Podcasts about sapkowski

In 2021, Witcher fan Ja'Nya Hashi found themself flying overseas to spend four days at The Witcher School, the long-running, now sadly defunct Witcher Live Action Role-Playing (LARP) experience set at a remote castle in Poland. Was dressing up and pretending to be a Witcher-in-training something that was thrilling, confusing...or just a whole lot of cringe? In our newest side quest, we welcome Nya to our studio to find out! Over a couple of Old Fashioneds, Nya discusses their Witcher School experience, from sneaking around the castle's secret passages late at night, to the surprisingly terrifying Nekker hunt, to surviving the oddly relaxing Trial of the Grasses. It's a fascinating, fun glimpse at a Witcher experience unlike any other—where survival (at least for your character) isn't always guaranteed.

This week, we're heading to “The Edge of the World” and to the limits of good taste, as we take on Dark Horse's most recent short story adaptation. This is the tale that taught us how elves like to hold grudges, sylvans enjoy playing with balls, and the people of Lower Posada really love their weed. We, on the other hand, are sticking with whiskey—Hudson Whiskey NY's “This is Your Favorite Whiskey,” to be specific. Yes, that's actually its name, and no, it doesn't prove to be our favorite whiskey. But that's okay since this short story isn't our favorite either, though it does prompt discussions over whether “bats” and “batses” are the same thing, if we ever wear togas around the house, and whether Geralt should really be associating with muppets.

Who's ready for another round? Having now seen The Witcher's second animated movie, we thought it would be fun to revisit its first one, 2021's Nightmare of the Wolf—and we brought new viewer Producer Sean along for the ride! How does this Vesemir-starring prequel hold up four years and two show seasons later? Does it still feel like The Witcher now that we've gotten a better feel for the franchise? And what's up with Geralt's hair? (Sadly, we don't yet have an answer for that last one.) Plus, to accompany this second viewing, Sean's made an all-new whiskey pairing…with a twist. Clean W by CleanCo is the first non-alcoholic whiskey we've sampled on the podcast, though if you think going the zero-proof route means we're any less unhinged, think again. Hold music: "Local Forecast - Slower" by Kevin MacLeod

It was touch and go for a moment, but we've just about recovered from our first dive into The Witcher: Classic Collection. And that's a good thing because it's time to finish the book! The second three chapters are all based on classic Witcher short stories, so at least we know what we're in for…or so we thought! Why is that knight riding his horse up a giant stone dildo? Is that an Edgar Allan Poe cameo? What's up with the guy and his magic cat? And don't even get us going on the descriptively named cobbler in the final story! At least there's whisky this time around—the Icelandic Flóki Single Malt, which proves to be every bit the wild ride as the book we've paired it with.

This week, we travel back to 1993 as we dive into The Witcher: Classic Collection, a new graphic novel compilation of Geralt's earliest comic book adventures. And since neither of us were old enough to drink in the early '90s, we're discussing this book sober! Well, the first half of it at any rate, which proves to be an unwise choice because the first two stories…aren't great. How does an oversized, non-speaking earwig have its own gang of thieves? What is Dandelion doing hanging out with a bunch of sheep? And do not get us started on how Geralt got his famous white hair! Be smarter than us and pour yourself a strong one before hitting play, as we navigate this weird, wild and at times strangely homoerotic Witcher world.

We've read The Witcher: Ronin and we have questions! Sadly, we don't know any actual ronin that we can approach for answers, but we do know someone with “ronin” in her Instagram name (which is basically the same thing, right?). This week, we welcome back our good friend Gosia, aka Ronin of Rivia, for a deep dive into the world of the Witcher manga. How much do witchers actually have in common with ronin samurai? Why is a yuki onna the perfect adversary for this version of Geralt? And are there any Japanese monsters she'd have liked to see? Plus, she reveals some intriguing details hidden within CDPR's Witcher: Ronin statues, shares a few juicy rumors and even offers her non-spoiler thoughts on Crossroads of Ravens—since she's one of the few people we know who's read it! Find Ronin of Rivia on Instagram at @ronin_of_rivia and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/roninofrivia.

