Sergey Lukyanenko
Encyclopedia
Sergei Vasilievich Lukyanenko (born 11 April 1968) is a science fiction
and fantasy
author, writing in Russian
, and is arguably the most popular contemporary Russian sci-fi writer. His works often feature intense action
-packed plots, interwoven with the moral dilemma of keeping one's humanity
while being strong.
Lukyanenko is a prolific writer, releasing usually 1–2 books per year, as well as a number of a critical articles and short stories. Recently his works have been adapted into film
productions, for which he wrote the screenplays. He was also a blogger, keeping a blog at LiveJournal
, and posting both personal and public information or snippets of a book in progress. His first blog was discontinued on 11 July 2008 after a conflict with readers over the issue of foreign (American) adoptions of Russian children.
He started another blog a few days later, promising firmer moderation policies.
, to Russian
-Ukrainian
father and Tatar
mother. After school he moved to Alma-Ata, entering Alma-Ata State Medical Institute in 1986 as a therapist. After graduation in 1992 he joined one of the Alma-Ata hospitals, specializing in child psychiatry
, but soon abandoned practice, as already poor wages for physicians in Soviet times plummeted with the fall of the Soviet Union, making it virtually impossible to support a family. His writing, which he started while still a student, had just started producing funds. During this time he became an active member in Russian fandom
, visiting conventions and attending seminars all around the Soviet Union.
In 1993 he was appointed deputy editor
in a local Science Fiction magazine, where he worked until 1996. This was one of the hardest periods of Sergei's life, as his family struggled to make ends meet. He often attributes the rather grim tones of his works at that period to those financial and personal hardships. However, by the mid-90's the situation improved drastically, and soon his growing popularity as a writer made frequent trips to now-foreign Russia
increasingly difficult. Thus in 1996 Lukyanenko moved to Moscow, where he currently resides.
, and she graduated from Kazakh state university
. She now holds a Ph.D. degree in child psychology, and she taught psychology in Russian State University for the Humanities
until 2003. Their first son Artemy Lukyanenko was born in February 2004. Their second son Daniil was born 23 November 2007.
They also kept pet mice (the first one was called Stremitelny - Quick, and the next pair was Mowlder [Mulder, as a matter of fact] and Scully) for some time, and their offspring were "awarded" to friends and fans. This became a running joke in Russian fandom. He still collects toy and souvenir mice figures. They also own two Yorkshire Terrier
s named Busya and Varya.
as Sergey Lukianenko on the English version of his official website and as Sergei Lukyanenko by his publisher on works translated into English. Other spellings such as Sergey Lukyanenko are also found.
First works of this period shows clear influence of famous Russian children's author and teacher Vladislav Krapivin
, a fan of whose Lukyanenko remains up to this day. These works, such as novella Eighth Color of Rainbow featured the same themes of coming of age
, loyalty and friendship, as well as teenage protagonists and target audience
. However, he soon moved from imitation to the polemic position towards Krapivin's somewhat idealistic views of children and their interaction. In the 1994 novel Knights of 40 islands
Lukyanenko firmly established himself as an author of the Golding
ian tradition.
delivered a terrible blow to its literary community, as Russian authors now had to struggle with unfamiliar realities of a free publishing system. The hopes of a creative boom never materialized, as publishers were eager to exploit the lucrative pulp literature market (virtually nonexistent before) largely ignoring the existing literature establishment. This led to rather low confidence in domestic authors, and it was extremely hard to find a publisher ready to invest in a local writer.
However, Lukyanenko fared somewhat better than the others, already having made something of a name in Russian science-fiction circles. A nascent computer networks
(mainly FidoNet
), distributing electronic copies of his works, also helped to create demand for printed versions. Another contribution was his writing style, combining intricate but captivating plots with deep intrigue and concentrated action. Thus, when tides start to shift in mid-90s, Lukyanenko already was a well-known figure in Russian SF.
