Now Reading in May & June...
A storm of swords
George R.R. Martin 的冰與火之歌(A Song of Ice and Fire)第三部,終於, 終於, 終於啃完啦啦啦~~~
9xx pages, 花了我3個月才完食(嗚嗚..我的青春啊~~)
看完的感想是--Martin一定是跟田中芳樹學壞了, 砍人不手軟的...
配角--砍, 主角--砍, 路人甲乙丙丁--砍砍砍...
不信? 看看Red Wedding那段砍了多少人就知道...-_-"
整體來說還是看的讓人頗過癮, 壞人終於有壞報, 不過好人到是沒啥好報就是了.
Jon-本來要從私生子繼承Winterfell的, 但是卻被拱成Lord Commander of Night Watch,
接著就要面對傳說中的古老敵人-The Others, 真是多災多難...
Daenerys-一逕東行的龍后, 終於往西走向返家的旅程, 本來以為他就要這樣一路打回去的,
沒想到這位大姐竟然又停下來了! O_o 天啊, 大姐, 照你這樣搞, 等你真的打到
Westeros, 那些"叛國賊"早就老死光光啦~~
Tyrion-悲哀, 本來以為小惡魔當御前首相(The Hands)的下場不會像Eddard Stark那麼悽慘的,
沒想到還是落了個叛國甚至是謀殺血親的罪名, 鋃鐺入獄. 雖然最後被老哥Jaime給救了出來,
可是..可是..天啊~你沒事亂跑去跟你老爸敘啥舊啊, 看吧, 衝動就沒好下場吧.
你是想說當Kinslayer, 正好和Jaime老哥Kingslayer湊一對嗎?!
其餘主角依舊悲慘中..要不然就是被砍了 :P
呃..第四部 A Feast of crows要等到August 2004才要出Hardcover, Mass Market
Paperback和Paperback我看要等到明年年中吧...真是夠慢的=_=
Fool's Errand
Robin Hobb的Tawny man series, Farseer Trilogy的續集, 看了前6章,
感覺作者還在做"前情提要"..=_="
這部好像要開始對於The Wit和Skill之間的關係與衝突有更多著墨了.
Fitz和Nighteye都變老了...(Fitz是還好啦 3x雖還算中年,
Nighteyes已經2x歲...應該算是老狼了吧?)
The Fool好像一點兒都沒變...
目前還不知道這對"活寶"又要去幹啥大事 等看完再來說...XD
Snow White, Blood Red
Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling在1993年選編的Fairy tales for adults.
裡面有許多童話故事原型(archetype)或是經後人改編的fantasy story, 看起來好像跟桐生操的
"令人戰慄的格林童話"差不多, 不過沒有桐生操那本那麼多的主觀意識在裡面.
兩位編輯的前言把Fairy tale的歷史, 從維多利亞時代, 經過19世紀, 到20世紀的演進做了很詳盡的介紹,
值得一看.
目前進度還在第一個故事 "Like a Red, Red Rose"....
星期一, 6月 07, 2004
星期五, 5月 07, 2004
星期一, 5月 03, 2004
有關PKD的一本新書:I Am Alive and You Are Dead: A Journey Into the Mind of Philip K. Dick By Emmanuel Carrère
書評如下...從Economists偷來的 XD
The world according to Dick
Apr 15th 2004
From The Economist print edition
Hollywood's fascination with a long-dead writer of pulp science fiction
ACCORDING to the official website of Philip K. Dick, the films made from his books have generated nearly $700m in worldwide box-office receipts. Not bad for an author who died more than 20 years ago in relative obscurity. Half-a-dozen films have been made from his books, including “Blade Runner”, “Total Recall”, “Minority Report” and, most recently, “Paycheck”. Another of his novels seems likely to have inspired “The Truman Show”, and, say some, his work may have influenced the “Matrix” series of films. And that looks unlikely to be the end of it. Those responsible for his estate say that the film rights to six more of his novels and four of his short stories have either been bought or optioned.
Dick yearned for literary acclaim, but in his lifetime he was known mainly as a prolific writer of pulp science fiction. He wrote more than 50 novels and over 100 short stories—work that was mostly fuelled by amphetamines and a cocktail of prescription drugs. He started psychoanalysis at the age of 14 and became so familiar with it that he used it to toy with his friends, his readers and even his shrinks, as a cat would with a mouse.
