Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko · 7 September 2007
I rode the metro for about six hours, switching aimlessly from line to line without any plan, sometimes dozing, letting my conscious mind take a break and my senses roam free. There was nothing going down. Well, I did see a few interesting things, but they were all ordinary incidents, tame beginner’s stuff. It wasn’t until about eleven, when the metro got less crowded, that the situation changed.
There begins the adventures of on Anton Gododetsky, Night Watch agent. Learning about what the Night Watch is, and more importantly how it carries out its mission, is part of the story that unfolds over the novel. What we do learn relatively quickly is that the world is populated by Others, a collection of creatures who are almost, but not quite human. The Others can enter the Twilight, a shadow of the world we see, and once there they choose sides, Light or Dark, good or evil.
We also learn about the Day Watch, the competing faction to the Night Watch. The difference between the groups is nicely summed up by the phrase uttered by the Night Watch who sees humans as their roots, while the Day Watch sees them as their food.
The structure of the book is more a collection of related and chronological short stories than a traditional novel. There are several vignettes, all of which feature Anton. He starts out as a fairly fresh recruit of the Night Watch, sent on his first field assignment. He’s learning the extent and the limit of his powers and his restraint, and as he tests them, we slowly grow to know the world that the Others inhabit as well.
Lukyanenko creates a striking portrayal of an alternate reality. The imagery he uses to describe the Twilight makes it sound alluring, but not idealized. Although the characters in the book have the potential for great power, Lukyanenko doesn’t have them flaunt it. Rather, he treats the Night Watch as exactly what it is, a job with a grave responsibility. Every member of the Night Watch lives with that responsibility in every action that they take, which makes for a superb dark fantasy in which the characters internalize their battles with their power in a way that is extremely natural and rational.
How fond the Dark Ones were of repeating the word “Freedom!” How often we explained to ourselves that freedom has its limits.
And that’s probably just the way it ought to be. For the Dark One and the Light Ones who simply live among ordinary people, possessing greater powers than they have, but with the same desires and ambitions, for those who choose life according to the rules instead of confrontation.
Anton is a classic beat-cop type figure. He must report to his superiors and follow their orders, though he often doesn’t understand them or agree with them. This type of character leads to some recurring motifs, as Anton is thrown into various missions for the Night Watch. On the one hand these motifs allow for the questions on the nature of the Night Watch to be asked and answered and lend to the strength of the book. On the other hand, Lukyanenko must reveal Anton’s process of coming to understand the true nature of his missions. He illustrates Anton’s “Ah ha!” moments to the reader by having Anton exclaim that he finally knows what is going on, but he doesn’t inform the reader as to what Anton has figured out.
I prefer a mystery style in which clues are gradually revealed and in which the reader and the character can come to the same conclusion together. In Night Watch, I felt like I had been left behind in Anton’s discovery process, and it was jarring to be moved from the position of intimate observer of the story, to cordoned-off outsider. Although Lukyanenko eventually brought me, the reader, back into the story, I found it awkward to read the parts in which Anton knew exactly what he was doing, and repeatedly told us he knew, but we didn’t. Despite the negative impact that this had on the pacing of the story, the strong world-building and sense of atmosphere prevailed, and I quite liked the novel.
I particularly enjoyed reading this because it was set in Moscow. It cracks me up to hear the Americans described as loud and uncouth, and I'm always interested in seeing a different perspective on fantasy. There were also references to the history of Russia and Europe and some distinctly non-American philosophies woven into the book. For those who feel like they’re neglecting their cultural responsibilities, this is a great book to get your fantasy fix while brushing up on a different cultural perspective.
Night Watch has also been made into a movie, which Quixotical discusses here as part of the R.I.P. challenge dialogue and Carl discusses here. I think this is a book that would be challenging to adapt into a movie, and because the reviews I’ve seen of the movie are so positive, I’m very curious about how the screenwriter and director managed it.
This book was reviewed for the 2007 R.I.P. Challenge.
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Chris · 7 September 2007, 08:32
I was wondering where I had heard of this one….then I read your last paragraph and realized that this was the book that the movie was based on that Carl and Quix reviewed!
The book sounds awesome! Great review! I love the passages that you’ve given, his writing sounds like something I’d enjoy, and the story itself sounds like something that isn’t entirely unique, but something that he’s made his own at the same time, which is great!
I’m with you on the solving of mysteries…I much prefer solving along with the “solver” of the novel, but this book sounds like it handles the situation fair enough to remain an excellent read!
Nymeth · 8 September 2007, 02:17
I also prefer stories in which the reader has the opportunity to solve the mystery along with the characters. Keeping the reader in the dark seems like too simplistic a suspense technique. All it does is tease, in a “we don’t something you don’t know” sort of way, and that can be very irritating.
It sounds as this book is very much worth reading despite that, though. I had seen Elaine and Carl’s reviews of the movie, but I didn’t know it was based on a book. Now I want to read it before I watch the movie.
jean pierre · 8 September 2007, 02:51
i’d be very curious to see what you make of the film. i’ve watched the film and have been wondering about how they compare.
one thing your review confirms is that the book is good in its own right and not just a good idea that was made into the film.
Tomb Gnome · 8 September 2007, 05:40
I was fascinated by this book! I particularly enjoyed the moral implications, the sliding and shifting of what “Good” could mean. I never viewed it particularly as a mystery, so I didn’t run into the problems you had with sudden reveals…
I wish I had been able to enjoy “Daywatch” as much, but I just can’t find them sympathetic.
Kim · 8 September 2007, 07:15
Chris – It was a great way to kick off the challenge!
Nymeth – It is worth reading. The “teasing” sections are a small percentage of the overall story.
jp – It sounds like the movie may be quite different based on Carl and Quix’s reviews.
Tomb – Welcome! Thanks for commenting. I know what you mean about not being able to sympathize with the Day Watch characters, though I thought it interesting that both of the power figures were portrayed as being vulnerable to love.
I can see how a book based around the philosophy of the Day Watch wouldn’t be as enjoyable. Did you read Twilight Watch as well?
Dark Orpheus · 8 September 2007, 12:00
Ah, I’m still reading Night Watch at the moment, and it’s a smooth read. There’s something familiar about Anton – like you mention, he’s like a rookie beat-cop who’s learning the ropes, getting into conflict with his superiors on how he does his job, and just trying to get by. He even has this odd “friendship” with his vampire neighbours, who now fear/despise him because he’s Night Watch.
Stephanie · 8 September 2007, 12:33
I’ve got the movie on my netflix list! It sounds like a great way to kick off the challenge!!
cecilia · 27 September 2007, 04:40
The movies are really good, but they are not exactly like the books. Really the movie Night Watch and Day Watch contain most of the story from Night Watch. I am only part way through the book Day Watch, but I have read Night Watch and seen both movies. I really enjoyed all 3.
Court · 29 September 2007, 15:07
Wow, that sounds really good. Really good. I’m going to have to read it at some point in time. Thanks for the great review. :)
Eva · 30 September 2007, 10:00
Another one for the TBR list!
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