Night Watch [Paperback]

Sean Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998

The fabulously acclaimed Resurrection Man uncovered a world where the horrors of modern war and technology had given rise to magic. Now the magic returns--and nothing will ever be the same...

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In Sean Stewart's Resurrection Man (a New York Times notable book), magic began creeping back into the world shortly after World War II, although no one was quite sure why. In The Night Watch, it's the year 2074, and magic holds as much sway as technology. On the Southside of Edmonton the magic has been tamed by a hard ruler named Winter, whose high-tech soldiers often serve as mercenaries for neighboring communities. But in Vancouver, magic is encroaching on what used to be the Chinatown district and the monsters it brings with it are decimating the remaining humans. When Winter sends 100 of his best soldiers to police the streets of Chinatown, the two cities are forced into an uneasy relationship of cooperation. When the Southside's heir apparent, Emily Thompson, flees her grandfather Winter's forceful rule, it puts the two sides at odds, and only the death of a young girl may save the day. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In this worthy sequel to Resurrection Man (LJ 6/15/95), magic, gradually seeping into the world since World War II, has replaced warfare in 2074 A.D. When the Chinatown section of Vancouver is besieged by powerful, malevolent magic forces, the residents seek assistance from the Southsiders of Edmonton. Canadian writer Stewart's tight, vivid prose blurs the boundaries between fantasy and science fiction. Recommended for larger sf and fantasy collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 338 pages
• Publisher: Ace (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441005543
• ISBN-13: 978-0441005543
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,503,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sean Stewart is the author of the innovative I Love Bees and Beast search operas, two short stories, and seven previous novels: Galveston, Mockingbird, The Night Watch, Clouds End, Resurrection Man, Nobody's Son, and Passion Play. His novels have received the Aurora, Arthur Ellis, Sunburst, Canadian Library, and World Fantasy awards. He presently writes lots of things that have Non Disclosure Agreements attached so he cannot talk about them. Stewart is tall, energetic, uses big words easily, coaches his daughter's soccer team, is a great reader, has taught writing, and lives in Davis, CA, with his wife and two daughters.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Night Watch, June 5, 2007

By 

K. Freeman (Apple Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Watch (Paperback)

A post-magical apocalypse political thriller and story about succession and inheritance in several senses.

Stewart writes beautifully and creates original, well-detailed worlds. There were two aspects of this book that didn't work so well for me: first, the political thriller plot became incoherent, and second, the Chinatown culture seemed stereotypical (martial arts, empty cups of tea, whatever). On the other hand, I loved his evocation of the North Coast forest, and the way the elegance of his descriptions is grounded by down-to-earth characters and moments of humor.

I'd recommend this, but not as strongly as GALVESTON or CLOUDS END.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting and intensely real, January 3, 2001

By 

Beth A. Long (Dunedin, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Night Watch (Paperback)

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One thing I've noticed is that Stewart's fiction tends to polarize readers. People either get annoyed with the story and walk away rolling their eyes, or they get very excited about what Stewart accomplishes with his prose, his characters, his distinctive humor, his understanding of life.

I certainly fall into the latter category. Night Watch appealed to me immediately with its enchanting jumble of science fiction and fantasy, and quickly pulled me in deeper with its lyricism and the solid reality of its characters.

To benefit most from The Night Watch, you must be attentive. And patient. If you mainly gravitate toward shoot-em-up action or heart-pounding romance, The Night Watch might not be for you. It has action, true, but actions always have consequences, and Stewart forces us to see that. It deals with romantic relationships, as well, but not the kind of formula romance that goes down like emotional cotton candy. Stewart deals with love: hard, real, something that is a choice, something that takes a lot of hard work to preserve. This is not a book that merely reflects the influence of other books. It's a book that reflects life.

Who will like The Night Watch? I have no idea how to predict. It took me entirely by surprise to read some of the reviews on this page and see that the very things I loved about this novel were things that annoyed or bored other readers. Maybe the lyrical writing will seem dull to you; maybe the story's firm grounding in physical location will seem tiresome; maybe the characters' hard choices, their struggles to figure out life, won't be exciting enough.

But if you want a book that looks hard at the real issues of life, unflinching and wryly humorous, The Night Watch could be just what you're looking for.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Strong Effort from Stewart, November 17, 2000

By 

Chris Ward (Costa Rica) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Watch (Paperback)

Set in the world of Resurrection Man, this novel continues to exhibit Stewart's powerful narrative and characterization gifts. I was riveted-- other reviewers below seem not to have been enchanted as I was, but I think they've cheated themselves of a deep and meaningful experience. Stewart, like Tim Powers, has a deft touch with fantasy, and creates a persuasive and comprehensible fantasy world that he peoples with "real" protagonists. I've loaned this book to others, and do not hesitate to recommend it to mature readers with a taste for subtle fantasy.