We've woken up in some strange places on occasion, though Geralt definitely has us beat with the ancient Japan-inspired world of The Witcher: Ronin. In this 2022 manga, the monster hunter finds himself on a very different path, fighting creatures inspired by Japanese folklore in his pursuit of a mysterious white-haired woman. Fortunately, our search for the perfect whiskey pairing proved much simpler—Legent Kentucky Straight Bourbon, an east-meets-west collaboration that's well suited for enjoying alongside this equally cross-cultural comic. Plus, we discover why you'd better have some cucumbers on you before you start messing with kappas, ponder whether we'd be able to fight a dragon and remind our silver-haired samurai (and the creators of his debut adventure) that no one likes feeling unfulfilled at the end.

What was once lost is now found. And for that, we can only say...we're sorry! It's our first side quest of the season and we're dishing up over a dozen never before heard podcast moments from over the past two years. These were conversations, tangents and the occasional meltdown that we sadly had to cut for time, even though they resulted in some of the biggest laughs we've ever had behind the mics! If that's not enough to entice you, many feature past guests—including Joanna Estep and Ronin of Rivia—a few offer unique glimpses behind the scenes, and at least one of them includes Valerie singing about mermaid sex. Plus, this entire episode was recorded AFTER last week's, which means we start things off pretty lit and they only get more unhinged from there.

Don't look for restraint here, things are about to get wild! This week's comic is the Tarzan-influenced The Witcher: Wild Animals, a twist-filled blend of circle-of-life philosophy, extreme veganism and frighteningly feral action that left us wanting more…whiskey. Fortunately, we've paired it with the superbly simian Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt, a sweet, straightforward scotch that kept the conversation from getting too civilized. After all, when there are important things to discuss like whether drowners smell like fish, why mothers should handle their own homicides, if Geralt should ask for a refund on his armor and whether there's ever a good reason for a man to drop trou while relieving himself, we wouldn't want something as silly as good behavior getting in the way.

We're back in Blaviken, bitches! This week, we return to the tale that launched our podcast as we take on the graphic novel adaptation of “A Lesser Evil.” Can such a complex and morally murky Witcher story effectively make the leap to comics? Does this latest take on Renfri hold its own against the ones we've already seen? Is Stregobor as obnoxious as we'd expect? And has Tim finally warmed up to headband Geralt?!? Art is admired, creative decisions are debated and many tears are shed—though they're mostly over this week's whiskey pairing. With two flavored Dough Ball Whiskeys before us, we must choose which of them is the lesser evil…and like Geralt, we barely survive the experience.

Inside you there are two wolves…and both of them are drunk. That would be due to the Writers' Tears Copper Pot Irish Whiskey which we've paired with this week's topic of conversation—The Witcher: The Ballad of Two Wolves, the Brothers Grimm-inspired graphic novel that features a young woman named Red, three sisters named Hogge and one big, bad, booze-fueled wolf. (And no, we're not actually talking about Geralt here, though he's in the story as well.) As ballads go, this proves to be a lively one, as we debate the blast radius of evil curses, delight in Dandelion's delirious behavior and reveal why gathering a bunch of people who hate each other in a locked room while you accuse them of crimes is usually a dumb idea. Oh, and Geralt hooks up with a sorceress. Because of course he does. Hold music: "Local Forecast - Slower" by Kevin MacLeod

While we've been known to occasionally make up our own words, our guests in this week's special episode do it for a living. David J. Peterson and Jessie Peterson are professional linguists and conlangers—those are people who construct their own languages—and you've heard their work in Dune, Shadow & Bone, Elemental, Game of Thrones and, of course, The Witcher. What's involved in creating an all-new language? How long does the process take? How difficult is it to teach it to actors? And have they created any swear words of which they're particularly proud? (Look, you knew we were going to ask.) David and Jessie answer these questions and many more, while sharing secrets about the musical language they created for Sirens of the Deep. They even answer one of our burning questions about the film's ending, so while you may not end the episode fluent in the elder tongue, you WILL learn something new. You can find David J. Peterson on Bluesky and AO3 at @dedalvs and on Instagram at @athdavrazar. Jessie Peterson can be found at @quothalinguist on both Bluesky and Instagram, and her Conlang Year experience can be found at quothalinguist.com. Watch David and Jessie conlang live at @LangTimeStudio on YouTube.

