by it. And in addition -
somehow always turns out that it -
honest and good - all cheat and use. But the true Superman - 
regardless of whether it is evil or good - goes exactly the 
opposite: the world reshapes for themselves.


  And - another thing. Not to say that Sapkowski was so much 
good psychologist, but at least some aspects of human 
relationships - the sensitive relationship between Geralt and 
his lover, witch Yennifer - it shows perfectly. That such a 
"normal" fantasy earlier was not exact, because the "usual"

fantasy - it's just a little bit complicated tale. And in the 
fairy tale lovers quarrel because otherwise there is nothing at 
all it would be telling ... and die in one

day.

  And imagine: this book falls
in the hands of a reader who loves fantasy
simply as a genre, not by some other
because ... He swallows it in a day or two,
and then each week goes to the local
book market and shy voice asks if there are any, by accident, 
continued ... A continuation is not, and perhaps understand 
why. Good and honest writer knows that as well he is the second 
time no longer write. And on the third and fourth -

He will generally indigestible tyagomotina, repetition of old 
ideas and the linear development of a ready and familiar story. 

  That's why to me and it seems that Sapkowski some time held 
out and tried this extension did not write and certainly is no 
longer published. That's when - maybe - Since its Witcher would 
be a real classic. Precisely because of this book, he not only 
said, and showed a lot, but also left room for imagination. 

  But in the grown of The Witcher saga -
all the way around.

  I do not want to say that it failed
altogether. Not to say that reading it is uninteresting. On the 
contrary, all of its volume, and especially the last one - 
"Lady of the Lake" - a very even well written.


  Not bad, but nothing more.

  As early as the third volume of beginning to get tired
ever-monotonous plot tamoshnego
Beria - the chief intelligence Dijkstra, has already been given
know that the Secret Lodge magichek well
As nasty Archmage Vilgeforts
ready for anything, just to get to their
paw Child-Purpose CRIS - and make
her mother ...

  Destination? The fact that in the first story, ringing in the 
air, something that makes believe that life - not just a set of 
coincidences has turned into something erased and unreal. 
Purpose of which constantly reminds the author of over

throughout his epic, becoming a commonplace and
simple. And stop believing in it - so
same as in Geralt, who too
long time no avail gads around the world, as in
Yennifer that the end is like
know personally and hate, as if hateful
wife, as in all of this fantastic
world swollen with various events, conspiracies, coups, 
massacres, the heroes and their enemies ... 

  Everyone knows that a good story to write much more difficult 
than the very long novel: shortness - the sister of talent. And 
because this Sapkowski talent, no doubt, there is!


  So what's the deal?

  What caused him to sculpt volume after volume,
pull cycle, as chewing gum -
instead use the ideas for
something entirely new, to work on
something totally original, beautiful
and otkryvatelskim on the idea?

  Is old age a Sapkowski
talent somewhere lost and now, even though you
bursting, no longer squeeze out anything original?

  Or maybe just lazy?

  But no! Over time you begin to understand
that continue to write as much as before, he
not something that could not, and simply - do not like.
The first thing everyone liked, there was
army of grateful readers, all shouting,
that fantasy to say a new word ... AND
have absolute confidence that the next thing any of the Witcher 
will go "on Hurrah. "And so it happened.


  Well ...


  Droves of ardent fans of fantasy - as he wrote Sapkowski - 
like a pig in a poke buy anything that pops up - any book on 
the colorful covers of which there are coveted swords, axes, 
brawny heroes, naked ladies and lizards pretending dragons. And 
the market is, of course, cares primarily about such readers. 
And the best example of this care are well-known cycles of 
fantasy - the monstrous monsters frightening number of volumes. 
AND in fact, except a few exceptions, all these

the monsters are starting to be serious, repetitive and boring 
at the stage of the second or third book. This view is shared 
even their zealous fans who in droves buying back all of these 
stretching as nozzles, cycles, because they drum it into their 
heads that they need to know "how this will end." A

authors like scribbling - it's simply prudent beasts, confident 
that the reader will buy anything that was signed, more or less 
well-known name, and most importantly for them - the money they 
receive from the volume. 


  Dislikes Pan Andrzej its readers, oh
does not like!

  And you know, he seems to be right!

  That the LRA, in my opinion, and increases its
chances of getting into the ranks of the most "venerable."
Most clearly exemplified in modern pop music.

  It is such here - confident and in
their work - and become the most renowned and respected, though 
they at the same time like sometimes hint that their listeners

(Reader) - and being close to mediocre, ready to swallow the 
bait of any quality. 

  So why bother and look for a better bait? Why are laid out in 
full force and write something really good - is currently at a 
loss? In fact - as has been repeated in books Sapkowski - "Life 
is expensive, and must live" ... 

  And yet, read Sapkowski's worth - at least so because, after 
Tolkien Sapkowski is able to write the most

Best fantasy. Because, without doubt,
his fantasy will become the basis for many and
many other writers. And many readers
say that "The Witcher" - this is the best and
the correct book.