Reading his work has been described as falling through a series of trap doors. Before the LSD revolution in California, his adopted home, Dick was writing books that explored how the brain is a filtering mechanism that enables reality to be seen from many different perspectives. He gained a cult reputation as an LSD author, but took the drug only once and hated it.
Emmanuel Carrère's account of Dick's life focuses on the mind of a man who spent his time playing with other people's minds. Dick was obsessed with the unreal nature of reality, and the question of what is real. The sense of looking at something familiar and seeing it as if for the first time, or radically differently, was a central theme in his disturbed life.
The book traces many of his influences, from the death of his twin sister shortly after she was born to a succession of failed relationships. Dick lashed himself to women like a drowning man to a rock in a storm. Successively, though, his paranoia, craziness and pill-popping sent them running. Mr Carrère shows how Dick's tumultuous life story leaked on to the pages of his science-fiction novels.
But why is a strange, drugged-out and paranoid bygone of such interest to modern-day filmmakers? Partly because today's revolution in the biosciences, in particular in neuroscience, makes the questions he was asking particularly relevant. What is real if we can take drugs that alter our moods, or if we can tinker with our own memories? These issues were the flesh and bones of Dick's books, all those years ago.
He anticipated the terrible attractions of a technology that erases memory. People would simply have their painful memories removed. In the most recent film of his work, “Paycheck”, Ben Affleck rather unconvincingly plays a reverse engineer who routinely has his memory erased after he does a job of work, as part of commercial non-disclosure agreements. The character comes to believe that erasing the dull bits of his life is a good idea. All he is left with are the highlights.
“The stuff you erase doesn't matter,” says Mr Affleck's character. Of course, as the film progresses, we see how wrong he is: we are the sum of all our experiences—anything we erase makes us less than who we are. Although Dick's delight in twisting reality may be illuminating for us today, he paid a heavy price for his unique vision. Accepting no single personal version of reality, with all its incumbent flaws, he had little grip on any world whatsoever.
書評如下...從Economists偷來的 XD
The world according to Dick
Apr 15th 2004
From The Economist print edition
Hollywood's fascination with a long-dead writer of pulp science fiction
ACCORDING to the official website of Philip K. Dick, the films made from his books have generated nearly $700m in worldwide box-office receipts. Not bad for an author who died more than 20 years ago in relative obscurity. Half-a-dozen films have been made from his books, including “Blade Runner”, “Total Recall”, “Minority Report” and, most recently, “Paycheck”. Another of his novels seems likely to have inspired “The Truman Show”, and, say some, his work may have influenced the “Matrix” series of films. And that looks unlikely to be the end of it. Those responsible for his estate say that the film rights to six more of his novels and four of his short stories have either been bought or optioned.
Dick yearned for literary acclaim, but in his lifetime he was known mainly as a prolific writer of pulp science fiction. He wrote more than 50 novels and over 100 short stories—work that was mostly fuelled by amphetamines and a cocktail of prescription drugs. He started psychoanalysis at the age of 14 and became so familiar with it that he used it to toy with his friends, his readers and even his shrinks, as a cat would with a mouse.
Reading his work has been described as falling through a series of trap doors. Before the LSD revolution in California, his adopted home, Dick was writing books that explored how the brain is a filtering mechanism that enables reality to be seen from many different perspectives. He gained a cult reputation as an LSD author, but took the drug only once and hated it.
Emmanuel Carrère's account of Dick's life focuses on the mind of a man who spent his time playing with other people's minds. Dick was obsessed with the unreal nature of reality, and the question of what is real. The sense of looking at something familiar and seeing it as if for the first time, or radically differently, was a central theme in his disturbed life.
The book traces many of his influences, from the death of his twin sister shortly after she was born to a succession of failed relationships. Dick lashed himself to women like a drowning man to a rock in a storm. Successively, though, his paranoia, craziness and pill-popping sent them running. Mr Carrère shows how Dick's tumultuous life story leaked on to the pages of his science-fiction novels.
But why is a strange, drugged-out and paranoid bygone of such interest to modern-day filmmakers? Partly because today's revolution in the biosciences, in particular in neuroscience, makes the questions he was asking particularly relevant. What is real if we can take drugs that alter our moods, or if we can tinker with our own memories? These issues were the flesh and bones of Dick's books, all those years ago.