His books at the time included aforementioned Knights of the 40 Islands, Nuclear Dream
collection of short stories and novellas, published in 1992, and two space opera
trilogies: the unusual Line of Delirium
, the setting of which was loosely based on that of the Master of Orion
series of videogames
, and the earlier Lord from Planet Earth, based on the rather dark setting brought forth in his early short stories (ironically called A Splendid Faraway Universe). His most striking and dark book, Autumn Visits
, was also written during that time, when the author was struggling with depression
.
The cult classic Labyrinth of Reflections
, a book heavily based on various 'Net subcultures and cyberpunk
mythos, is another product of this period. It is worth noting that although Labyrinth is often labeled as cyberpunk, it is a rather straight romance story, hardly meeting Dozois criterion, and more to the fact – was written when the author didn't even have an Internet connection: all his 'Net knowledge was limited to FIDONet membership.
series, now featuring two novels (Genome
and Dances on the Snow
) and the Cripples novella, or The Stars Are Cold Toys
dilogy, sharing the same themes with David Brin
's Uplift
series.
marked Lukyanenko's return to the fantasy genre, which he repeatedly visited during his career, but never ventured into seriously. Even in this novel he stayed in the less radical realm of urban fantasy
; however, his gloomy but picturesque settings and vivid characters brought him a considerable success. He struck gold when improvements in the Russian economy permitted financing which revitalized a dormant domestic movie industry.
The 2004 film Night Watch (Nochnoy dozor), based on the book, was regarded as "the first Russian blockbuster." The film grossed over $16 million in Russia, a box office record at that time. In the United States
, an adaptation of the film was released by Fox Searchlight. The film Day Watch
(Dnevnoy dozor) was released in Russia on January 1, 2006, and it was released in the US on June 1, 2007.
The immense popularity of the movie transformed Lukyanenko from an author "widely known in narrow circles" of science fiction fans into an instant celebrity. He became the official "flagship" of Russian SF and since then has made a number of a public appearances in various TV shows and other venues. He also released a number of sequels to the Watch series. In addition to the sequels, he published a short story Kid Watch (Melkiy dozor) featuring a teenage agent of the Day Watch who is also the son of a member of the Russian counter-intelligence service which monitors the Others.
Since then, a number of other movie adaptations of his books have been considered. To date, only one of these projects, a 2005 children's film Asiris Nuna
, based on a Today, Mother! a humor novella coauthored with Yuly Burkin, has been completed; several other movies, however, seem to remain in production. In many of these projects Lukyanenko acts as both scriptwriter and consultant.
In the meantime, several other books have been released by him, such as the deeply philosophical, non-series novel Spectrum
which deals with the themes of existentialism and omnipotency, among others. He also published a closely connected series Rough Draft
and Final Draft
.
laws. However, success of the movies finally changed the situation. Night Watch
, translated by Andrew Bromfield
, was published in English in July 2006, Day Watch followed in January 2007, Twilight Watch
was published in July 2007. 2009 saw the international publication of "Last Watch" by Hyperion Press.
Other foreign publication in major European and Asian languages appeared in the last two years, mostly brought to life by the success of the movies. These publications mostly centered around the Watch series, although other works are also being considered. Reviews of the books are generally positive.
, the Strugatsky brothers, and Vladislav Krapivin
, and that he hopes to be remembered as a literary follower of the Strugatsky brothers. Although his books are often set in harsh worlds, Lukyanenko is a humanist
writer, and in this sense believes he follows in the footsteps of the Strugatsky brothers. In May 2000, Boris Strugatsky referred to the spirit of the brothers' books as "that goodness with fists, those tortured attempts by the heroes to remain kind while being strong", and added "this is the underlying theme for Lukyanenko: how to preserve your goodness in the world of evil when you are strong and well-armed."
In November 2010 he carried out a study of sorts, asking his readers to donate a Russian ruble
in exchange for a piece of his work that he would release freely. Only about 5% of the blog visitors responded casting some strong doubts on the feasibility of this sales model in Russia.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
author, writing in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
, and is arguably the most popular contemporary Russian sci-fi writer. His works often feature intense action
Action genre
The word action has more than one meaning in fiction. Action is one of the fiction-writing modes authors use to present fiction. The term is also used to describe an exiting event or circumstance.-Action as a fiction-writing mode:...
