In the realm of fantasy, only a few stories are there that need no introduction. The Witcher is among those names that have established their name in gaming and on-screen too. The live adaptation of high fantasy novels by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski grabbed the attention of viewers around the globe. This world full of mystical creatures brought mesmerizing moments for fans that they never imagined before. Some part of its success goes to the works of other iconic fantasy writers whom the author referred to while writing his books.

This includes the world of hobbits, which has become a legend in the literature and entertainment industry. Do you know how The Lord of the Rings influenced the universe of mutants and mages?

The Witcher is the result of Andrzej Sapkowski’s obsession with fantasy novels

Back in 2019, when Netflix’s The Witcher made its debut, Andrzej Sapkowski joined the cast and crew in promotional interviews. One such interview was with the Italian Sugarpulp, where he talked about his influences. The author stated he was a huge fan of J. R. R. Tolkien and he read his novels when the translation arrived in the 1960s.

His first wife introduced him to the Lord of the Rings, which introduced him to an amazing world of supernatural creatures. The 75-year-old became a bookworm at that time and used to read over 200 books in a year. According to him, he has almost all the books related to fantasy and the result of that investment turned out as his six-volume series of Witcher books.

But this is certainly not the only author who has inspired the world of mutants and has many references from other works. The fierce enemies of Geralt in the drama also have connections to Polish mythology itself.

Kikimora is a mainstay of Slavic mythology

The Witcher has depicted many creatures in the three seasons that the White Wolf of Henry Cavill fought. One of them was Kikimora, who appeared in the first episode of season 1. Geralt fought with it in the blackened swamp fighting this multi-limbed beast. Fans would be surprised to know that this beast is not the mere imagination of the author. Instead, it is a part of Slavic mythology as per A Study of Household Spirits of Eastern Europe by Ronesa Aveela.

Kikimora were believed to be mischievous female spirits that haunt the houses and can be dangerous occasionally. The name of the creature stems from the old Finnish word, “kikke mörkö,” which roughly means scarecrow. But in the series, they transformed into a massive beast that certainly isn’t the type of clattering pots in Slavic homes.

What do you think about the Lord of the rings inspiration? Drop your comments below!