It's finally here! With The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep now streaming on Netflix, we're setting sail with Geralt and Jaskier as we unpack their newest animated movie. Over a bottle of Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon, we search for pearls of the verbal variety while tackling all the tough questions. What do we think of the added events and changed ending? Why is there a random musical number? And how exactly do a mermaid and human do the deed, anyhow? Plus, we introduce two all-new segments, weigh in on the short story that inspired the film and explain why a celebrated fantasy author really needs to walk the plank. It's an episode that's guaranteed to get you just as animated as Geralt, so make a little—okay, moderately-sized sacrifice of your time and give it a listen.

We're back for an all-new season! We've heeded the siren's song (it's absolutely ear-piercing when you're nursing a hangover) and returned to the studio for a full season devoted to Witcher comics and animation, starting with the soon-to-debut Sirens of the Deep! We explain what we'll be discussing and what we won't, and how you can read and watch along with us. We also round up some of the latest Witcher news, discuss the recent Los Angeles fires (don't worry, we're safe!) and share our thoughts on the Sirens trailer that dropped while we were on hiatus. Oh, and Valerie gets really excited about a clock.

Nowy rok to świetna okazja, żeby nadrobić zaległości i sprawdzić, co nowego w świecie gier, filmów i książek! W najnowszym odcinku Push reSTART gadamy o:

Sukūręs „Raganiaus“ ciklą ir pelnęs pasaulinę šlovę lenkų rašytojas Andrzej Sapkowski 2002 - 2006 metais ėmėsi naujo ambicingo sumanymo – „Husitų trilogijos“ (ją lietuvių kalba išleido „Alma littera“). Trilogijoje pasakojama apie jauno geraširdžio gydytojo, žolininko, šiek tiek mago ir beviltiško romantiko Reinmaro iš Bieliavos nuotykius Husitų karo fone (1419-1437).Pasklidus žiniai esą A.Sapkowski rašo istorinių romanų ciklą kai kurie rašytojo gerbėjai Lenkijoje buvo ištikti šoko: „Ką jis čia, po velnių, išdarinėja?!“Kaip A. Sapkowski pavyko apjungti maginės fantastikos ir istorinio romano žanrus? Kokia yra pagrindinė „Husitų trilogijos“ idėja?„Husitų trilogijoje“ nuolat sumirga lietuviškas kontekstas – kalbama apie istorines personalijas, minimi įvairūs LDK įvykiai, aptariamos tuo metu persipynusios lietuviškos ir lenkiškos politinės, socialinės, kasdienybės realijos. Dažnu atveju tai daroma pasitelkiant ironiją. Tipišku tokio ironiško žaidimo su istorija pavyzdžiu galėtų būti A. Sapkowski pateikiamas lietuvių kunigaikščio Žygimanto Kaributaičio portretas: „Dabar kiek per trisdešimties metų lietuvis, auklėtas tarp lenkų Vavelyje, jungė savyje blogiausius abiejų nacijų bruožus: atsilikimą, tamsumą, veidmainystę, liguistą ambiciją, puikybę, laukinį būdą, neribotą valdžios troškimą ir visišką savikritikos stygių“.Ko rašytojas siekia rašydamas tokius dalykus – prajuokinti, sunervinti ar supykdyti, o gal... kažko išmokyti savuosius skaitytojus?Pokalbis su teisininku ir rašytoju Justinu Žilinsku, istoriku ir rašytoju Gediminu Kulikausku, rašytoju ir vertėju Gintautu K. Ivanicku, „Husitų trilogijos“ vertėju iš lenkų kalbos Kaziu Uscila.Ved. Aurimas Švedas

