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Sword Of Destiny
''Sword of Destiny'' ( pl, Miecz przeznaczenia) is the second published short story collection in Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski's ''The Witcher'' series. Although published in 1992, it is officially considered the second entry in the series, behind ''The Last Wish'', which was published the following year. ''Sword of Destiny'' was first published in English in the UK by Gollancz in 2015. The anthology consists of six stories, loosely linked in chronology. They introduce characters that become major players in the later novels, which began with 1994's ''Blood of Elves'' and are known as ''The Witcher Saga''. The titular story, "The Sword of Destiny", introduces the character of Ciri. The following story, "Something More", is a direct prequel to the novels. Plot "" Geralt of Rivia meets the traveling knight Borch "Three Jackdaws" and his Zerrikanian bodyguards Tea and Vea, who seek a green dragon. Although Geralt is a Witcher, a professional monster slayer, he expla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andrzej Sapkowski
Andrzej Sapkowski (; born 21 June 1948) is a Polish fantasy writer, essayist, translator and a trained economist. He is best known for his six-volume series of books ''The Witcher'', which revolves around the eponymous "witcher," a monster-hunter, Geralt of Rivia. It began with the publication of ''Blood of Elves'' (1994) and was completed with the publication of standalone prequel novel ''Season of Storms'' (2013). The saga has been popularised through television, cinema, stage, comic books, computer games and translated into 37 languages making him the second most-translated Polish science fiction and fantasy writer after Stanisław Lem. He was born in Łódź and initially pursued a career as an economist after graduating from the University of Łódź. He turned to writing, first as a translator and later as an author of fantasy books, following the success of his first short story ''The Witcher'' published in 1986 in the ''Fantastyka'' magazine. Described as the "Polish To ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fantasy Short Story Collections
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and drama. From the twentieth century, it has expanded further into various media, including film, television, graphic novels, manga, animations and video games. Fantasy is distinguished from the genres of science fiction and horror by the respective absence of scientific or macabre themes, although these genres overlap. In popular culture, the fantasy genre predominantly features settings that emulate Earth, but with a sense of otherness. In its broadest sense, however, fantasy consists of works by many writers, artists, filmmakers, and musicians from ancient myths and legends to many recent and popular works. Traits Most fantasy uses magic or other supernatural elements as a main plot element, theme, or setting. Magic, magic practitioners ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1993 Short Story Collections
File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peacefully dissolved into the Czech Republic and Slovakia; In the United States, the ATF besieges a compound belonging to David Koresh and the Branch Davidians in a search for illegal weapons, which ends in the building being set alight and killing most inside; Eritrea gains independence; A major snow storm passes over the United States and Canada, leading to over 300 fatalities; Drug lord and narcoterrorist Pablo Escobar is killed by Colombian special forces; Ramzi Yousef and other Islamic terrorists detonate a truck bomb in the subterranean garage of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in the United States., 300x300px, thumb rect 0 0 200 200 Oslo I Accord rect 200 0 400 200 1993 Russian constitutional crisis rect 400 0 600 200 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Witcher (TV Series)
''The Witcher'' is a fantasy drama television series created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich for Netflix. It is based on the book series of the same name by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. Set on a fictional, medieval-inspired landmass known as the Continent, ''The Witcher'' explores the legend of Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg and Princess Ciri. It stars Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, and Freya Allan. The first season, consisting of eight episodes, was released on Netflix on December 20, 2019. It was based on '' The Last Wish'' and ''Sword of Destiny'', which are collections of short stories that precede the main ''The Witcher'' saga. The second season, also consisting of eight episodes and based on the novel ''Blood of Elves'', released on December 17, 2021. In September 2021, Netflix renewed the series for a third season, which will be released in mid-2023. This will be followed by a fourth season, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the role of Geralt of Rivia. An anima ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anna Dereszowska
Anna Dereszowska (born 7 January 1981) is a Polish actress and singer. She studied at The Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw. Discography * ''Już Nie Zapomnisz Mnie'' (2011) Filmography * 2012: Siła wyższa as Siostra Dorota * 2011: Na dobre i na złe as Magda Soszyńska * 2011: Miłość w sieci * 2010: Sprawiedliwi as Ina Paloma * 2010: Klub szalonych dziewic as Magda Mazurek * 2010: Randka w ciemno as Kinga * 2009: Nowa as Karina Sznajder * 2009: Nigdy nie mów nigdy as Ama Bilska * 2009: M jak miłość as Sandra Matuszewska * 2009: Naznaczony as Milena Kral * 2009: Tylko miłość as Karolina * 2008: Hardcover as Ewa * 2008: Lejdis as Korba * 2007: Odwróceni as Laura * 2007: Tajemnica twierdzy szyfrów as Anna Maria Solof * 2007: Świadek koronny as Laura * 2007: Testosteron * 2005: Tango z aniołem as Wiktoria Adasiewicz * 2003: Zróbmy sobie wnuka as Basia * 2002: Złotopolscy as Kalina Fatalska Polish dubbing * 2017 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Narrenturm (novel)