-packed plots, interwoven with the moral dilemma of keeping one's humanity
Human nature
Human nature refers to the distinguishing characteristics, including ways of thinking, feeling and acting, that humans tend to have naturally....
while being strong.
Lukyanenko is a prolific writer, releasing usually 1–2 books per year, as well as a number of a critical articles and short stories. Recently his works have been adapted into film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
productions, for which he wrote the screenplays. He was also a blogger, keeping a blog at LiveJournal
LiveJournal
LiveJournal is a virtual community where Internet users can keep a blog, journal or diary. LiveJournal is also the name of the free and open source server software that was designed to run the LiveJournal virtual community....
, and posting both personal and public information or snippets of a book in progress. His first blog was discontinued on 11 July 2008 after a conflict with readers over the issue of foreign (American) adoptions of Russian children.
He started another blog a few days later, promising firmer moderation policies.
Biography
Lukyanenko was born in Karatau, then a part of Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, to Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
-Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
father and Tatar
Tatars
Tatars are a Turkic speaking ethnic group , numbering roughly 7 million.The majority of Tatars live in the Russian Federation, with a population of around 5.5 million, about 2 million of which in the republic of Tatarstan.Significant minority populations are found in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,...
mother. After school he moved to Alma-Ata, entering Alma-Ata State Medical Institute in 1986 as a therapist. After graduation in 1992 he joined one of the Alma-Ata hospitals, specializing in child psychiatry
Child and adolescent psychiatry
The branch of psychiatry that specializes in the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychopathological disorders of children, adolescents, and their families, child and adolescent psychiatry encompasses the clinical investigation of phenomenology, biologic factors, psychosocial factors,...
, but soon abandoned practice, as already poor wages for physicians in Soviet times plummeted with the fall of the Soviet Union, making it virtually impossible to support a family. His writing, which he started while still a student, had just started producing funds. During this time he became an active member in Russian fandom
Fandom
Fandom is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest...
, visiting conventions and attending seminars all around the Soviet Union.
In 1993 he was appointed deputy editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
in a local Science Fiction magazine, where he worked until 1996. This was one of the hardest periods of Sergei's life, as his family struggled to make ends meet. He often attributes the rather grim tones of his works at that period to those financial and personal hardships. However, by the mid-90's the situation improved drastically, and soon his growing popularity as a writer made frequent trips to now-foreign Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
increasingly difficult. Thus in 1996 Lukyanenko moved to Moscow, where he currently resides.
Family life
Sergei Lukyanenko met his future wife Sonya early in 1990, while still at university. He married her later the same year. She is a fellow psychologistPsychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
, and she graduated from Kazakh state university
Al-Farabi University
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University , also called KazGU or KazNU, is a university in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Named after the Muslim scholar, it is the country's primary and largest university....
. She now holds a Ph.D. degree in child psychology, and she taught psychology in Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian State University for the Humanities
The Russian State University for the Humanities , is a university in Moscow, Russia with over 5500 students. It was created in 1991 as the result of the merger of the Moscow Public University and the Moscow State Institute for History and Archives The Russian State University for the Humanities...
until 2003. Their first son Artemy Lukyanenko was born in February 2004. Their second son Daniil was born 23 November 2007.
They also kept pet mice (the first one was called Stremitelny - Quick, and the next pair was Mowlder [Mulder, as a matter of fact] and Scully) for some time, and their offspring were "awarded" to friends and fans. This became a running joke in Russian fandom. He still collects toy and souvenir mice figures. They also own two Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog breed of terrier type, developed in the 19th century in the county of Yorkshire, England to catch rats in clothing mills. The defining features of the breed are its size, to , and its silky blue and tan coat...
s named Busya and Varya.
Name transliteration
Lukyanenko's name is romanizedRomanization of Russian
Romanization of the Russian alphabet is the process of transliterating the Russian language from the Cyrillic alphabet into the Latin alphabet...
as Sergey Lukianenko on the English version of his official website and as Sergei Lukyanenko by his publisher on works translated into English. Other spellings such as Sergey Lukyanenko are also found.
