We could literally tattoo "don't print stickers onto book covers" onto the forehead of every publisher exec, and they would still turn around like "wait... so what you're saying is... Netflix?"
SERIOUSLY. It's insane to me that they would prefer to print it on the book instead of via sticker. I would imagine that production costs factor in, but it's depressing to think that's the only reason; it's such a slap in the face to artistic integrity to slap another company's logo onto the cover of someone's written works.
It also made zero sense, the massive influx of new readers was because of the Netflix show so they likely already knew it existed anyway. I also didn't buy them because of it which I'm sure was the same for a lot of other people. Such a shame.
I've been wanting to collect this series for a while now and although no one edition is my favorite I think I'm going to collect the Hardcovers. I'm a sucker for some great illustrations.
They're real nice artworks and they do have a colour theme. First book being red, the second being blue and so on. Geralt's appearance is very much inspired by Henry Cavill. The face, the armour and everything else. You decide if that's good or bad. I like it personally.
I love the new paperbacks but I can’t do it with the “sticker”. But I was excited to learn about the illustrated hardcover. I was holding out on buying “The Last Wish“ illustrated until I knew they were completing it.
The majority of me hates the Netflix stickers. But a very small part of me thinks that they will be very nostalgic in the future. Much like how finding old DVD's with the old blockbuster stickers is a blast from the past. Or finding radioshack logo on loaned CDs.
I can totally understand this take, because I feel that way about my LotR paperbacks. But those are mass market PB. Trade Paperbacks or hardcovers should be free of this crap, because they are a premium product. I literally LOVE the hardback from Blackstone publishing of Shogun. It's beautiful, the pages are crisp and thin, the text is clear, and the cover is strong. It's even got a picture from the show, but it is done in a way that doesn't look cheesy and could very well just be artwork anyway. But they ruined it with a big stupid permanent HULU badge. It sucks, and I hate it. And so I won't buy it. They can have my money. I'll even pay a dollar or two more if that's the price of a stupid sticker. But until then, they lose my business until a more timeless version becomes available. I'll get it from the library.
I'm so excited to get all of the hardcovers as they're released! I already have my copies preordered ^.^ Also I would 100% order the rest of the series from Illumicrate if they continued!
On another note, I have the white paperbacks (Gollancz not Orbit) and also they don't have the Netflix logo, so maybe it's a later print or something, or exclusive to the UK. Anyway those are the ones I have and they're fine for reading, but I'll be damned if those illustrated hardcovers aren't tempting.
Late to your video, but great overview. I started with "Blood of Elves" I skipped the "Short stories" as I largely was familiar with the events. I started reading the books after playing Witcher 1, 2 and 3. The covers from the Netflix show are ok. The white and red is always a nice contrast. But I don't particularly care that they used the netflix art either. Largely because in season 2 they freaking killed Eskel. In light of that I prefer the game artwork used on each book even if it may not directly correspond to events found in said book. They are familiar to me having played the games and they don't have the stupid permanent sticker. It's also why I despise the promo art used from Rings of Power on Tolkein's books. I did pick up the illustrated Last Wish. Love it. I'm down for a box set with all the hardcovers in an illustrated style like the Last Wish.
I also am upset that Illumicrate didn’t finish the series. That’s my favorite edition of the Witcher books and wish they would make a collection of them in that style. I do like the new orbit paperbacks and will pick them up. I was also disappointed by the permanent sticker, but some of the older editions were starting to get those also so at least these are more subtle. My husband and I talked about that too haha.
I have to say, for cover art, I actually prefer the ones that are styled after the games. They have sort of a Witcher 2 look to them more than a Witcher 3, and I hate Witcher 2, so its not bias that is driving this comment, haha. I just think they're more dynamic and exciting than WHITE WITH RUNIC IMAGE, which is a little generic to me. Edit - Those two later illustrated covers are amazing. That's way more my style. Reminds me of Rob J Hayes's book's covers.
My favorite is the illustrated The Last Wish cover. I really wish we could have had the entire series match that cover. The color red just really goes with this series imo.
I think those new paperbacks are so gorgeous and really fit the series well, and these new hardbacks are coming out with are totally badass just next level beautiful! It's nice to see the series finally getting a glow up b/c it does have such beautiful imagery and artwork to work with. At this point it would be hard to choose just one set of editions
I love all things Witcher. My books do not have the Neflix thingamajiggie. I would like it if all of my books were the same size. I am a controls engineer and I believe my company printed these books . I usually work with Magazine Printing. I have been doing this for 38 years. Most of these books were printed in Willard Ohio or Crawfordsville Indiana. They may have the address of the publisher insiced... not the printer. I work at the largest Magazine Plant in the USA in Kentucky. Printing is shrinking... especially magazines. Books not so much. It is important to buy books. I like audio books too but I do not like reading novels on my computer or tab. I love book sleeves they are printed at a higher quality then the black and white in the book.