Is it last call already? Sadly, our fandom season has reached its end, but we're giving it an extra-sized, extra-sauced sendoff that's just as unhinged (and often unfortunate) as the year to which we're saying goodbye. Over some seriously strong Old Fashioneds, we unpack what we've discovered about fandom, revealing things that have surprised and delighted us over these past months. But that's not all! We also discuss the latest Witcher news—including that completely out-of-the blue Witcher 4 trailer! (We recorded a whole special section for it and everything.) Plus, Valerie discusses her recent trip to Iceland and we do another terrible review shot...of an aquavit she brought back from the trip. It's over two hours of often meandering, but also quite merry, nonsense from us which will hopefully make you a fan. Or at least make you feel better about your choices in life. Oh, and if you just can't wait to hear what we think about the trailer, it starts at 1:19:14!

Tim and Val from Whiskey with Witcher join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Baptism of Fire, Chapter 1 (Part 1). Very important bits include: the origins of Whiskey with Witcher, Sapkowski's beloved framing narratives, odd things that become our whole personalities, book-inspired tattoos, baptisms of fire, catching up with Ciri and the Rats, and the introduction of a fan-favorite character, Milva. [0:00] Cold Open [0:52] Introduction [3:06] Guest Introductions [13:58] Chapter Recap [16:57] Overall Thoughts [22:16] Milva and the Framing Narrative [32:20] Milva's Loyalty [43:21] The Scoia'tael's Role [49:52] “A baptism of fire” [58:56] Ciri's Character Arc [1:08:19] The Rats' Impact [1:15:52] Final Thoughts [1:19:05] Outro [1:21:24] End Credits The full episode transcript, show notes, merchandise store, and access to our social platforms are available at breakfastinbeauclair.com.

We're leaving the Continent behind and heading somewhere even stranger—Hollywood! In our newest side quest, we welcome Christina Newhall (aka Tim's wife) back to the podcast to tipsily tackle some of the entertainment questions we've heard arise again and again over the years. What causes some movies and shows to get announced, but never made? Why have TV seasons become so short and the wait between them so long? How come we don't get more official photos, clips and teases in between seasons and films? And are there really showrunners who actively hate the source material they're working on? If you're a Netflix Witcher fan, chances are these are things you've wondered about, so we do our best to provide some answers and sound like we know what we're talking about—no small feat considering we're doing it all while drinking barrel-proof bourbon.

Look, we're not sure how it happened either, but somehow we made to 100 episodes. That's 100 episodes of bourbon, bards, Brotherhoods, Blood Origins, bloopers, barrel-proofs, bone caves, broken bottles, bad subtitles, and beastly shots of bitter booze. Oh yes, and absolutely wonderful conversations about our favorite fantasy franchise with all of you. To commemorate this malted milestone, we crack open a bottle of a surprisingly delicious Polish rye whiskey—The Globe—while celebrating all that we love about The Witcher. From our most beloved characters, to the Netflix episodes we can't stop replaying in our heads, to the Witcher 3 quests that thrill us more than any other, to the Andrzej Sapkowski short stories that we come back to again and again, this is a liquored up love letter to Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri and the rest of the Continent. We hope you enjoy it and thank each and every one of you for joining us on this wild ride. Here's to the next hundred!

The Witcher is going to Japan! Well, sort of. With a Witcher manga now available, a line of Japanese-influenced statues in stores and a new Witcher tabletop game inspired by feudal Japan shipping next year, Geralt's flirtation with the far east shows no sign of slowing. What's behind it? This week, we welcome Gosia, the passionate fan, translator and student of Japanology behind the Ronin of Rivia social media account to see if we can find out! Gosia discusses how her love of The Witcher and Japanese culture inspired her to study the intersection of the two, why Geralt seems to resonate with Japanese fans and whether Andrzej Sapkowski may have been influenced by samurai when he created him. Plus, she discusses the challenges of translating video games and fiction and sings the praises of the Witcher translation teams...before we ruin it all by talking about Hexer. Find Ronin of Rivia on Instagram at @ronin_of_rivia and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/roninofrivia.