Early years
Lukyanenko started writing in the mid-80s, and his first publication, a short story Misconduct (not Where The Mean Enemy Lurks, as it was published later, although written earlier), followed soon in 1988. Science fiction was a risky business in Soviet Union, exposed to the whim of its political masters and often facing their wrath, as it was viewed chiefly as a political tool rather than an art, but at that time it was viewed somewhat benevolently, and he was able to jump the bandwagon of the state support, attending a number of literary seminars and publishing a bunch of novellas and short stories.First works of this period shows clear influence of famous Russian children's author and teacher Vladislav Krapivin
Vladislav Krapivin
Vladislav Petrovich Krapivin is a Russian children's books writer.- Biography :Vladislav Petrovich Krapivin was born in the city of Tyumen on 14 October 1938. He received a degree in journalism from the Ural State University. In the course of his studies, he started working at the newspaper...
, a fan of whose Lukyanenko remains up to this day. These works, such as novella Eighth Color of Rainbow featured the same themes of coming of age
Coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
, loyalty and friendship, as well as teenage protagonists and target audience
Target audience
In marketing and advertising, a target audience, is a specific group of people within the target market at which the marketing message is aimed .....
. However, he soon moved from imitation to the polemic position towards Krapivin's somewhat idealistic views of children and their interaction. In the 1994 novel Knights of 40 islands
Knights of Forty Islands
-Plot introduction:Written from 1988-1990 in Alma-Ata, this tale, at the same time romantic and harsh, describes teenage children moved into an artificial alien-created environment and forced to fight each other for supremacy...
Lukyanenko firmly established himself as an author of the Golding
William Golding
Sir William Gerald Golding was a British novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate, best known for his novel Lord of the Flies...
ian tradition.
Rise through ranks
However, the dissolution of Soviet Union and the switch to the market economyMarket economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
delivered a terrible blow to its literary community, as Russian authors now had to struggle with unfamiliar realities of a free publishing system. The hopes of a creative boom never materialized, as publishers were eager to exploit the lucrative pulp literature market (virtually nonexistent before) largely ignoring the existing literature establishment. This led to rather low confidence in domestic authors, and it was extremely hard to find a publisher ready to invest in a local writer.
However, Lukyanenko fared somewhat better than the others, already having made something of a name in Russian science-fiction circles. A nascent computer networks
Wide area network
A wide area network is a telecommunication network that covers a broad area . Business and government entities utilize WANs to relay data among employees, clients, buyers, and suppliers from various geographical locations...
(mainly FidoNet
FidoNet
FidoNet is a worldwide computer network that is used for communication between bulletin board systems. It was most popular in the early to mid 1990s, prior to the introduction of easy and affordable access to the Internet...
), distributing electronic copies of his works, also helped to create demand for printed versions. Another contribution was his writing style, combining intricate but captivating plots with deep intrigue and concentrated action. Thus, when tides start to shift in mid-90s, Lukyanenko already was a well-known figure in Russian SF.
His books at the time included aforementioned Knights of the 40 Islands, Nuclear Dream
Nuclear Dream
Nuclear Dream is an post-nuclear fiction novel by Sergey Lukyanenko, written in 1990 in Alma-Ata. It is also a title of a collection of various works by Sergey Lukyaninko, which was published in 2002...
collection of short stories and novellas, published in 1992, and two space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
trilogies: the unusual Line of Delirium
Line of Delirium
Line of Delirium and Emperors of Illusions are two 1995 books of a space opera trilogy by Russian science fiction writer Sergey Lukyanenko...
, the setting of which was loosely based on that of the Master of Orion
Master of Orion
Master of Orion is a turn-based, 4X science fiction computer strategy game released in 1993 by MicroProse on the MS-DOS and Mac OS operating systems. The purpose of the game is to lead one of ten races to dominate the galaxy through a combination of diplomacy and conquest while developing...
series of videogames
VideoGames
VideoGames may refer to:*VideoGames, a mid-1990s magazine about video games.*Video games in general....
