Random_Coffee: I'm considering buying the first Witcher-novel, Blood of Elves, has anyone here read it? Is the english translation good?
I am reading it right now (a few chapters in). So far I find the translation to be pretty good, but of course I can't read the original Polish so I don't know how accurate it is. But it reads well.
I recommend reading the short stories first. The Last Wish is available in English, but you really want to read The Sword of Destiny too if you can, as Katanasteel mentioned above. I've read the fan translation, and some of it was a little awkward but mostly it was OK. The important thing is that The Sword of Destiny introduces Ciri, who is a major character in the novels, and gives a lot more background on Yennefer, who is also an important character. Technically Yennefer is introduced in The Last Wish but she shows up a lot in The Sword of Destiny and readers learn more about her and Geralt.
EDIT: Specifically, the stories "The Sword of Destiny" and "Something More" in The Sword of Destiny collection are basically set-up stories for the events of the novels.