Posts from Sergei Lukyanenko’s works.

Cold Heavens and Dawn Approaches. Fantasy is taking over the world! :)

I devoured Lukyanenko's books when I was fourteen. It's very teenage literature, and of course, I enjoyed it. But after reading three or four books, some thoughts started creeping into my head... and there were more and more of them as I read the rest of Lukyanenko's books. And when I read everything he had written at that time, only thoughts remained; I didn't find any "artistic impression." These are the thoughts:
Lukyanenko has written only one or two plots in his entire life. Since then, every time he wants to make some money, he sits down, slightly changes his eternal plot, slightly repaints the hero, slightly rearranges the scenery – and voilà, the book is ready! If the creative process is familiar to Sergei Vasilyevich, it is only indirectly. Here's what led me to this conclusion:
1). The main characters are similar. The main character never changes their point of view, never finds another place in life, and never joins new ideals. They continuously follow "their path" from the beginning to the very end of the book. They bear their cross, so to speak. Anton, Martin, Lenya, Serge – what is the difference between them? The first one worked as a watchman all his life. He went with the flow, mostly acted predictably (the focus on demoralization in the first book is the only unpredictable act he committed throughout the series).
Martin followed the path of a mercenary, steadily and constantly. Think about it – the entire plot of the book "Spectrum" is just another "mission" for a specialist. And even if this mission becomes his personal affair, draws him in, and ultimately changes his life, he himself hasn't changed at all throughout the book. He was the same as he was at the beginning.
Lenya was initially a hacker in the virtual world, and later retrained into a kind of "policeman" of Diptown, monitoring particularly serious crimes in the depths (third-generation weapons, full immersion, experiments with prisoners). But have his methods of achieving his goals changed? Has his personality developed in any way? No. He also followed the flow of life, walked along his intended path.
Serge. He was as ambitious a "king" as he remained. Nobility was not acquired by him during the development of the plot – the book begins with a story about the heroic rescue of an alien princess.
2). The main character is always a "unique specialist" in some field. Alex from "Genome" is a pilot-specialist with superhuman abilities (and shortcomings, which he gets rid of by the end of the book); there is no thought that someone else could do his job. We know about the existence of other pilot-specialists, but only one appears in the book – the main, completely unique hero in terms of abilities :) And after all the trials, he also acquires the unique ability to love :) All pilots – the ultimate pilot :D
Martin is a one-of-a-kind wanderer, a top-class mercenary.
Lenya is a diver, a superhuman, one in several million. And although there are other divers in the book, Lenya's abilities ultimately turn him into a God. The very real God of Diptown. There is nothing more unique.
Serge – only this half-baked mafia man from the twentieth century can stop the alien threat, and after chatting with a dying dog after a long fencing match, save the world. No other candidates for the post of "universal savior" are considered in the book. He is unique.
Even Anton Gorodetsky, who seems to be an outsider, turns out to be a unique specialist. The author emphasizes Anton's low rank as a magician. But he still didn't hide the enormous detective talent of his hero. In fact, Anton could only become the main hero because he was the best at investigations (this is not stated directly in the book – but think about it, it's true). Only Anton was able to identify Kostya with his "Fuarane," solve the plans of Zavulon in the first book, and he also led the "Mirror" case in the second.
Peter (Stars – Cold Toys) is also quite unique. A brilliant pilot, in whose body lives the mystical creature Kualkua, capable of any transformation of his body, becomes a living guardian of the seed of the Star Gates. Only he contains the personality of the missionary of the Geometers, and only he can save the Earth (Russia?) from a miserable fate on the universal political arena.
3). Almost none of Lukyanenko's books is without a child. Most often, this is a boy who is patronized by the main character (Danka, Yegor, Kirill), but there are also some different variations.
4). Most of Lukyanenko's books build their plot on saving the world (or a space that is of paramount importance to all characters except the main villains). Serge saves the world from evil dog aesthetes, Anton from the insidious plans of evil dark forces, Peter from the cruel Strong Races and ruthless Geometers, Alex from greedy intelligence services, Lenya saves Diptown from destruction and transformation into hell.
5). In all the books (except for "Autumn Visits" – but they belong to the genre of "horror book," not "science fiction"), the story ends with a happy ending. Sometimes the happy ending is slightly overshadowed by the fate of secondary characters, but most often it shines with an unclouded, radiant light. Hollywood kitsch – forever.
6). There are always some strange people who are personally interested in ruining the life of the main character. Of course, no literary work will exist without conflict – this is the law of any creativity, whether it is a book, a film, or a drama; but artificially creating conflict by creating main villains or even an entire league of main villains is an act that testifies to the primitiveness of the writer's talent.
7). The main character is always a man, and the age of all the main characters in Lukyanenko's books is approximately the same.
8). The personalities of the main characters do not have fundamental differences from each other. If Lukyanenko gathered Alex, Anton, Peter, Martin, and Lenya together, they would definitely find common ground. It seems that the personality of the main character is always the same, from book to book – only slightly repainted. Serge is a little more tough and decisive than the others, Lenya is a little more dreamy and lazy, Martin is more reasonable and prone to philosophy, Peter is more inventive. But under all these "masks," one single face peeps out. A character (with a capital letter), once created by Lukyanenko. And replicated in several dozen books.
Conclusion: Lukyanenko's books have a cyclical nature and a repetitive plot, almost like ancient Greek myths. The author loves to make money and pollute readers' brains. But he deserves credit – he wrote one good plot, created one very good, well-developed character, and worked hard to spread it across several printed editions.