, and the earlier Lord from Planet Earth, based on the rather dark setting brought forth in his early short stories (ironically called A Splendid Faraway Universe). His most striking and dark book, Autumn Visits
Autumn Visits
Autumn Visits is a science fiction novel by Sergey Lukyanenko, published in 1997 in book form. It is a novel written in a very unusual style for the author - shifting perspective of narrative.-Plot introduction:...
, was also written during that time, when the author was struggling with depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
.
The cult classic Labyrinth of Reflections
Labyrinth of Reflections
Labyrinth of Reflections is the first novel in the Labyrinth trilogy of cyberpunk novels written by Russian science fiction writer Sergey Lukyanenko. The trilogy consists of Labyrinth of Reflections, False Mirrors, and Transparent Stained-Glass Windows...
, a book heavily based on various 'Net subcultures and cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
mythos, is another product of this period. It is worth noting that although Labyrinth is often labeled as cyberpunk, it is a rather straight romance story, hardly meeting Dozois criterion, and more to the fact – was written when the author didn't even have an Internet connection: all his 'Net knowledge was limited to FIDONet membership.
A road to success
Exploiting the new fancy for domestic writers, Sergey moved from Kazakhstan to Moscow, marking the end of his early period. He continued to write there, now often venturing into literary experiments – like the religiously themed alternative history dilogy Seekers of Heaven, where he experimented with language stylization. He also continued several series started in his earlier period, and started several new ones (often in his favorite genre of space opera) – like the GenomeGenome (novel)
Genome is a science fiction/detective novel by the popular Russian sci-fi writer Sergei Lukyanenko. The novel began a series also called Genome, consisting of Dances on the Snow and Cripples...
series, now featuring two novels (Genome
Genome (novel)
Genome is a science fiction/detective novel by the popular Russian sci-fi writer Sergei Lukyanenko. The novel began a series also called Genome, consisting of Dances on the Snow and Cripples...
and Dances on the Snow
Dances on the Snow
Dances on the Snow is a science fiction novel written by the Russian sci-fi and fantasy writer Sergey Lukyanenko. Despite the fact that the novel was written later, it is considered to be an indirect prequel to the novel Genome. It takes place in the same fictional universe as Genome, about one...
) and the Cripples novella, or The Stars Are Cold Toys
The Stars Are Cold Toys
The Stars Are Cold Toys — Star Shadow are two 1997 books of a space opera duology by Russian science fiction writer Sergey Lukianenko. It's a first-person narration, told by a pilot Pyotr Khrumov, who attempts to prevent destruction of the planet....
dilogy, sharing the same themes with David Brin
David Brin
Glen David Brin, Ph.D. is an American scientist and award-winning author of science fiction. He has received the Hugo, Locus, Campbell and Nebula Awards.-Biography:...
's Uplift
Uplift
Uplift may refer to:* Tectonic uplift, a geological process* Uplift , upgrading the capacities of a species or a civilization.** Uplift Universe, the setting for a series of novels by David Brin in which Biological Uplift is a central aspect...
series.
Breakthrough
One of the novels completed in the previous period finally brought a breakthrough to his career, taking it out of the "SF ghetto" and into the mainstream conscience. The novel Night WatchNight Watch (Russian novel)
Night Watch is a fantasy novel by Russian writer Sergei Lukyanenko published in 1998...
marked Lukyanenko's return to the fantasy genre, which he repeatedly visited during his career, but never ventured into seriously. Even in this novel he stayed in the less radical realm of urban fantasy
Urban fantasy
Urban fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy defined by place; the fantastic narrative has an urban setting. Many urban fantasies are set in contemporary times and contain supernatural elements. However, the stories can take place in historical, modern, or futuristic periods...
; however, his gloomy but picturesque settings and vivid characters brought him a considerable success. He struck gold when improvements in the Russian economy permitted financing which revitalized a dormant domestic movie industry.
