Originally Published in Another Language (Russian)
Others, they walk among us. Others are magicians, sorcerers, shape-shifters, demons. Those who use magic. Who see the twilight. Who have great power, power that allows them to live a life beyond what we know as ordinary. They serve the dark, or the light – or they have yet to decide their own destiny. Eventually their choices in life will decide for them.
On each side, there is a policing faction – called The Watch. The Night Watch are light Others, who police the dark Others at night. And the Day Watch are dark Others, policing the Light at day.
Our protagonist is a light other, a mid-level magician and member of the Night Watch. Inside all of this magic, war and power is a very complicated mystery/spy story – told in almost a detective novel style.
Lukyanenko has created a quite unique magical hierarchy and world; with some fascinating characters – lovers, pawns, heroes and leaders of the revolution/rebellion/domination. He provides us with a story about a man, who has chosen his path, but doesn’t quite know what to do with it – Anton.
We are seeing the war between light and dark from the point of view of mere pawns in the struggle; after a treaty has been signed long ago – an agreement between both sides to obey a permanent order of laws. These laws dictate that without permission, without bureaucratic means, no action can be taken by either side which affects ordinary lives (outside of what is allowed) – if this happens, the Watch will hold the accused accountable. These laws are strict, and for the guilty, punishment is almost always permanent death. (Death is different for Others, for example some Others are vampires who do not ordinarily die. A permanent death would be for some, disintegration. For others, lost in the Twilight. Decided on a case by case basis.)
The Twilight is a way of seeing that is only available to Others, but it is also a physical anomaly. The twilight has many layers; the deeper you get, the more likely you will die before you can get out. The first layer of twilight basically allows you to see the magical appearance over the physical appearance of the world. Greater magicians have more skill at getting down deep into the twilight. And the Twilight behaves the same and is the same and one thing to both light and dark. However, when one is in the twilight, one’s true self is visible to others who are also in the twilight within viewing distance.
The magic in this story is thoroughly designed and examined. Curses, arrangements between dark and light, the struggle for one’s destiny, the struggle to be a good person, the responsibility of being a watchman, all of these are really interesting concepts, and beautifully conceived, carefully revealed.
But the tightest line of this story is one man, his lover and his job – all directed towards trying to do what he thinks is right, and solve the mystery; the conspiracy by the greatest magicians in the world; The leader of the dark ones, Zabulon and the leader of the light, Gesar.
the joy of eating and the folly of thinking 