He anticipated the terrible attractions of a technology that erases memory. People would simply have their painful memories removed. In the most recent film of his work, “Paycheck”, Ben Affleck rather unconvincingly plays a reverse engineer who routinely has his memory erased after he does a job of work, as part of commercial non-disclosure agreements. The character comes to believe that erasing the dull bits of his life is a good idea. All he is left with are the highlights.
“The stuff you erase doesn't matter,” says Mr Affleck's character. Of course, as the film progresses, we see how wrong he is: we are the sum of all our experiences—anything we erase makes us less than who we are. Although Dick's delight in twisting reality may be illuminating for us today, he paid a heavy price for his unique vision. Accepting no single personal version of reality, with all its incumbent flaws, he had little grip on any world whatsoever.
星期日, 5月 02, 2004
星期四, 4月 29, 2004
The End Of The World
Sylvia Dee / Arthur Kent
Why does the sun go on shining?
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Don't they know it's the end of the world,
`cause you don't love me anymore?
Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love.
I wake up in the morning and I wonder why ev'rything's the same as it was.
I can't understand, no I can't understand, how life goes on the way it does!
Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when you said good-bye.
Sylvia Dee / Arthur Kent
Why does the sun go on shining?
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Don't they know it's the end of the world,
`cause you don't love me anymore?
Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love.
I wake up in the morning and I wonder why ev'rything's the same as it was.
I can't understand, no I can't understand, how life goes on the way it does!
Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when you said good-bye.
星期二, 4月 13, 2004
銀の竜の背に乗って
作詞: 中島みゆき
作曲: 中島みゆき
あの蒼ざめた海の彼方で 今まさに誰かが傷んでいる
まだ飛べない雛たちみたいに 僕はこの非力を嘆いている
急げ悲しみ 翼に変われ
急げ傷跡 羅針盤になれ
まだ飛べない雛たちみたいに 僕はこの非力を嘆いている
夢が迎えに来てくれるまで 震えて待ってるだけだった昨日
明日 僕は龍の足元へ 崖を登り 呼ぶよ「さあ、行こうぜ」
銀の龍の背に乗って 届けに行こう 命の砂漠へ
銀の龍の背に乗って 運んで行こう 雨雲の渦を
失うものさえ失ってなお 人はまだ誰かの指にすがる
柔らかな皮膚しかない理由は 人が人の傷みを聴くためだった
急げ悲しみ 翼に変われ
急げ傷跡 羅針盤になれ
まだ飛べない雛たちみたいに 僕はこの非力を嘆いている
わたボコリみたいな翼でも 木の芽みたいな頼りない爪でも
明日 僕は龍の足元へ 崖を登り 呼ぶよ「さあ、行こうぜ」
銀の龍の背に乗って 届けに行こう 命の砂漠へ
銀の龍の背に乗って 運んで行こう 雨雲の渦を
銀の龍の背に乗って 運んで行こう 雨雲の渦を
銀の龍の背に乗って
銀の龍の背に乗って
作詞: 中島みゆき
作曲: 中島みゆき
あの蒼ざめた海の彼方で 今まさに誰かが傷んでいる
まだ飛べない雛たちみたいに 僕はこの非力を嘆いている
急げ悲しみ 翼に変われ
急げ傷跡 羅針盤になれ
まだ飛べない雛たちみたいに 僕はこの非力を嘆いている
夢が迎えに来てくれるまで 震えて待ってるだけだった昨日
明日 僕は龍の足元へ 崖を登り 呼ぶよ「さあ、行こうぜ」
銀の龍の背に乗って 届けに行こう 命の砂漠へ
銀の龍の背に乗って 運んで行こう 雨雲の渦を
失うものさえ失ってなお 人はまだ誰かの指にすがる
柔らかな皮膚しかない理由は 人が人の傷みを聴くためだった
急げ悲しみ 翼に変われ
急げ傷跡 羅針盤になれ
まだ飛べない雛たちみたいに 僕はこの非力を嘆いている
わたボコリみたいな翼でも 木の芽みたいな頼りない爪でも
明日 僕は龍の足元へ 崖を登り 呼ぶよ「さあ、行こうぜ」
銀の龍の背に乗って 届けに行こう 命の砂漠へ
銀の龍の背に乗って 運んで行こう 雨雲の渦を
銀の龍の背に乗って 運んで行こう 雨雲の渦を
銀の龍の背に乗って
銀の龍の背に乗って
星期六, 4月 10, 2004
月迷風影
月影をどこまでも 虚海はひろがる
銀色のやさしさに 今は眠ろう