The 2004 film Night Watch (Nochnoy dozor), based on the book, was regarded as "the first Russian blockbuster." The film grossed over $16 million in Russia, a box office record at that time. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, an adaptation of the film was released by Fox Searchlight. The film Day Watch
Day Watch
Day Watch , is a 2006 Russian dark fantasy action film marketed as "the first film of the year", opened in theatres across Russia on January 1, 2006, the U.S. on June 1, 2007 and the UK on October 5, 2007. It is a sequel to the 2004 film Night Watch, featuring the same cast...
(Dnevnoy dozor) was released in Russia on January 1, 2006, and it was released in the US on June 1, 2007.
The immense popularity of the movie transformed Lukyanenko from an author "widely known in narrow circles" of science fiction fans into an instant celebrity. He became the official "flagship" of Russian SF and since then has made a number of a public appearances in various TV shows and other venues. He also released a number of sequels to the Watch series. In addition to the sequels, he published a short story Kid Watch (Melkiy dozor) featuring a teenage agent of the Day Watch who is also the son of a member of the Russian counter-intelligence service which monitors the Others.
Since then, a number of other movie adaptations of his books have been considered. To date, only one of these projects, a 2005 children's film Asiris Nuna
Asiris Nuna
Asiris nuna is a 2006 Russian fiction film directed by Oleg Kompasov and produced by KVID company and Ded Moroz Studio. Based on a Yuli Burkin and Sergei Lukyanenko novel "Today, mama!" , which is a first part of a trilogy called "Island Rus", adapted by Ramil Farzutdinov and Oleg Kompasov....
, based on a Today, Mother! a humor novella coauthored with Yuly Burkin, has been completed; several other movies, however, seem to remain in production. In many of these projects Lukyanenko acts as both scriptwriter and consultant.
In the meantime, several other books have been released by him, such as the deeply philosophical, non-series novel Spectrum
Spectrum (Russian novel)
Spectrum is a novel that takes place in the near future. Contact with aliens allowed humanity to travel between planets through portals. The Keymaster civilization not only provides new technologies to the world but also makes sure that their conditions are fulfilled to the letter: unrestricted...
which deals with the themes of existentialism and omnipotency, among others. He also published a closely connected series Rough Draft
Rough Draft
Written in 2005, Moscow, Rough Draft by Sergey Lukyanenko is a fantasy novel of the "parallel world" genre, the first of a duology.The sequel of this novel is Final Draft.-Plot introduction:...
and Final Draft
Final Draft (novel)
Final Draft is the second novel of the popular Russian writer Sergey Lukyanenko's science fiction duology and is the sequel to Rough Draft.- Plot summary :...
.
Foreign releases
Until recently relatively few of Lukyanenko's works have been released outside of Russia, mostly in Baltic states, Bulgaria and Poland, countries with traditionally strong ties with Russian literature. Even fewer were commercially published in English, partly because Western publishers were apprehensive about the state of modern Russian copyrightCopyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
laws. However, success of the movies finally changed the situation. Night Watch
Night Watch (Russian novel)
Night Watch is a fantasy novel by Russian writer Sergei Lukyanenko published in 1998...
, translated by Andrew Bromfield
Andrew Bromfield
Andrew Bromfield is a British editor and translator of Russian works. He is a founding editor of the Russian literature journal Glas, and has translated into English works by Boris Akunin, Vladimir Voinovich, Irina Denezhkina, Victor Pelevin, and Sergei Lukyanenko, among other writers.-Bibliography...
, was published in English in July 2006, Day Watch followed in January 2007, Twilight Watch
Twilight Watch (Russian novel)
Twilight Watch is a fantasy novel by Russian writer Sergey Lukyanenko. It is the sequel to Night Watch and Day Watch and the third part of tetralogy that concludes with Final Watch.-Structure and style:...
was published in July 2007. 2009 saw the international publication of "Last Watch" by Hyperion Press.
Other foreign publication in major European and Asian languages appeared in the last two years, mostly brought to life by the success of the movies. These publications mostly centered around the Watch series, although other works are also being considered. Reviews of the books are generally positive.
