Every once in a while a book comes along that seems to be crafted by divine beings, different from the competition without
being so alien as to be impenetrable and most important of all, entertaining, and forgive me for screaming this one from the rooftops but I think The Night Watch covers that category nicely.
Before I go too far, let me get one thing straight, do not believe the lie of the cover which proudly states that The Night Watch is "JK Rowling, russian style". For me that's like comparing a 21 day matured sirloin steak with a extra value chipolata. Yeah, sure, they're technically similar, I mean they're both meat for a start and not from entirely dissimilar animals, but I think we can all agree that whatever your preference they're pretty distinct. I'm not saying Harry Potter lovers won't love this book, but I can only conclude that as a species we like to pidgeon-hole things into categories, even if the square peg really doesn't fit.
So The Night Watch, a definite square peg, unleashes a whole new universe for
supernatural creatures and mystical powers to clash. The plot follows Night Watch operative Anton Gerodetsky, Light Magician, analyst and sometime field operative as he fights to save humans, other members of the Watch and even himself in a fight between Good and Evil that is never quite what it seems from the outside. It all sounds pretty familiar doesn't it, but the sophistication of
Lukyanenko's ideas are such that this bears no resemblence to anything else I have read or heard of or seen. Lukyanenko examines the relationship between Good and Evil, and the grey lines that each side draws. We are given a world often less prone to epic battles and more akin to political intregue, so clever and so well executed that everytime you start to feel comfortable (and dare I say judgemental) about what is going on, the game changes yet again.
All this could have quite easily read like the average English Lit exam text, by which I mean completely overladden with its own philosophy and though rewarding a seriously difficult read. Lukyanenko's writing instead jumps from the page, it is fluid, active, the pace is fast enough to keep the reader glued to their chair without losing the detail and intregue of the story. Lukyanenko wisely breaks the novel down into three smaller but connected stories which assists the delivery further. It is no doubt complicated, overflowing with ideas, but it won't put off the more casual reader and could have wide-ranging appeal.
So why is The Night Watch still a relative unknown among the general public? I have no idea. Perhaps the Russian origin counts against it, perhaps people still have trouble accepting genre fiction as a source of literary genius, perhaps the Harry Potter comparison really isn't assisting it. Whatever the case, I heartily recommend this book. It will twist your brain in knots, but you'll be loving every second.