記憶の中で 探しつづけた
人のぬくもり 孤独の雨に
この体朽ちても きっと走りとおす
あの世界の果ての 虹にとどくまでは
時の砂かぞえてた 何も知らずに
偽りの夢の中 言葉うしなう
揺れる眼差し 炎のなかで
誓う心は いついつまでも
この祈りとどけよ 深い轍こえて
この世界の果ての 誓い守りとおす
この体朽ちても きっと走りとおす
あの世界の果ての 虹にとどくまでは
この祈りとどけよ 深い轍こえて
この世界の果ての 誓い守りとおす
偲芳歌
Artist:桑島法子
わたしの可愛い人形
素敵な着物きせましょう
キラキラ金のかんざし
幸せをあげる
わたしの可愛い人形
綺麗な帶もあげましょう
茜の珊瑚かざった
美しい帶よ
惠み多き豊かな国 花が溢れ
街角に
ほら聞こえる
喜び歌う声が
わたしの可愛い人形
優しく抱いてあげましょう
紅色の唇
褪せないように
惠み多き豊かな国
風はそよぎ
街角に
聞こえる歌
永久に誓う幸せを
永久に誓う幸せを
月影をどこまでも 虚海はひろがる
銀色のやさしさに 今は眠ろう
記憶の中で 探しつづけた
人のぬくもり 孤独の雨に
この体朽ちても きっと走りとおす
あの世界の果ての 虹にとどくまでは
時の砂かぞえてた 何も知らずに
偽りの夢の中 言葉うしなう
揺れる眼差し 炎のなかで
誓う心は いついつまでも
この祈りとどけよ 深い轍こえて
この世界の果ての 誓い守りとおす
この体朽ちても きっと走りとおす
あの世界の果ての 虹にとどくまでは
この祈りとどけよ 深い轍こえて
この世界の果ての 誓い守りとおす
偲芳歌
Artist:桑島法子
わたしの可愛い人形
素敵な着物きせましょう
キラキラ金のかんざし
幸せをあげる
わたしの可愛い人形
綺麗な帶もあげましょう
茜の珊瑚かざった
美しい帶よ
惠み多き豊かな国 花が溢れ
街角に
ほら聞こえる
喜び歌う声が
わたしの可愛い人形
優しく抱いてあげましょう
紅色の唇
褪せないように
惠み多き豊かな国
風はそよぎ
街角に
聞こえる歌
永久に誓う幸せを
永久に誓う幸せを
星期三, 3月 31, 2004
Could I Have This Dance
Artist(Band):Anne Murray
I'll always remember the song they were playing,
The first time we danced and I knew.
As we swayed to the music and held to each other,
I fell in love with you.
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Would you be my partner, then every night?
When we're together it feels so right,
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
I'll always remember that magic moment,
When I held you close to me.
As we moved together, I knew, forever,
You're all I'll ever need.
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Would you be my partner every night?
When we're together it feels so right,
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Would you be my partner every night?
When we're together it feels so right,
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Artist(Band):Anne Murray
I'll always remember the song they were playing,
The first time we danced and I knew.
As we swayed to the music and held to each other,
I fell in love with you.
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Would you be my partner, then every night?
When we're together it feels so right,
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
I'll always remember that magic moment,
When I held you close to me.
As we moved together, I knew, forever,
You're all I'll ever need.
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Would you be my partner every night?
When we're together it feels so right,
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Would you be my partner every night?
When we're together it feels so right,
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
星期日, 3月 07, 2004
台北市買外文Fantasy Fiction的地方...
1. 禮筑 http://www.silexbooks.com.tw/root/Frameset.htm
在金華街和和平東路各有一間。書賣的不算貴，USD6.99的書他賣NT250 。不過裡面多是童書和奇幻科幻小說。
訂書的話，快則數週，大盤商沒書的話，從外國訂的話就可能要兩個月了。
之前跟她們訂A Song of Ice and Fire的第二輯A Clash of Kings就花了兩個月....><
2. PageOne
位於台北101 4F，新加坡書商，英文書多的跟鬼一樣，竟然有整套的Stephen King
和Star War，第一次進去還迷了路....@@
價格還好，大該是美金售價X37=台幣售價。
不過跟他訂書也是夠慢，二月初跟他訂Garth Nix的Lirael和Abhorsen (Sabriel的第二第三輯) 結果也是到現在還沒消沒息的...
