My Week with Anton Goretzky - A Russian Fantasy Classic
I still remember watching Night Watch for the first time when I was around 10 or 11 years old. I'm not sure if I really got it back then, but it was definitely one of the first epic, fantastical Russian films I'd ever seen.
As I got older, I started to appreciate the movie's complex storyline and the way it explored the idea of good vs. evil. The film's protagonist, Anton Goretzky, is a Night Watch member who must navigate the world of magic and vampires. I was totally obsessed with the main soundtrack by Umaturman - I even jotted down the lyrics in my songbook back in the day.
The original Night Watch book is actually quite different from the movie. It's not even a horror genre, which was a bit of a surprise for me. But what really threw me off was how hard it was to shake off the images from the movie for most of the first half. I wanted to come up with my own interpretations, you know?
Anton Goretzky is the Light Magician, also known as I. He's a Night Watch member from Moscow, an IT specialist, and later an operative. The story starts when he tries to save a boy from a gang of vampires who doesn't know he has magical abilities yet. He then meets the future greatest witch and falls in love... and saves the world, of course.
So, what's Night Watch all about? It's basically a service that maintains the balance in the world. The Others - mages, werewolves, vampires, Dark and Light - create Night Watch to keep the Light forces in check, and Day Watch to keep the Dark forces in check. It's all about balance and harmony.
But is there really such a thing as pure Good? And pure Evil? Is God and the Devil on the same side, or not? The author explores this very idea, and I loved those philosophical inserts - apart from the overall concept of Others and Twilight, which is genius.
I read a bunch of reviews, and some people said the philosophical stuff got in the way. But honestly, I loved it. I also really liked the concept of the Twilight, which is a special state that the Others can enter to see and communicate with each other...
This isn't just your average fantasy novel - it's got depth and meaning behind the good vs. evil, free will, and love. And the Others themselves... I see them as kind of like saviors, people who think they're better than everyone else. We're all different, but some people really struggle with that. Maybe it's because they're creative, or maybe it's because they've been through some stuff.
I really enjoyed it. It's a great story that's easy to get into, so I was hooked after the first chapter. I think it would make for a great audiobook too. There were times when I got a bit bored, and I thought about giving up. But the philosophical bits always saved the day and kept me listening.
The ending felt a bit unclear to me, but I'm already onto the next book in the series, Day Watch, which has a new narrator - the Dark One. I'd definitely recommend this book - it's a great urban fantasy with some real depth.
One thing that really stood out to me was the way the author wove together the different storylines and characters. It's not always easy to keep track of who's who, especially when there are so many supernatural creatures involved. But the author does a great job of making it all feel cohesive and believable.
I also appreciated the way the book explores the idea of identity and how it relates to the supernatural world. Anton Goretzky is a great example of this - he's a normal guy who gets caught up in a world of magic and vampires, and he has to navigate all of that while still being true to himself.
Overall, I'd say that Night Watch is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy and urban fantasy. It's a great story with a lot of depth and complexity, and it's definitely worth the time and effort to get through it.
So, if you're looking for a new book to get into, I'd definitely recommend checking out Night Watch. It's a great choice for anyone who loves fantasy and is looking for a story with a lot of depth and complexity.