Sergei Lukyanenko
Sergei Lukyanenko, born in Kazakhstan, is one of the foremost Russian science-fiction writers and has received tremendously high acclaim abroad. Originally studying as a psychiatrist, Lukyanenko turned to science-fiction writing with the monthly publication of Where the Mean Enemy Lurks in 1988. However, the works that shot him to the dizzying heights that he now occupies were Knights of the Forty Islands, which won best heroic-romantic fantasy and science-fiction award in 1995, and The Nuclear Dream. In 1999 he became the youngest ever writer to win the Aelita award for “major contribution to Russian science-fiction”. However, it is his renowned series of “Дозоры”, Night Watch through to Final Watch, for which he is most recognised, particularly abroad.
Night Watch (Ночной Дозор), the first of this highly popular series, was published in 1998 and chronicles the supernatural conflict between two policing organisations, the Night Watch and Day Watch, looking to uphold the truce between good and evil. It was deservedly well received by critics and fans alike, and was awarded the “Strannik” Prize for best novel in 1999. Lukyanenko continued this success with Day Watch (Дневной Дозор), awarded joint first place in the “Gold RosCon” award for the best book of 2000. Twilight Watch and Final Watch completed this highly distinguished tetralogy.
The first three books of this series have been compressed into two imaginative blockbuster adaptations, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, also from Kazakhstan, and starring Konstantin Khabensky. They were released internationally and fans are now eagerly awaiting production on the concluding film.
Inspired and creative, Lukyanenko has delved past the surface image of Moscow to create a visionary, underground world, a franchise that is one of the most recognised of contemporary Russian writing.
Main published works Рыцари
Сорока Островов (Knights of the Forty Islands) 1990 Атомный
Сон (The Nuclear Dream) 1992 Линия
Грез (Line of Reveries’ Trilogy) 1995-1998 Осенние
Визиты (Autumn Visits) 1996 Лабиринт
Отражений (Labyrinth of Reflections’ Trilogy) 1996-2000 Ночной
Дозор (Night Watch’ Tetralogy) 1998-2005 Prizes and Awards 1993: Aelita Award for best debut of a
young author – for “The Nuclear Dream” 1995: Rumata’s Sword Award for the best
heroic-romantic fantasy and science-fiction award – for “Knights of the Forty
Islands” 1999: Aelita Award for “major contribution
to Russian science-fiction” 1999: Strannik Awards for the novel “Night
Watch” 2000: Gold RosCon Award (shared with
Vladimir Vasilyev) for the best book of 2000 – for “Day Watch”