P.S.: Still, I can't help but admit that one of Lukyanenko's books really impressed me and was worth the time spent. This is "Star Shadow" – a great book, incomparable with all the author's other works. But let's discuss it another time, or you'll get tired of reading me :)

Or maybe these people became the main heroes because they are unique, and not unique because they are the main heroes? Is this a possible scenario?
And how should the "personality" of the heroes "develop"? Maybe they are the way they are and shouldn't change.
Regarding the similarity of the heroes, one could argue, and you could equate anyone that way. By the way, besides the main hero, there are other characters.

So what if the plot revolves around saving the world/space/city/piece of land? It's as if everything consists of two chapters: introduction and rescue.
All sorts of leagues of main villains exist everywhere. Does that mean they are all primitive?

I've read "The Draft," "Night Watch," "Cold Skies," and "Autumn Visits," and I like these books. I wouldn't say they are all the same, not in the slightest. Although I don't feel like reading "Genome," "Stars," or "Labyrinth."

I haven't read "The Draft" or "Cold Skies." You haven't read the Genom trilogy, the Labyrinth trilogy, or the "Stars - Cold Toys" duology. We have somewhat different views on Lukyanenko's work ;) And it's a pity that neither of us intends to get acquainted with what we haven't read. This means that we are unlikely to understand each other and find common ground :(
But I still advise you to read "Stars - Cold Toys." The second book there is "Star Shadow." It's a very interesting philosophical work. The author has implemented the Hindu concept of the cycle of karmic connections, and he did it in a science fiction universe of the future. Moreover, the implementation of karma in "Star Shadow" occurs during life, because everyone who enters the Gates gains immortality. Overload of the brain with information is solved by fresh, new impressions that cause a gradual forgetting of the old. The universe of Star Shadow is a place where everyone can find a world to their liking. And leave it at any moment for another world. This is a place where you can die millions of times - but not lose your personality and body. Here, it is not our mind, which operates with cumbersome concepts, that chooses, but our soul and heart. It is they that open the gates to a new world, perfectly corresponding to our secret desires... and secret fears.

Among Lukyanenko's works, I would particularly highlight the "Watch" tetralogy and the "Stars - Cold Toys" duology. The first is an interesting and very original semi-fantasy, and the second contains a good caricature of the "World of Noon."