''The Tower of Fools'' (Polish original title: ''Narrenturm'') is the first historical fantasy novel in the ''Hussite Trilogy'' written by Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski, first published in 2002 in Polish and in English in 2020. It is followed by '' Warriors of God'' (''Boży bojownicy'') and '' Lux perpetua''. It tells the story of Reinmar of Bielawa, also called Reynevan von Bielau. The action takes place in Silesia in 1425, at the time of the Hussite Wars. The setting is mostly historical, with some historical characters and descriptions of particular locations. Fantasy elements include occasional magical feats, artifacts, and non-human characters. The German word '' Narrenturm'' means ''The Tower of Fools'', a tower in which, in Middle Ages, people suffering from rare mental diseases were isolated. ''The Tower of Fools'' has been translated to Czech, Slovak, Russian, German, Ukrainian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Finnish, French, Spanish, and Brazilian Port ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beltane
Beltane () is the Gaelic May Day festival. Commonly observed on the first of May, the festival falls midway between the spring equinox and summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. The festival name is synonymous with the month marking the start of summer in Ireland, May being ''Mí na Bealtaine''. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. In Irish the name for the festival day is (), in Scottish Gaelic (), and in Manx Gaelic /. Beltane is one of the principal four Gaelic seasonal festivals—along with Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh—and is similar to the Welsh . Bealtaine is mentioned in the earliest Irish literature and is associated with important events in Irish mythology. Also known as ("first of summer"), it marked the beginning of summer and was when cattle were driven out to the summer pastures. Rituals were performed to protect cattle, people and crops, and to encourage growth. Special bonfires were kindled, w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Last Wish (book)
''The Last Wish'' ( pl, Ostatnie życzenie) is the third published short story collection in Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski's ''The Witcher'' series. Published by SuperNowa in 1993, it was preceded by 1992's ''Sword of Destiny'', but is officially considered the first entry in the series and ''Sword of Destiny'' the second. The collection contains seven short stories interspersed with a continuing frame story: Geralt of Rivia, after having been injured in battle, rests in a temple. During that time he has flashbacks to recent events in his life, with each flashback forming a short story. ''The Last Wish'' was first published in English on 7 June 2007 by Gollancz, and has also been translated into several other languages. In 2003, it won the Premio Ignotus for Best Anthology. Plot "The Witcher" :''"The Voice of Reason" () Part I - In Ellander's Temple of Melitele, a wounded Geralt is awakened from his slumber by Iola, a mute servant. The two make love, and fall asle ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brainwashing
Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and forced re-education) is the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques. Brainwashing is said to reduce its subjects' ability to think critically or independently, to allow the introduction of new, unwanted thoughts and ideas into their minds, as well as to change their attitudes, values and beliefs. The term "brainwashing" was first used in English by Edward Hunter in 1950 to describe how the Chinese government appeared to make people cooperate with them. Research into the concept also looked at Nazi Germany, at some criminal cases in the United States, and at the actions of human traffickers. In the late 1960s and 1970s, there was considerable scientific and legal debate, as well as media attention, about the possibility of brainwashing being a factor when Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was used, or in the conversi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dryad
A dryad (; el, Δρυάδες, ''sing''.: ) is a tree nymph or tree spirit in Greek mythology. ''Drys'' (δρῦς) signifies "oak" in Greek, and dryads were originally considered the nymphs of oak trees specifically, but the term has evolved towards tree nymphs in general,Graves, ch. 86.2; p. 289 or human-tree hybrids in fantasy. Often their life force was connected to the tree in which they resided and they were usually found in sacred groves of the gods. They were considered to be very shy creatures except around the goddess Artemis, who was known to be a friend to most nymphs. Types Daphnaie These were nymphs of the laurel trees. Epimelides The Maliades, Meliades or Epimelides were nymphs of apple and other fruit trees and the protectors of sheep. The Greek word ''melas'', from which their name derives, means both apple and sheep. Hesperides, the guardians of the golden apples were regarded as this type of dryad. Hamadryad Dryads, like all nymphs, were supernaturally ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by variola virus (often called smallpox virus) which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (WHO) certified the global eradication of the disease in 1980, making it the only human disease to be eradicated. The initial symptoms of the disease included fever and vomiting. This was followed by formation of ulcers in the mouth and a skin rash. Over a number of days, the skin rash turned into the characteristic fluid-filled blisters with a dent in the center. The bumps then scabbed over and fell off, leaving scars. The disease was spread between people or via contaminated objects. Prevention was achieved mainly through the smallpox vaccine. Once the disease had developed, certain antiviral medication may have helped. The risk of death was about 30%, with higher rates among babies. Often, those who survived had extensive scarring of their ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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