We're glad people can't see how bad we often are at videogames, but our latest guest shares her every jump, attack, and block with the world! Lucy Robyn is a Twitch streamer, podcaster and good friend of ours who not only joins us this week to talk about her love of The Witcher, but surprises us with a very nice bottle of Bushmills Black Bush to accompany the discussion. Lucy shares how the pandemic led to her discovery of the Witcher series and game, and how that developed into her role as a content creator, Twitch streamer and cohost of our favorite movie (and former Witcher) podcast, On the Path. She also discusses what it's like podcasting with a partner in a different continent, answers some stream-themed drunk questions and reveals why getting early access to a game isn't always the delight you'd expect. Keep up with Lucy's latest streams by following her on Twitch, Youtube, Twitter and Instagram at @lucyjrobyn, and find her podcast, On the Path, on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher and anywhere else you find podcasts.

Much like Sirens of the Deep itself, releasing this episode on the upcoming new Witcher animated movie was a bit delayed. But we think you'll agree it's worth the wait, as we unpack the recent Geeked Week sneak peek (try saying that five times fast) and come to terms with the movie's new release date. And that's just the start! In the second half of the episode, we unveil our latest series of Whiskey With Witcher playlists and reveal how Valerie's fandom factors into their creation. We also finally make good on our promise and take a shot of Jeppson's Malort as a thank you for our latest five-star review. (We survive...barely.) It's an episode of music and merpeople, accompanied by the strong, sweet notes of Blackened Cask Strength American Whiskey. Hold music: "Local Forecast - Slower" by Kevin MacLeod

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The friendship between Tyrion and Bronn is a fan favorite. In this episode we explore the roots of this relationship: Cam points to the transactional nature of every plot point in this chapter, exposing the bitter corruption and self-interest that plagues Westeros (and especially Bronn and Tyrion); while Maggie returns to her “court fool” theory from a few chapters back, arguing that Tyrion may not be the only fool in this story. Tolkien and Sapkowski come into the mix here, as do shadowcats, the problem of evil, and curious choices of meat. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Our conversation on fanfiction continues, as the always insightful Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn discusses some of the Witcher fics she's authored and what it's been like developing as a writer on AO3. Which of her favorite Witcher ships resonate with readers and which one, despite all her best intentions, has not? What has writing and reading fanfiction taught her? And what happens when she's written fanfic while drinking? Plus, we answer some questions from Rebekah's fans on Tumblr and subject our guest to some particularly challenging drunken questions. And yes, Tim gets some more verbal spankings—but don't worry, he's into them. You can find Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn on Twitter at @BuffySummers10, on Tumblr at @Fangirleaconmigo and on AO3 at Descarada.

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! George R. R. Martin hits another grand slam home run in this bonanza of literary allusions. Cam charts Catelyn's treacherous journey to the Eyrie through the lens of Dante's Divine Comedy. Maggie dissects the many shades and shadows of Tolkienian anthropomorphism in this chapter. And for good measure, we throw in some Sapkowski to make sense of the two characters who feel like narrative preoccupations on every page: Jon Snow and Lady Stoneheart. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

The best writing often challenges you, so it's only natural that our episode on writing and fanfiction does as well! We're excited to welcome back one of our favorite past guests, fanfiction writer and Witcher expert Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn, for a little wining and opining about all things fanfiction. We uncork two bottles of wine from Suveg Cellars—a local favorite of Rebekah's—for a fierce, but fascinating discussion that gets into what makes something fanfiction, why fans devote so much of their lives writing and reading it and whether a fanfic can drift so far from the source material that it's no longer a fanfic. In fact, we had so much fun that we ran a little longer than usual and decided to break the episode into two parts. Look for the rest of the conversation next week. Believe it or not, it gets even crazier! You can find Rebekah Rodriguez-Lynn on Twitter at @BuffySummers10, on Tumblr at @Fangirleaconmigo and on AO3 at Descarada

