Sapkowski frequently draws inspiration from fairy and folk tales, typically from the European tradition; his takes on these age-old stories are often much grimmer than the source material, in keeping with the dark fantasy atmosphere of Geralt’s world. Many are immediately recognizable to the reader—for instance, “A Grain of Truth” draws from “Beauty and the Beast.” Other allusions are a bit more esoteric, such as the hedgehog knight in “A Question of Price.” However, even when Sapkowski draws from these tales, he also alters them. For example, although “The Lesser Evil” has elements of “Snow White,” Renfri, the “Snow White” analogue, is a vengeful assassin. 

The oppressiveness of fate is a motif throughout the collection. Geralt is a product of fate, since witchers are destined for their training at birth. Geralt is mostly resigned to his fate; however, he pushes back against it in subtle ways. For one, although he is a strong adherent to his witcher code, one of his first professional acts was helping a random passerby—a decision that ostensibly goes against this code. In general, he listens to his conscience and obeys its dictates when it conflicts with the code. Other characters, too, find ways to push back against fate: