The Night Watch Series – Sergei Lukyanenko

The Night Watch, The Day Watch,
The Twilight Watch & The Last Watch
By Sergei Lukyanenko (Translated from the Russian by Andrew Bromfield)
Pub: William Heinemann



The Night Watch series follows, by and large, the investigations of Anton Gorodetsky. Set in a world similar to ours, except that magicians, witches, werewolves, vampires and sorceress exist, these “Others” live anonymously amongst common humanity. Anton is a “Light Other” and an agent of the titular Moscow Night Watch, an organisation that polices the activities of “Dark Others”, a blanket term covering those, such as the vampires and witches who lean towards “evil”. In turn the “Light Others” are policed by the Day Watch, made up of Dark Others. Overseen by the mysterious and neutral Inquisition the two sides maintain an uneasy equilibrium, while each struggles for advantage, or to counter the other. Plots and intrigues are rife, and the Others extended lifespan means that conspiracies unfold over many years and decades. The books follow Anton as he is dragged into the successively murkier and murkier depth of the fight between the two watches, questioning both his own morals, and much of what he has been taught, while all the while under the manipulative influences of those more powerful than himself.

Each of the four books is divided into three short stories, which flow into each other, but are separate enough that a more traditional novel format wouldn’t have made sense. Each story centres around a differing mystery or threat, often with the labyrinthine plot lines being pulled together at the end, for a fantastic conclusion. Despite the linkage each story sits well on it’s own and could be perfectly presented in isolation. There is a times a sense of futility and depression to the overarching storyline, which only underpins the moral dilemmas of the central character. This manifested as an issue in the first story of the fourth book, where in the final chapter there is a real sensation that something awful is just about to happen to the character.

In the first book Anton faces vampires, an unknown killer preying on Dark Others and the question of fate and destiny, while all the time finding more about the world in general and the organisation he serves.

While the supporting cast are excellently presented there is the occasional feeling that Anton is the only character who constantly questions his situation, but this serves to further heighten his dilemmas and add an extra dimension to them, rather than detract from his quandary.

Moscow is presented in loving detail, and there is a sense of immersion, while the fantasy trappings fit seamlessly into the modern world. There is a sense of dislocation involved in the Russian setting, but one that provides additional interest rather than distancing the reader. The only point to note is that Russian names have a number of forms, a full form, a short form, an affectionate form and a rude form. It is occasional disorientating before this all clicks into place, and occasionally gives the impression there are more people in the room than there are.

The two films which have been released, (Night Watch and Day Watch), bear only a lose connection to the plots and characters as presented in the books, with the books being the better of the two. The Last Watch gives the occasion nod to the film as an alternate reality from the book universe.

The books are a very good read, leaning more towards an almost Chandler like take on modern fantasy and magic. No one is going to burst through the door with a gun, but they might just have an offensive spell ready.