3. 紀伊國屋 Kinokuniya
微風B1。裡面的日文書是我在台灣看過最多種類的，從漫畫到小說文庫本都有。
不過定價有點高，幾乎是日幣除以二就等於台幣售價。一本900 yen的小說定價NT4XX....@@
好像也可以跟他們訂書，不過我沒嘗試過，所以不知道實際情況怎樣。
4. yesasia.com http://global.yesasia.com/b5/Chinese/Books.aspx
香港網路書店，裡面從DVD到書都有賣。售價也很nice，USD7.00的書他賣NT232，
是比上面都便宜的售價，不過如果再加上運費和處理費就不一定了。我都是挑他
免運費的書或DVD來買，運送時間也頗快，一般運送從下訂單到真正拿到書通常是
一個禮拜以內。不過有一次我買了一張DVD，他隔兩天就送到我手上，著實嚇了我一跳。
1. 禮筑 http://www.silexbooks.com.tw/root/Frameset.htm
在金華街和和平東路各有一間。書賣的不算貴，USD6.99的書他賣NT250 。不過裡面多是童書和奇幻科幻小說。
訂書的話，快則數週，大盤商沒書的話，從外國訂的話就可能要兩個月了。
之前跟她們訂A Song of Ice and Fire的第二輯A Clash of Kings就花了兩個月....><
2. PageOne
位於台北101 4F，新加坡書商，英文書多的跟鬼一樣，竟然有整套的Stephen King
和Star War，第一次進去還迷了路....@@
價格還好，大該是美金售價X37=台幣售價。
不過跟他訂書也是夠慢，二月初跟他訂Garth Nix的Lirael和Abhorsen (Sabriel的第二第三輯) 結果也是到現在還沒消沒息的...
3. 紀伊國屋 Kinokuniya
微風B1。裡面的日文書是我在台灣看過最多種類的，從漫畫到小說文庫本都有。
不過定價有點高，幾乎是日幣除以二就等於台幣售價。一本900 yen的小說定價NT4XX....@@
好像也可以跟他們訂書，不過我沒嘗試過，所以不知道實際情況怎樣。
4. yesasia.com http://global.yesasia.com/b5/Chinese/Books.aspx
香港網路書店，裡面從DVD到書都有賣。售價也很nice，USD7.00的書他賣NT232，
是比上面都便宜的售價，不過如果再加上運費和處理費就不一定了。我都是挑他
免運費的書或DVD來買，運送時間也頗快，一般運送從下訂單到真正拿到書通常是
一個禮拜以內。不過有一次我買了一張DVD，他隔兩天就送到我手上，著實嚇了我一跳。
星期日, 2月 08, 2004
星期四, 1月 29, 2004
I read my eyes out!
---讀 喬治馬汀 (George R. R. Martin) 的 冰與火之歌 (Song of Ice and Fire)
緣起--
記得是兩年前吧, 小子我在奇幻文學板上看到灰鷹爵士介紹他翻譯的冰與火之歌
(Song of Ice and Fire). 想說好不容易國內奇幻文學界有如此認真的譯者, 在譯完之後還跑上來打廣告, 所以跑到書店買了第一輯 "冰與火之歌首部曲卷一：魔幻冰原" (註一). 本來是抱著純粹支持國內奇幻文學界的念頭, 認為如果不合自己的胃口的話就算了. 可是當我從買到書到看完之間整整三個小時, 手上的書除了要走樓梯過馬路, 完全沒有闔上過. 看完之後就開始怨恨出版商和譯者, 為什麼不把整部一次出完! 等到一個月之後看完第二輯之後, 想到可能還得等上數個月才能看到卷三, 完全無法忍受如此等待的我, 隔天就跑到禮筑買下A game of thrones的小平裝版本, 然後為了沒有買到續集A clash of kings和A storm of swords, 還特地跟禮筑下了大平裝版的訂單. 這是繼請PoPo特地去誠品買Harry Potter2.3.4集原文書之後的另一次瘋狂買書行動.
[註一]:中文版的title和封面實在爛到不行...