You can be a fan of art. But is there an art to being a fan? There certainly is when we're talking about our friend Maja, who over the past few years has become one of the most talented, distinct and sought after Witcher fan artists working today. Maja's clever illustrations of characters like Yennefer, Jaskier and Geralt (to say nothing of our podcast art, which she designed) all boast a sophisticated sense of style and influence that would seem to extend well beyond her young age, and which we discuss thoroughly with her as Maja joins us on our latest episode. Plus, she shares some savage thoughts on The Witcher's costumes, explains why she's so fond of Yenskier and yes, answers our drunken questions in what's one of our liveliest fandom discussions yet! See Maja's latest fanart by following her on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr at @perseruna

Get bonus episodes on Patreon!   Sail across the Narrow Sea with us this week! Daenerys Targaryen introduces us to a whole new side of George R.R. Martin's world, and with her come new characters, new places, and new perspectives on prophecy. Echoes, of course, abound here: shades of the Stark children make their way into Dany's storyline (especially Jon), while the magical power and fated potential of a young girl remind us strongly of Sapkowski's Ciri in The Witcher series. Viserys' fierce entitlement strikes us (and the narrator) as pitifully weak, while Dany's motivations and desires align us unexpectedly with the Targaryens over Robert Baratheon. Plus, look out for Leftovers from one of our listeners. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Who wants to talk about death?? George sure does. Luckily, we are both sickos who just spent a year and a half talking about evil, so this chapter is actually sort of breezy. We've got corpses and executions, and a masterfully constructed, intricate tableaux of dead animals that contains prophecies, secrets, and revelations about the Stark family's tragic and complex future. We close with a discussion on Martin's style and unique approach to intimate 3rd-person perspective, especially in comparison to Tolkien and Sapkowski. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! 3,191 pages later, we've reached the end of our time with The Witcher. In this series-wide retrospective, we look back at our favorite and wildest running theories, from the problem of evil to the shadow of Yennefer, to the definition of “monster”, femme fatales, butterfly effects, Sapkowski the investigative journalist, structural curveballs, Shakespeare, Tolkien – it's been two wonderful years of ideas and discussions. We also do little wind-sprint recaps of all eight books, and choose a word to characterize each one. Stay tuned until the very end for our grand official announcement of our next fantasy project, which premiers next Friday. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of Season of Storms, Ch. 16-Epilogue The final Witcher book goes out with a bang – and by bang, we mean avalanche of echoes, questions, and titanic ideas. Is Season of Storms as a whole an epilogue to the series? Is destiny a metaphysical conspiracy or a matter of individual human nature? Why is Sapkowski dropping loads of early Tolkien references? And most importantly, what does that epilogue really mean? Dreams, illusions, resurrections, legends – we cover all this and more in this beefcake finale. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of Season of Storms, Ch. 9-15 We've followed the witcher through short stories and novels, but this final book in the series really feels more like a play. In this middle section of Season of Storms, we're overwhelmed by echoes that double as callbacks and new moments of insight into Geralt's character. Sapkowski gives us the new final form of his femme fatale, and swaps his journalist press badge for a degree in comp lit. Mountains of subtext, sexual tension, and scheming wizards await. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of Season of Storms, Ch. 1-8 Something has ended. Something is beginning. This final Witcher book is a prequel and a sequel. You could even call it a side-qual – though we would prefer you don't. Regardless, Sapkowski is back in top form with new structural experiments, echoes of destiny, Dandelion drama, and monsters we've never heard of. But there are new wrinkles too: a seductive sorceress whose revolutionary magical practice threatens to destabilize a whole kingdom, the truth about Geralt's missing witcher swords, and the looming question that hangs over the whole book – is this side story necessary? LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Chapter 12 Here it is: the final chapter of The Witcher saga. Yes we're sad, yes we're emotional, but we're also thrilled. This ending is perfect, poignant, surprising, devastating, and revealing. We get our final word on some of our long-standing philosophical grindstones, like the problem of evil, destiny, and non-intervention. Cam's got a theory about the pointed flashbacks in these last few chapters and their importance for Sapkowski's notion of heroism. Maggie explores the cyclical nature of time and the empowering humility of prophecy. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Chapter 11 'The Scouring of the Shire' hangs over this chapter like Eeyore's black raincloud. Sapkowski's poignant, hollow homecoming hit us just as hard as Tolkien's did, but we think there's a different point being made here. So much has changed, and so many characters are now reverting to the way they used to be, but is any of it sustainable? This is a provocative, deliberately uncomfortable chapter - and we loved it. Maggie spends some time exploring the chapter's preoccupation with silence and Cam digs into the punishing, iron-clad re-emergence of all our old philosophical touchstones. How is this thing gonna end? LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Nicola from Italy and Ruark from the US join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Time of Contempt, Chapter 4. Very important bits include: using action to tell a story, the reasons behind an act of mercy, the role of prophecy in the Witcher, and Geralt's Himbo Origin Story. [0:00] Cold Open [1:00] Introduction [2:11] Guest Introduction [5:09] Chapter 4 Recap [7:16] Overall Thoughts [15:28] Cahir v. Ciri [23:31] Geralt's Act of Mercy [27:42] The Role of Prophecy [34:57] Sapkowski's Writing Choices [52:36] Cahir, Himbos, and the Lone Brain Cell [57:03] Wrap-up [1:05:19] Outro [1:08:00] End Credits The full episode transcript, show notes, merchandise store, and access to our social platforms are available at breakfastinbeauclair.com.