It's especially annoying having the Netflix logo's on the book cover that the showrunners don't like the books or the games. They tried to stay clear of the books. Hate the logo on them.
It’s actually funny how The Last Wish says “Introducing the Witcher”. Yes, it’s the first book (you should actually start with the second story though). But canonically you should read Season of Storms after reading stories number 2,3,5 and 6 in that order in The Last Wish. After reading Season of Storms you should go back to The Last Wish to read story number 4 and finish with number 1. After this you should read the Sword of destiny and the rest of the series normally
For me I'd have to say the orbit paperbacks are my favorite! I don't like the Orbit Hardbacks because I don't like people on my covers, I don't like the illumicrate edition because I think it's a little too minimalist if that makes any sense? And I don't really like the color scheme on the second illumicrate edition so the paperbacks are definitely the pick for me 😂
I’m trying to look up the Witcher on Amazon the books but one say it’s the comple set and the other Witcher sets says it doesn’t what’s the difference?
Considering I hate the Netflix show, I think the illustrated editions are the best. I'm not a big fan of the novels, but I love the short story books and the art on those covers doesn't seem worlds apart so I'll probably get those two and be satisfied.
I bounced between excitement, disappointment (when I saw Netflix) then back to excitement (illusatrated + hardback have no Netflix) during this video. I've never got to read the series as I refuse to have the editions with Netflix on my bookshelf
publishers really need to stop printing the "stickers" on can they just be removable or just put them on the outside of the box for the box set rather than on every book!!
Same here. It’s just so dumb because that netflix sticker can only serve to reduce the number of potential buyers of this edition. Literally nobody wants that on their book cover.
The illumicrate is definitely one of my favorites, it's such a shame they didn't continue the series with that style. I would have bought them all too! I love the Orbit Paperbacks, the simplicity of the design and how they all go together so perfectly (placement of the title on each book, numbering on the spine so you know what order to read, etc.) but I absolutely cannot stand the permanent stickers, I refuse to buy books with permanent stickers. You would think all publishers would know by now how much we hate those stickers!
My favourite edition is the previous Polish hardback box set edition published by superNOWA. It had a black and silver color scheme with super simple cover art designs, and Sapkowski's signature on the spines was there as well. I bought mine back in 2008 and that thing literally got me into reading books.
Publishers should stop putting web series stickers on books. It's annoying. I have the bluish-green boxset and the Netflix sticker with it's bold red colour just makes me want to punch the Netflix people
Those polish editions are great 👍 I have to say I hate (really hate) the Netflix “sticker” which you can’t take off and really puts me off buying any set with it on it. I only read this series this year, I have the basic UK paperbacks which are fine I did pay more for them to avoid the Netflix paperback editions which had come out over here. I really like the illumicrate edition I would buy them if they done a full series.
I have literally decided against buying a series or a book that comes with a permanent advertisement. One that could so easily be made as a sticker. I can't imagine ANYONE is for them, and at best neutral to them. Yet there are some people that won't buy because of them. Am I missing something in the marketing? Publishers, please, let me know what the hell this is about, because it has become a CANCER. When everything is a movie or show or game these days, can't a book be a fucking book?
Been wanting to collect the series for a long time and pre-ordered the last wish illustrated edition last year. I can't believe they are continuing the series. Definitely going to get it... personally I love the artwork for blood of elves the most and excited to see the rest. I'm finally gonna read the series and start a second playthrough of Witcher 3 ❤️
The Witcher paperback are trade paperback size which is what the majority of books published in the UK are, the bigger paperbacks are only for a few books immediately after release (kind of like hardcovers)
I LOVE the witcher books but I dislike the Netflix series. So glad I still got all the older german edition, had to buy some used ones. They have dark covers with a drawn picture on it fitting what is told in the book, like a unicorn figure for "time of contempt" for example. The new editions have abstract art and "NETFLIX" written on them, I don't like it much
I would just put a white sticker on top of the netflix label. For me it turns me off bad and therefor wouldnt purchase that paperback set. I like the polish version the best, but i dont know the language, the black and white was great too, but since they didnt print an entire series its pointless in getting that one.
Any edition that doesn't have the Netflix "stamp" on it. It's near impossible to find the Orbit books edition (red cover) without the Netflix logo stamp.
Wish they released the rest of the series illustrated in that exact same style. I dislike the different artists on the covers, the first one for Blood of Elves is fantastic. I love that art style.