讓小子我手不釋卷的原因是因為這本奇幻小說有嚴謹的設定, 精采的魔法大戰, 以及各式各樣的奇幻生物與超人般斬怪物如廚房切菜的主角嗎? 不, 在這部小說裡, 魔法早已成為鄉野傳聞以及老奶奶會說的枕邊故事. 唯一稱的上是奇幻生物的The Others(中文譯成異鬼)也只有在序章中現個影之後就再也沒聲息了. 那這個奇幻小說又怎麼會好看? 沒有魔法 (所以當然也不會有亂丟火球的魔法師), 沒有龍, 沒有精靈和矮人, 沒有無敵的主角. 有的只有堅守正義與忠誠, 卻有私生子的御前首相; 愛子心切, 卻無力回天的公爵夫人; 征戰沙場, 卻治國無能的昏君; 與當上御林鐵衛 (Kingsguard)的親弟弟亂倫的皇后; 身為公爵長子, 卻投身守衛長城的私生子; 其貌不揚, 卻精明機巧的侏儒; 一心期待白馬王子, 卻發現未婚夫是個殘忍的變態的貴族小姐; 年方十三, 卻被親哥哥賣給東方蠻族酋長冀希換取復國兵力的前朝公主...英雄已死, 諸侯爭戰, 陰謀與利益取代了忠貞與信仰, 種種人事物譜出了喬治馬汀的這部傑作---Song of Ice and Fire.
背景--魔法已死, 英雄不在, 凜冬將至的Westeros大陸
故事的背景是在夏冬二季極長的Westeros大陸, 一季可長達數年至數十年, 而隨著長夏而來的即是更長的凜冬. 統治大陸的王國合稱七大王國(The Seven Kindoms). 而境內七大家族只有三個佔有重要地位: 北境Stark家族, 以冰原狼為家徽, 堅忍果敢而重視榮譽; 當朝的Baratheon, 家族標誌為頭戴寶冠的雄鹿. 排行老二的Robert是當前國王; 王國西方則是Lannister家族的勢力範圍, 家徽是紅底金線的怒吼雄獅, 孿生長子Jaime是御林鐵衛之一，妹妹Cersei則是King Robert的皇后，還有一子Tyrion是侏儒.
十多年前，肇因於統治者Targaryen家族倒行逆施, 王子Rhaegar為愛搶奪Stark家族的Lyanna, Lyanna抗拒不成反而在遭強暴後死於Rhaegar手中。Lyanna未婚夫婿Robert Baratheon和她的哥哥Eddard Stark, 從小一同長大, 情同手足的朋友起兵抗暴. 最後Robert在三河交會的三叉戟之戰擊斃Rhaegar, Targaryen王朝敗亡, 僅存年幼的王子Viserys和公主Daenerys越過海峽逃往東方大陸。Robert登上王位，娶王國最大家族Lannister之女Cersei為妻, Eddard則成為北境領主, 娶了House Tully之女Catelyn為妻.
故事開始時，御前首相Jon Arryn離奇死亡, King Robert不遠千里赴Stark家族根據地Winterfell拜訪久未謀面的摯友Eddard, 請他繼任首相, 並且為太子Joffrey選擇Eddard長女Sansa為未婚妻. 在諸多政治考量下, Eddard帶著大女兒Sansa和二女兒Arya赴首都King's Landing. 前任首相Arryn的妻子是Catelyn的妹妹Lysa Tully, 她秘函Catelyn, 指稱首相之死並非意外,而是Lannister家族的陰謀. 而在Eddard前往首都King's Landing前夕, 兒子Brandon又"意外"從城樓上面摔下來, 而證據都指向素有小惡魔(The Imp)之稱的Tyrion Lannister...如同Cersei對Eddard Stark公爵所說的一句話:" In a game of the thrones, you win, or you die." Stark公爵還能夠在暗潮洶湧的宮廷鬥爭之中撥亂反正嗎? 夫人Catelyn能夠抽絲剝繭, 找出意圖殺子的幕後藏鏡人嗎? 前朝公主Daeneyrs遠嫁東方蠻族, 又要如何走上西行的復國之道?
很複雜是嗎? 上面的只是第一冊A game of thrones的前100 pages, 整部A game of thrones卻有七百多頁! 接下來的故事更是錯綜複雜, 但是讀來卻是條理分明, 清清楚楚, 完全不會有拖泥帶水, 頭不對尾的情形.
