Movies - Night Watch

Home > Listing Index > Movies > Night Watch (Russian novel)

	Movies - Night Watch

Night Watch (Russian: Nochnoy Dozor, Ночной дозор) is a science fiction/fantasy novel by a popular Russian writer Sergey Lukyanenko published in 1998 (1st ed ISBN 5-237-01511-5). In 2004, it was made into a blockbuster film by Timur Bekmambetov. Also, in 2005 Nival Interacive released both the computer game, based on the book, and also the second part of the movie.

The story revolves around a confrontation between two opposing supernatural groups: the Night Watch, an organisation that seeks to improve the world - but isn't totally perfect and selfless either - and the Day Watch, which selfishly seeks to gain by exploiting humanity.

The novel is first in a tetralogy that continues with Day Watch (Dnevnoy Dozor, Дневной дозор), Twilight Watch (Sumerechnyy Dozor, Сумеречный дозор) and Final Watch (Posledniy Dozor, Последний дозор).

Background

For as long as the Universe existed, there was the Gloom, a magical realm that existed beneath the surface of all things. And for as long as humanity existed, there were the Others - human beings who tapped into the Gloom and gained incredible abilities. But the Gloom doesn't offer its gifts freely. Those who use the Gloom for too long cease to age, but with every year they gain, they lose more of their humanity. Also, the Gloom feeds off the strength of those Others who enter it, and if they are sufficiently weakened, they are consumed, never to return to the ordinary world.

Over the centuries, the Others formed two distinct groups. Those of the Light believed it was their duty to help the weak and the helpless. Those of the Dark shunned all obligations. They did what they wanted, regardless of morals, and consequences. For many millennia, the two sides fought a vicious battle. Both were willing to use any means that would lead them to victory. But eventually they realized that if they continued their battle, neither side would survive. So the leaders of both sides forged the Grand Treaty - a set of laws to govern the way the Others used their powers. The Light Others created the Night Watch, to ensure that the Dark Others would not violate the Treaty. The Dark Others created the Day Watch, to ensure that the Light Others would not violate the Treaty. And the Inquisition, a group composed of both Dark and Light Others, was created to ensure that neither side became too powerful.

Since then, the Night Watch and the Day Watch kept their eyes on each other, diligently policing every violation of the treaty. But just because the battle was over didn't mean the war ended. The old leaders continued to plot, using humanity and the Others as their pawns. Only time will tell which side would prevail.

(Trivial note for people curious about Russian: some would translate 'Sumrak' as twilight, but it actually refers to a state very close to darkness, not to the inbetween time between day and night, which is 'Sumerki'. The Gloom is therefore a better translation. However, Twilight Watch for the title of the third book is correct.)

Characters:

Light Others

Anton Gorodetsky (Light Mage) - a reluctant member of Night Watch, in the beginning of the first book, preferred mundane, technical jobs to actual field work. The events of the series forced him to step up and become a full-fledged operative. They also made him considerably more cynical about the cause of Light Others. His favorite past-time is listening to randomly arranged custom mini-discs.

Boris Ignatyevich/Geser (Grand Light Mage) - an ancient mage of Tibertian descent who taught a number of heroes and philosophers during his lifetime. He moved to Europe during the early 15th century. Although he has had many opportunities to advance to high-level posts within Night Watch, he chose to remain a regional director of the Moscow division. Geser is a battle-hardened tactician who's been known to turn devastating defeats into small victories. He cares a great deal about his subordinates, though he doesn't hesitate to put them in harm's way for the sake of greater good.

Svetlana (Grand Light Sorceress) - a young doctor who is not aware of her powers at the beginning. She enters into a relationship with Anton which comes under strain as Svetlana's powers continue to increase exponentially.

Olga (Grand Light Sorceress) - an old friend and an occasional lover of Geser who was turned into an owl for breaking obligations she had to the light side. She was allowed to change back to her human form during wartime, for half an hour every day. Thanks to Geser's manipulations, she was restored to her human form and regained her powers by the end of Night Watch.

Semyon (Light Mage) - a crusty, experienced mage with a wryly cynical outlook on the world. Unlike many of his fellow mages, he is a capable fighter even without his magic.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Night Watch (Russian novel) ]

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article Night Watch (Russian novel); it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.

Movies - Night Watch

Background

Characters:

Light Others

Searches on eBay

Related searches on eBay