Andrzej Sapkowski

Andrzej Sapkowski (born 21 June 1948 in Łódź, Poland) is a world-renowned fantasy author and former economist, best known for creating The Witcher saga. His debut story, The Witcher, first appeared in the magazine Fantastyka in 1986 when he was 38. Over the years, he's published multiple collections and novels, including The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, and the Hussite Trilogy (The Tower of Fools, Warriors of God, and Light Perpetual).

His works blend Slavic mythology, moral ambiguity, and political intrigue, earning him monikers like “the Polish Tolkien”. Notably, Sapkowski’s writing has received prestigious honors including five Janusz A. Zajdel Awards, the David Gemmell Legend Award (2009), World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement (2016), and Poland's Gloria Artis Medal. With translations into 37+ languages and over 30 million copies sold, The Witcher remains one of the best-selling fantasy franchises worldwide.

The success of his novels has spawned a global media franchise: the hit CD Projekt Red video game trilogy, Netflix’s The Witcher series, stage adaptations, comics by Dark Horse, and more. Sapkowski resides in Łódź and maintains a strong connection with Polish cultural heritage.