敘事--特殊的第三人稱分鏡式觀點
大部分的小說, 敘述的方式不外乎是採用全知型的第三人稱, 或是限定觀點的第一人稱, 來帶動整個故事的進行. 前者將視點置於整個故事之上, 讀者猶如全知者般綜觀整個故事的進行. 稍有改變者, 將故事分為兩線, 三線, 甚或多線並行. 而對於冰與火之歌這種類似歷史小說的史詩型奇幻(Epic Fantasy)來說, 一個處理不好, 整個故事看起來就像是歷史教科書般, 某年某月某時某地由某人做了某事, 讀者難有代入感. 第一人稱則是將視點置於書中某一角色之中, 讀者所見所聞均是透過此角色的雙眼雙耳, 作者及讀者彷若化身為書中此角, 參與故事的進行. 而對於史詩型奇幻來說, 採第一人稱寫法恐有以管窺天之虞, 難以一窺"歷史大事"之全貌.
喬治馬汀於此書中採用的書寫方式是在每個章節中選用一主要視點人物, 該章節的故事跟著該視點人物進行, 雖然仍然採用第三人稱方式描述, 但是這種類似"切片"的方式, 使讀者並無法處於一全知者的角度, 致使讀者為了能夠得知事件之全貌, 而不得不繼續翻下一頁. 不採用第一人稱的原因, 可能是每個章節都採用不同的視點人物, 如果再用第一人稱方式描述, 讀者在視點切換上可能會產生混淆的感覺.
第一部A game of thrones中, 作者在八個角色：北境公爵Eddard Stark, 夫人Catelyn, 公爵私生子Jon Snow, 次子Bran, 長女Sansa, 次女Arya, 以及小惡魔Tyrion Lannister和前朝公主Daenerys間來回跳動, 而情節演進在時間軸上緊密結合, 並不會使讀者陷入羅生門般混淆不清, 更無重複敘述之缺點. 甚至將每一章節抽離出來, 都是一個個絕妙的短篇小說, 再短短十數頁之篇幅中, 有完整的起承轉合, 並於每章結尾都有合理但是讓人意外的情節發展, 讓人不禁想知道後續發展為何而翻到下一頁. 可是下一頁又是另一章節, 另一位主角的故事. 如此反覆循環, 等到我察覺的時候, 已經剩不到一百頁故事就要結束了, 而我仍然無法預測故事的結局以及權力陰謀的真實面相.
另外, 作者說故事和運用文字的功力也讓人嘆為觀止. 前者作者利用如同電影運鏡般的方式帶領故事的進程, 甚至讓我覺得, 如果要改編成電視影集, 幾乎不用改寫太多, 直接將整本小說搬出來就是完整的劇本和分鏡表. 在運用文字的技巧方面, 作者擅用比喻的方式描寫某一場景, 例如, 寫Lannister家族與Stark家族於King's Road遭遇, Lannister家族軍隊"有如一朵朵緩緩綻放的鋼鐵玫瑰, 尖刺閃閃發光"地列陣於拂曉晨光之中; 寫Robb Stark率領眾騎兵於深谷中伏擊Jaime Lannister, "猶如自樹林間激迸而出的千萬隻螢火蟲". 讓人在閱讀時自然而然能夠在腦海內描繪出當時的情境. 小子我的英文程度並不是很好, 可是我仍然能夠從此書中看出作者運用文字的巧思.
人物--多面相的角色刻劃
寫人物, 喬治馬汀也是一絕. 大抵此類大部頭作品由於角色眾多, 作者若是無暇兼顧情節發展與角色刻劃, 角色很容易流於"扁平化". 可是在冰與火之歌中, 每個視點人物都有多個面相, 如堅守正義的Eddard Stark公爵, 也曾經在外頭"打野食", 而有了Jon Snow這個私生子, 並且公爵本人亦為此感到遺憾, 他不是為自己的聲望有了汙點而感到遺憾, 而是看到Jon Snow因為身分而無法與其他嫡出的孩子享有同樣待遇而遺憾; 更因為有私生子這件事, 對於他的夫人Catelyn感到深深的愧疚, 總覺得在這事上面自己還是虧欠了Catelyn什麼似的. 另外, 賢慧與摯愛孩子們的Catelyn夫人, 在面對丈夫私生子的時候, 絲毫不掩飾她對Jon Snow的厭惡, 處處挑剔與為難. 以上種種, 都使得角色更有深度.
