Sergey Lukyanenko: Difference between revisions

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[[Sergey Lukyanenko]] (born in 1968) is one of the most famous modern Russian [[Science Fiction]] writers (if not ''the'' most famous one). A prolific writer, he has been publishing up to three novels yearly since his debut in 1990, although he has slowed down recently (new releases became annual since 2002). Unlike many other authors, Lukyanenko eschews writing long novel series in favor of duologies and trilogies, in which he develops a particular storyline or setting and then moves on to the next one. Although most of his works fall into "hard" [[Space Opera]] ([[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness|as hard as it gets, in any case]]), he has also worked in such diverse genres as [[Urban Fantasy]] (the ''[[Night Watch]]'' tetralogy, probably the most famous of his books), [[Cyberspace]] (''Labyrinth of Reflections'' trilogy, arguably the second most famous), and [[Steampunk]] [[Alternate History]] (''[[Seekers of the Sky]]'').

 

** Lukyanenko started writing a sequel, titled ''Wars of the Forty Islands'', in 1993 but [[Orphaned Series|has never finished it]] (though the first chapters are still available on his website). It was to be set [[Time Skip|200 years after]] the original's ending.

 

 

* '''''[[A Lord From Planet Earth]]''''' (1991-92). The first full-blown [[Space Opera]] trilogy by Lukyanenko, consisting of three novels that were written in the same year(s):

** The final novel, ''Sea of Glass'', pits the hero and the whole of humanity against [[Blue and Orange Morality]] aliens for a [[Grand Finale]].

 

** ''Today, Mom!'' sees [[Sibling Team|two brothers]] from modern Moscow accidentally stumbling into a [[Time Machine]] and travelling to the future ([[Stable Time Loop|where the machine came from in the first place]]). From there on, they wander all across history, having wacky adventures before finally returning home. This novel was adapted into a [[Film of the Book]] titled ''Asiris Nuna''.

** ''Island Rus'' seems to be set in the world of [[Russian Mythology and Tales]], but it is eventually revealed to be an in-universe [[Reconstruction]] of it for recreational purposes (the eponymous island is like [[Disneyland]], only Russian) in the future world first seen in the previous novel. The plot follows the premise of ''[[The Three Musketeers (novel)|The Three Musketeers]]'', but substitutes the eponymous trio with famous Bogatyrs, etc., and {{spoiler|[[Tomato in the Mirror|the main character is black]]}}.

** In ''Emperors of Illusions'', Dutch realizes that their [[Crapsack World]] is just an illusion created by the delirious mind of [[God-Emperor]] of Mankind and attempts to assassinate him. The attempt fails and he finds himself on the run from the whole of [[The Empire]] and a couple alien races.

 

** ''The Stars Are Cold Toys''. Pyotr Khrumov, an astronaut from Earth, is recruited by a conspiracy of Weak races that has discovered a new race, [[Human Aliens|genetically identical to humans]]. This race, dubbed "Geometers", have made enormous scientific advancements (and appear to be a thorough [[Deconstruction]] of the Noon Universe), and Pyotr is chosen to be sent to their planet as a [[Manchurian Agent]].

** ''Star Shadow''. Pyotr discovers the ancient enemies of the Geometers, the Star Shadow, a conglomeration of worlds where anyone can travel to wherever their deepest desires lie. He must then make a decision whether Earth should join the Shadow or not.

 

 

 

** ''False Mirrors'' (1999) reveals that the Divers disappeared from the Deep because they were no longer needed. However, when a friend of Leonid is killed in [[Real Life]] after getting hit by a virtual reality weapon, he reassembles his old crew to find out just what exactly is going on in the Deep.

** ''Transparent Stained-Glass Windows'' (2002) is a short story set some time after ''False Mirrors''. It follows a policewoman investigating a virtual reality prison that turns out to be a secret research project to create new Divers.

 

** ''Night Watch'' (1998). The first novel mainly follows Anton Gorodetsky, a Light Other serving the Moscow Night Watch (called so because they patrol the night, when the Dark Others are active), who gets entangled in three interconnected supernatural cases. As it turns out, all of them are part of a [[The Chessmaster|grander scheme to rewrite destiny]]... concocted by Anton's own superiors. The first novel is the most philosophical of the series, exploring the nature of good, evil, [[Idealism vs. Cynicism|idealism, cynicism]], and free will,--something that has been declining as the series progressed.

** ''Day Watch'' (2000), co-written with [[Vladimir Vasilyev]], who went on to write a [[Spin-Off]] novel ''The Face of Black Palmira''. In contrast to the first novel, which explored the Light Others philosophy, the second one centers on the Dark Others. The events of ''Night Watch'' left them at a disadvantage and the Day Watch sets out to correct that. In fact, even nature itself seems to be on their side this time...

** ''Morning Nears''. Ilmar, Marcus, and their precious few [[Nakama]] try to flee from the State first to the Ottoman Empire, then to Judea. As Marcus' powers grow, however, Ilmar is overcome with doubt: just who exactly is he following, the second coming of the Redeemer or [[The Antichrist|the Tempter]]? The second novel features [[Antoine De Saint Exupery]], Gérard Depardieu, and [[Satan]].

 

 

** ''Rough Draft'' (2005). In the first novel, an aspiring writer Kirill gets turned into a functional of Customs Official type. For a time, he is at peace with his new function as a guardian of portals to other worlds, but the more he learns about the secret society of the functionals and the universe organization, the more he feels inclined to rebel against it.

** ''Final Draft'' (2007). Disillusioned Kirill continues his search for the truth behind the functionals and their creators who have turned his native Earth into a "rough draft" for their own civilization.

 

 

** ''Simpleton'' (2009). After a coup by Co-Duke Sanator Griz, Trix is looking for a way to return his rightful title.

** ''Gadabout'' (2010). Trix travels East in search of new adventures.

[[Category:Speculative Fiction Creator Index]]

[[Category:Authors]]