Lukyanenko draws on a harsher city subculture  and is closer to Golding's pessimistic outlook in Lord of the Flies, though his skepticism expresses on higher levels of social and inter-cultural interaction, than just descent to savagery.
Lukyanenko's work reflects a bleaker urban atmosphere, which aligns with Golding's pessimistic outlook in Lord of the Flies. Nevertheless, Lukyanenko's skepticism delves deeper into the complexities of societal and intercultural interactions, rather than solely focusing on the collapse of civilization.