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The Viper (Polish: Żmija) is a 2009 historical novel with elements of fantasy[1] by the Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. It is set in the framework of the Soviet–Afghan War. The title refers to the golden viper which awakens his suppressed paranormal abilities to see the past. However critics point out that an element of fantasy is far from being central in this mostly realistic novel. The novel received mixed reviews, with critics complaining that the novel from a famous writer did not meet expectations.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
The protagonist is a Soviet Army praporshchik of Polish descent, Paweł Lewart. Since the childhood he had paranormal abilities, but they were suppressed by a treatment in a psychiatric hospital. However he retained some abilities to see the future, which saved his life in Afghanistan several times. While at a remote outpost he finds a golden viper and feeds it with a dead rat. He visited the crevice with the viper several times and each time he has visions of the memories of past defeated invaders of Afhganistan: the army of Alexander the Great and the British army during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.[8]
- 2010: Mir Fantastiki magazine award for the best foreign book[9]
- 2011: FantLab's Book of the Year Award (Russia) for his short story Żmija (Viper) in the Best Translated Novella or Short Story category[10]
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