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Chapter 10 Holy Woodward and Bernstein, Batman! Journalist Sapkowski is back to doggedly track the butterfly effects following the end of the war and the “Peace” of Cintra. This chapter is a kaleidoscope of perspectives and injustices, and scurrying through it all are dozens of skeevy power players. The new world is full of Dijkstra, and Sapkowski painstakingly documents the objective horror the human survival instinct, and subjective bias of wartime histories. We've got observations, callbacks, theories, and ad ash of Shakespeare for good measure. Let's dig in! LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of Lady of the Lake, Chapter 9 In three years of long-form literary analysis, we've never encountered a single chapter this dramatic or consequential. The sheer number of deaths and revelations is staggering, but as always, it's Sapkowski's ideas that really dazzle us. Maggie chases the threads of destiny and determinism through a hundred new curiosities and contractions, while Cam eulogizes the problem of evil and confronts its unexpected successor.  LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Alycia from France and Sarah A. from the UK join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski's Time of Contempt, Chapter 3. Very important bits include: Geralt and Yennefer's atypical relationship, the role of sorcerers on the Continent, Sapkowski's framing narratives, and Watership Down. [00:00] Cold Open [00:51] Introduction [1:59] Guest Introduction [5:32] Chapter 3 Recap [7:25] Overall Thoughts [22:44] Chapter Preface [26:27] About the Mages' Class [39:14] Geralt and Yennefer [49:15] Sapkowski's Framing Narrative [53:55] Geralt and Vilgefortz [1:07:23] Geralt's Neutrality [1:18:43] Wrap-up [1:24:22] Outro [1:26:46] End Credits The full episode transcript, show notes, merchandise store, and access to our social platforms are available at breakfastinbeauclair.com.