Literary analysis
Lukyanenko himself said that his work has been heavily influenced by that of Robert A. HeinleinRobert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
, the Strugatsky brothers, and Vladislav Krapivin
Vladislav Krapivin
Vladislav Petrovich Krapivin is a Russian children's books writer.- Biography :Vladislav Petrovich Krapivin was born in the city of Tyumen on 14 October 1938. He received a degree in journalism from the Ural State University. In the course of his studies, he started working at the newspaper...
, and that he hopes to be remembered as a literary follower of the Strugatsky brothers. Although his books are often set in harsh worlds, Lukyanenko is a humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
writer, and in this sense believes he follows in the footsteps of the Strugatsky brothers. In May 2000, Boris Strugatsky referred to the spirit of the brothers' books as "that goodness with fists, those tortured attempts by the heroes to remain kind while being strong", and added "this is the underlying theme for Lukyanenko: how to preserve your goodness in the world of evil when you are strong and well-armed."
Position on copyright
Lukyanenko has been known as an avid supporter of copyright, as seen from many statements on his blog.In November 2010 he carried out a study of sorts, asking his readers to donate a Russian ruble
Russian ruble
The ruble or rouble is the currency of the Russian Federation and the two partially recognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Formerly, the ruble was also the currency of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union prior to their breakups. Belarus and Transnistria also use currencies with...
in exchange for a piece of his work that he would release freely. Only about 5% of the blog visitors responded casting some strong doubts on the feasibility of this sales model in Russia.
Novels
- The Boy and the DarknessThe Boy and the DarknessThe Boy and the Darkness is a Russian fantasy novel written by Sergey Lukyanenko. It describes the magical adventures of a modern 13 year old who has found a door into another world. The novel was completed in 1993, but Argus, the publisher with which Lukyanenko signed a contract to print the...
- Autumn VisitsAutumn VisitsAutumn Visits is a science fiction novel by Sergey Lukyanenko, published in 1997 in book form. It is a novel written in a very unusual style for the author - shifting perspective of narrative.-Plot introduction:...
- Not the Time for Dragons
- Dances on the SnowDances on the SnowDances on the Snow is a science fiction novel written by the Russian sci-fi and fantasy writer Sergey Lukyanenko. Despite the fact that the novel was written later, it is considered to be an indirect prequel to the novel Genome. It takes place in the same fictional universe as Genome, about one...
- SpectrumSpectrum (Russian novel)Spectrum is a novel that takes place in the near future. Contact with aliens allowed humanity to travel between planets through portals. The Keymaster civilization not only provides new technologies to the world but also makes sure that their conditions are fulfilled to the letter: unrestricted...
- Competitors
Trilogies
- A Lord from the Planet Earth
- Island Russia
- Line of DeliriumLine of DeliriumLine of Delirium and Emperors of Illusions are two 1995 books of a space opera trilogy by Russian science fiction writer Sergey Lukyanenko...
- Labyrinth of ReflectionsLabyrinth of ReflectionsLabyrinth of Reflections is the first novel in the Labyrinth trilogy of cyberpunk novels written by Russian science fiction writer Sergey Lukyanenko. The trilogy consists of Labyrinth of Reflections, False Mirrors, and Transparent Stained-Glass Windows...
- GenomeGenome (novel)Genome is a science fiction/detective novel by the popular Russian sci-fi writer Sergei Lukyanenko. The novel began a series also called Genome, consisting of Dances on the Snow and Cripples...
Duologies
- Knights of Forty islands
- The Stars Are Cold ToysThe Stars Are Cold ToysThe Stars Are Cold Toys — Star Shadow are two 1997 books of a space opera duology by Russian science fiction writer Sergey Lukianenko. It's a first-person narration, told by a pilot Pyotr Khrumov, who attempts to prevent destruction of the planet....
- Cold Coasts
- Rough DraftRough DraftWritten in 2005, Moscow, Rough Draft by Sergey Lukyanenko is a fantasy novel of the "parallel world" genre, the first of a duology.The sequel of this novel is Final Draft.-Plot introduction:...