I'm fond of the Gollanz editions, quite colorful which is unexpected for the witcher but I got those and I'm pretty happy. For the hardbacks, I'm just gonna get the illustrated short stories, and not the rest because I can't deal with that inconsistency haha
I just bought all 8 books in the paperback edition and I‘m happy to say that the netflix logo now is gone due to it having a new publisher Unfortunately the lined up book spines no longer form the witcher symbol and are now just red
I have the gollancz paperback edt. They do not have the netflix sticker on them. I do not know if i get the wolf on the backside when they are all mined up as my books are in different places right now
Unfortunately, I don't have the money or the ability to purchase physical books anymore, I now live the retired life in Thailand, so all my books are ebooks. I was lucky enough to have been able to buy the complete Witcher edition on the kindle store recently when it was on a daily deal for 99p, and having never read the books before but having enjoyed the series, I am looking forward to reading it.
@@psychopompous3207 Where I live, which is in a rural area, you would be looking at around £400 a month I would guess, depending on what you classify as comfortable.
The new hardback covers look so pretty...but I don't love the series. Maybe I need to reread the series and give it another chance because TBH I remember almost nothing from the books lol
I have the set but my covers are nowhere near as nice as some of these. I have the black paperbacks with a photo of a character on the front of each one.
Hi there Elliot. How are you doing? Those all look so pretty. I like it when there is an indicator of where to start and what to read next is on the spine. Also, I wanted to let you know, that yesterday afternoon, I finished listening to Nettle and Bone. It was entertaining, but the action scene was too quick. It left me thinking, wait, that's it, wow. I'm glad that I tried it. I have also started listening to the Assassin and the Desert, which is in the anthology the Assassins Blade by Sarah J. Maas. It's been good. I have the entire Witcher series on my TBR pile, I have no idea when I might start on those.
In the video it looks like each collection seemed to have 8 books But when I Google it I'm getting conflicting numbers that there are 9 to 10 books I'm confused if you see this can you help
Honestly, I like the original Orbit paperbacks. Having not played the games, the artwork being from the games doesn't bother me; in fact, I think they're pretty awesome images. I will say, the new paperback releases do look pretty neat as well. Also, for the illustrated editions (at least for Last Wish, I don't know about the next), if you have a special app on your phone, Google Lens, when you hold your phone with the camera on through the app onto the images, they'll become "animated". It even worked when you showed some of the images onscreen.
when I got back into reading fantasy a few years ago I considered getting the Witcher series, until I saw the covers/spines. (Plus I was confused about where to start. a collection of short stories?) So, I'm glad to see the new designs. I don't really like the new hardbacks either, but the paperbacks would be amazing without those damn stickers! I have chosen not to buy books in the past because of stupid stickers. The black page-edge edition was the best -- I wish they did the whole series.
I love hardcovers, but I hate those 'jackets' Is there a way to search for hardcover books that don't the have the jackets, but the cover printed on the hardback? Is there a name for it?
I've wanted the books for a while now but I'm struggling to find the books with the game art on the front, anyone have a idea where to find them in the UK?
Love that Illumicrate edition, wouldn’t care if it matches or not personally. My JRR Tolkien’s don’t match either but they all look amazing and each feels special
I have the illumicrate one and I also wish they would have continued, soooo good. Just out of curiosity did you end up getting the kickstarter ronin Witcher manga?
I've wanted to buy the Witcher books for ages since it's my favourite game ever, but I hate the UK editions - the multicoloured, generic looking ones. I love the Polish ones. I haven't seen these other editions but ahh some of them are gorgeous - why can't they make better UK paperbacks! 🙈 *update* just watching now - the new Orbit ones look amazing!! Might have to try and get them shipped here! 🙈
@@eavanodonoghue ah! Thank you so much! I'll keep an eye out, I'd love to get these instead of the other ones - I've been holding out for better copies 🙈
You are so special amazing inspiring remarkable unbelievable blessing angel unique and loving caring loving so sweet and so proud of you Elliot up the great work xoxo 😚 💜📙📚💘💕📖📖💕📚💘💕📖📖💘💘💘💞💞✨💖💖💖💞❣️❣️📙💛💛💜🤎🤍🤍💙❤️🔥💝❤️❤️🤎❤️🔥💛💛💛💖💖💖✨📖💕📚📚📚💘💕📖💞💞💙🤍🤍❤️🩹❤️🔥🤎🤍🤍❤️🩹💝❤️❤️💝❣️🌈📙💗💗💖💘💘💕💕📖📖💘📚📚💘💕💞💞💚💖🌈❣️🌈📙💛🤍🤍💙❤️🩹❤️❤️❤️💝💝❤️🔥💜📚💘💘💕📖