XEL, you're right, they are worthwhile. I would also add "Island of Rus" as a satire-comedy.
Tralosk, doesn't the plot with "Gates" from Star Shadow remind you of anything? It repeats the general idea as well! (and "Competitors" smells, or rather, strongly suggests, another author... Loginov, IMHO)

Actually, IMHO, it's worth reading for general knowledge. You can find some smart ideas there...

Tralosk, doesn't the plot involving the "Gates" from Star Shadow remind you of anything? It even repeats the overall concept!

Well, there are some parallels, certainly. Again, it's his ever-recycled hero. And the idea of "karma realized during one's lifetime" actually belongs not to him, but to the ancient Indian religion of Jainism... but I think these are all minor details. The depth of the questions raised by the author and the exploration of such an unconventional theme compensate for all the borrowings :) After all, no science fiction writer had explored this so thoroughly before him. And the word "Gates," including "Star Gates," is, of course, quite overused. But we're not talking about a transportation system here! It's practically an entire Universe... and one that is free of flaws. The author himself seems to have thought that it lacked the final touch of perfection – the freedom of choice – and he added a guild of merchants to the plot... but in my opinion, the idea is already quite perfect. All of a person's secret dreams, all of their obvious fears, all the impressions they have gained as a result of their actions – they all leave their mark on the subconscious. And the subconscious always knows which world is best suited for you. Star Gates simply help to make the natural process happen.

I read "Knights of the Forty Islands," which some recommend as children's fantasy. Frankly, children might be able to read it calmly and sleep afterward, but I couldn't. The story is short, even too short, and there are few details, but it had a significant impact on me. It's not that I didn't understand everything that was being said before, but as you know, when everything you've been thinking about is suddenly pointed out to you by someone else, it has a powerful effect. Everyone should read it. And yes, it's written in a very chaotic way – I'm still reeling from the story (I read it yesterday).

new book by S. Lukyanenko "Neposeda"

It's like they were replaced after the "Night Watch." He and Perumov are the only Russian science fiction authors I've read almost completely.

Both didn't just decline; they shifted towards popular fiction. This isn't necessarily bad; it's profitable, and people enjoy it. But still, if you take the early "Monday" by the Strugatsky brothers, you'll want to put the "Night Watch" series... far away.

There's a lot to criticize, but I don't feel like it. I love the early works of Lukyanenko; he wrote sincerely and with originality.

Isn't this a continuation of that "unfinished" game? :)

I read "Knights of the Forty Islands," which some recommend as children's fantasy.

"Knights..." is an imitation of my favorite writer, Vladislav Krapivin. And, I must say, it's not a very good imitation :( Frankly, let Lukyanenko write his own things; he didn't quite succeed in writing for children. As a standalone book, it might not be bad if you don't know the origins.
Overall, the book is a 3+, although it certainly makes you think.

Why is there a topic about Lukyanenko, but not one about Fyodor Mikhailovich yet? :(
I'll create one now.

In my opinion, Lukyanenko's best works are:

1. "Line of Dreams" - a trilogy based on Master of Orion. It's clear that he spent a lot of time on this game, wrote from the heart, had a grudge against the Darloks, fought with the Psilons, cooperated with the Bulrathi and the Alkari; the book is essentially based on a playthrough of a specific game.
2. "Knights of the Forty Islands." The author spent his youth in Central Asia and captured the Soviet period, when every street was like an island, and strangers were simply beaten up. He definitely based the characters on real people. I really liked it.
3. "Cold Shores" - a worthy and solid science fiction work, one of the best in the Russian language.
4. The novella "Atomic Dream" might be one of his best. It's captivating.

Perhaps these are his worst works.
1. "No Time for Dragons." Damn, I expected much more from the collaboration with Perumov, but it turned out to be a secondary plot with secondary characters.
2. "Rus' Island," co-authored with Burkin. It's part of the "Let me kick..." series. There's definitely more Burkin in this book than Lukyanenko.
3. The Night Watch series. Not my cup of tea.

Overall, I respect Lukyanenko for his stance against taking Russian children abroad.

Yeah, he didn't really fit in there, so now he's expressing his contempt for the decaying West.