Tetralogy
- Night WatchNight Watch (Russian novel)Night Watch is a fantasy novel by Russian writer Sergei Lukyanenko published in 1998...
- Day WatchDay WatchDay Watch , is a 2006 Russian dark fantasy action film marketed as "the first film of the year", opened in theatres across Russia on January 1, 2006, the U.S. on June 1, 2007 and the UK on October 5, 2007. It is a sequel to the 2004 film Night Watch, featuring the same cast...
- Twilight Watch
- Last Watch
Awards
| Year | Awarder | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Aelita" | "Start Award" for his tale Atomny son (Атомный сон – Nuclear Dream) |
| 1995 | "Interpresscon" | short form "Interpresscon Award" for his short story Fugu v mundire – Poached fugu |
| "Sibcon" | "Sword of Rumatha" Award for "Knights of forty islands" novel | |
| 1996 | "Interpresscon" | "Interpresscon Award" for "Servant" tale |
| 1997 | "Stranger" | "Sword of Rumatha" Award for "Imperiors of Illusions" dilogy |
| 1998 | "SF Forum" | "Sigma-F" Award for "Autumn Visits" novel |
| "Zilantkon" | Award "Big Zilant Zilant Zilant is a legendary creature, something between a dragon and a wyvern. Since 1730, it has been the official symbol of Kazan. This winged snake is a part of Tatar and Russian folklore and is mentioned in legends about the foundation of Kazan.... " for "Labyrinth of Reflections" novel |
|
| 1999 | "Aelita" | "Aelita" award for general progress in the Science Fiction genre |
| "Stranger" | "Stranger" award in the nomination "Major form" for "Night Watch" novel | |
| "Star Bridge" | "Silver Kladutsey" award in the nomination "Serials and sequels" for "False Mirrors" novel | |
| "Star Bridge" | "Silver Kladutsey" award in the nomination "Major form" for "Night Watch" novel | |
| 2000 | "Interpresscon" | "Interpresscon" award in the nomination "Major form" for "False Mirrors" novel |
| Special Award | "Best literature murder of Yury Semetsky" for "Genome" novel | |
| "Star Bridge" | "Gold Kladutsey" award in the nomination "Serials and sequels" for "Day Watch" novel | |
| Special Award | from the "Kharkov's institute crankes" award for outstanding merits in the Science Fiction | |
| 2001 | "Russcon" | "Gold Russcon" award for "Day Watch" novel |
| "Interpresscon" | "Russian S.F." award for "Seekers of the Sky" dilogy | |
| "Lituanikon" | 1st place in the nomination "best novel of foreign author" | |
| "Star Bridge" | "Silver Kladutsey" award in the nomination "Serials and sequels" for "Morning Nears" novel | |
| "Stranger" | "Stranger" award in the nomination "Minor form" for "Evening conference with Mr Separate Deputy" short story | |
| 2002 | "Ruscon" | "Alisa" award for "Dances in the Snow" novel |
| "Interpresscon" | "Interpresscon" award in the nomination "Minor form" for "From fate" short story | |
| 2003 | "Ruscon" | "Gold russcon" award for "Spectrum" novel |
| "Ruscon" | "Silver russcon" award for "Frontier time" short story | |
| "Kiyvcon | "Big Urania" award for "Spectrum" novel | |
| "SF Forum" | "Sigma-F" Award for "Spectrum" novel | |
| "Interpresscon" | "Bronze snail" award in the nomination "Major form" for "Spectrum" novel | |
| "Interpresscon" | "Interpresscon" award in the nomination "Major form" for "Spectrum" novel | |
| "EuroCon-2003" | Sergey Lukyanenko admitted as the best Europe author | |
| "Star Bridge" | "Gold Kladutsey" award in the nomination "Major form" for "Spectrum" novel | |
| 2004 | "Star Bridge" | "Gold Kladutsey" award in the nomination "Serials and sequels" for "Twilight Watch" novel |
| 2005 | "Ruscon" | "SF writer of the year" |