Andrzej Sapkowski's New Witcher Book Gets Release Window

ign.com:

The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski has given fans a release window for the highly anticipated next book in the series, alongside a possible tease of its story.

As reported by IGN Poland, Sapkowski said during Comic Con Vienna that the next book, which currently lacks a title, will arrive worldwide in early 2025 following a debut in its native Poland in late 2024.

Known for his dry and sarcastic humour, Sapkowski also shared a brief tease as to what the story might involve. "[Netflix] made a series based on one short story. They forced me to continue," he said. "I'm not complaining. Thanks to this, I now have enough money for the rent."

Sapkowski saying Netflix is making a series based on one short story isn't quite accurate, but the streaming service did just announce the animated film Sirens of the Deep earlier in November 2023, which is based on a single short story. Season 1 of the Netflix show is also based on a collection of The Witcher short stories written by Sapkowski, while Season 2's opening episode is based on the A Grain of Truth short story.

While it's far from confirmed, the likeliest candidate is Sirens of the Deep, which already looks to include content not from the short story it's based on, A Little Sacrifice. It's therefore possible Sapkowski is writing a follow-up or extension of that story, which features Geralt of Rivia, his best friend Dandelion, and a rival bard called Essi Daven.

Heartbroken from his first break-up with Yennefer, Geralt travels The Continent with Dandelion before the pair come across Essi. The three then mediate a lover's quarrel between a prince and a mermaid that looks to grow a lot more intense in the Netflix adaptation.

Essi has long been a fan favourite character, so an