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of Lady of the Lake, Chapter 8 The time has come for Sapkowksi to write his version of a sweeping epic fantasy battle – and it's nothing like whatever you're expecting. Sapkowski evolves into a war reporter, to lead us through an unending kaleidoscope of tragic perspectives and human atrocities. In doing so, he gives us what feels like his final, most devastating statement yet on the state of nature, the problem of evil, and the essential universality of everyday philosophy. This might be The Witcher's greatest achievement. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of the Lady of the Lake, Chapter 7 We're jumping back into the multiverse of madness today, as Ciri races through space and time towards the uncertain end of her legend. Maggie leads us on an art historical journey through unicorns and French tapestries, and Cam takes a closer, second look at the ouroboros: the reoccurring symbol that he now believes is a shorthand representation of Sapkowski's worldview and analysis of the problem of evil. Also happy birthday to us. Take a look at the unicorn tapestry in question HERE Check out Maggie's first unicorn deep dive on unicorns back in our discussion on The Time of Contempt, chapter 6  HERE LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Get bonus episodes on our brand new Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/SecondBreakfastPodcast  Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Chapter 6 In this chapter we get Sapkowski working with two hands tied behind his back – no Geralt, no Ciri, no magic, no combat. But his signature ideas are all here in full force: destiny, free will, the problem of evil, war crimes, survival instincts, and the nagging feeling that humans are inherently and hopelessly selfish. Maggie's got some observations about the roles of propaganda and isolationism in this military-themed chapter. Cam caught some Tolkien comparisons and riffs that draw some fundamental differences between these two fantasy worlds. We also chase the ghosts of Geralt and Ciri as they race between the lines of this chapter, and Sapkowski sets the table for his endgame. LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories   Send us your feedback & theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Ch. 5   We're barreling towards the end of The Witcher saga, and in this chapter we finally get some answers. After we break down revelations about elves, unicorns, the Wild Hunt, and time travel, Cam launches into one of his patented Big Boy Theories – namely, that this chapter is a microcosm and restaging of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, full of telling echoes to Oberon, Titania, Nick Bottom, and a whole bunch of other, pointed references and reversals that keep the runaway surrealism grounded in Sapkowski's beloved European folklore. Maggie spirits us away into a deep philosophical discussion about determinism, elven kings, and infinite universes. Cam argues passionately for and against free will and determinism. Get bonus episodes on Substack: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Ch. 3   At first, this chapter seems like back-to-basics victory lap for our beloved Geralt of Rivia. But as we all know, onions have layers. Sapkowski peels, dices, and pickles this onion/chapter into a slowly unraveling pattern of bad habits and outgrown dynamics. Sexual politics are explored and challenged, Dandelion takes a stand, and Cam gets to drop a Die Hard reference. Get bonus episodes on Substack: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Ch. 2 The thing about curveballs is that you can never get used to them. Every time we think we've got the reigns of Sapkowski's story, he does something like this - introducing a second new framing device, making a colossal time jump, spoiling the end of the story, and spending fifty pages discussing bad endings / Arthurian legend. We've got commentary, we've got questions, and we've got some fantastic listener theories to work through. There's also a new character named Condwiramurs - and more than a few discussions about butter. Let's get into it! Get bonus episodes on Substack: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Ch. 1   Here we are – the beginning of the end. Sapkowski kicks off the final Witcher novel with his greatest curveball yet: a crossover into Monty Python. Maggie's got the essential context for all of the Arthurian legend littered throughout the chapter, and Cam has more than one hunch about the sudden turn into multiversal storytelling. Where are we, and where are we heading? It all starts (or ends) here. Get bonus episodes on Substack: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Ch. 11 The Tower of Swallows goes out with a bang this week. For one thing, we actually find the tower, but there also unicorns, ghosts, dead people talking, and homicidal figure skaters. Sapkowski's writing has never been more fantastical, and parsing these pages brought us back to our Tolkien days. There's an incredible amount of resolution in this chapter, and plenty of new mysteries to discuss. Prophecy, metaphor, philosophy, murder - let's get into it! Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Ch. 10 Wave your red flags in the air like you just don't care. Ciri's about to torch King's Landing or become The Punisher – either way, she's not turning out to be a traditional “Chosen One”. Our discussion here is an investigation into Ciri's latest worrying evolution as Death, destroyer of worlds. Maggie dives into Ciri's possible futures and competing personas, and Cam feasts upon the greatest buffet of Sapkowski-style Problem-of-Evil-writing we've ever gotten. This chapter was brutally dark, though you may find our discussion both pleasant and enlightening. Tee-hee. (Cam's tired.) Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com

While we wait for more news on the Witcher show and games, we got an update on something we really didn't expect: new books! Okay, we got a brief, off-the-cuff statement on them that was all of five words long. But those five words—“They are in the plans”—came from none other than Andrzej Sapkowski, which means they're more than enough for us to devote an entire episode to! We speculate on what those plans could be based on things Sapkowski has said in the past, then share our thoughts on what we'd most like to see in any future Witcher books. Plus, Valerie calls our very first side quest segment of surprise...and it couldn't be more appropriate.