其中不得不提, 刻劃的最成功的角色非Tyrion Lannister莫屬. 素有小惡魔之稱的Tyrion, 身為Lannister家族的三子, 應是擁有極大權勢與財富, 過著舒服豪華的快樂生活. 但是因為與生具來的先天殘疾--侏儒症, 在成長過程中飽受冷嘲熱諷, 連哥哥, 姐姐, 與父親都瞧不起他, 甚至還帶頭玩弄他(註二). 不快樂的成長過程培養出他自我解嘲的酸澀口吻, 嘴上功夫更是一絕, 簡直到了"惡毒"的地步, 連親姐姐都不放過, 舉例如下:
Cersei yanked her hand back. "How should I know?"
"The grieving widow in the Eyrie seems to think it was me. Where did she come by that notion, I worder?" Tyrion asked.
"I'm sure I don't know. That fool Eddard accused me of the same thing. He hinted that Lord Arryn suspected or...well, believed..."
"That you were fucking our sweet Jaime?"
She slapped him.
"Did you think I was as blind as Father?" Tyrion ribbed his cheek. "Who you lie with is no matter to me...although it doesn't seem quite just that you should open your legs for one brother and not the other."
She slapped him.
"Be gentle, Cersei, I'm only jesting with you. If truth be told, I'd sooner have a nice whore. I never understood what Jaime saw in you, apart from his own reflection."
She slapped him.
如此反英雄(anti-heroic)的角色, 每次讀到他的章節, 都在等待Tyrion這次又要用他的尖牙利嘴來"毒殺"某個人了.
[註二]: 沒有提到媽媽, 是因為在生下Tyrion之後, 他母親就去逝了. 所以Tywin Lannister公爵也討厭這個小兒子, 有部分原因是因為他認為Tyrion帶來了公爵夫人的死亡.
結語--90年代最重要的奇幻作家之一
喬治馬汀與勞勃喬丹(Robert Jordan, 時空之輪Wheel of Time作者)以及泰瑞古德坎(Terry Goodkind, 真理之劍Sword of Truth作者)被譽為90年代三大奇幻小說作者, 創作出這部以"薔薇戰爭(War of the Roses)"[註三]為藍本的史詩奇幻小說. 沒有精靈與矮人, 沒有巨龍與巫師, 沒有魔法, 沒有英雄, 只有人與人之間的愛恨, 權力與慾望的爭戰, 謀略伴隨著的死亡, 交織出這部令人屏息閱讀的冰與火之歌.
以上描述受限於小子我的英文以及中文程度, 恐有無法完全領略馬汀大師獨運匠心之處, 更無法表達其中精妙於萬一, 若有疏漏錯誤之處, 望有能者能夠補述之.
[註三]: 薔薇戰爭(War of the Roses), 記得以前國中歷史好像有提到, 發生在英法百年戰爭之後的英國內戰, 導致英國封建勢力消退, 以及間接讓新興中產階級(布爾喬亞?)有機會崛起. 不過那時好像不叫"薔薇戰爭", 叫"紅白玫瑰戰爭". Rose為啥翻成薔薇, 不要問我, 我也感到疑惑.
---讀 喬治馬汀 (George R. R. Martin) 的 冰與火之歌 (Song of Ice and Fire)
緣起--
記得是兩年前吧, 小子我在奇幻文學板上看到灰鷹爵士介紹他翻譯的冰與火之歌
(Song of Ice and Fire). 想說好不容易國內奇幻文學界有如此認真的譯者, 在譯完之後還跑上來打廣告, 所以跑到書店買了第一輯 "冰與火之歌首部曲卷一：魔幻冰原" (註一). 本來是抱著純粹支持國內奇幻文學界的念頭, 認為如果不合自己的胃口的話就算了. 可是當我從買到書到看完之間整整三個小時, 手上的書除了要走樓梯過馬路, 完全沒有闔上過. 看完之後就開始怨恨出版商和譯者, 為什麼不把整部一次出完! 等到一個月之後看完第二輯之後, 想到可能還得等上數個月才能看到卷三, 完全無法忍受如此等待的我, 隔天就跑到禮筑買下A game of thrones的小平裝版本, 然後為了沒有買到續集A clash of kings和A storm of swords, 還特地跟禮筑下了大平裝版的訂單. 這是繼請PoPo特地去誠品買Harry Potter2.3.4集原文書之後的另一次瘋狂買書行動.
[註一]:中文版的title和封面實在爛到不行...
讓小子我手不釋卷的原因是因為這本奇幻小說有嚴謹的設定, 精采的魔法大戰, 以及各式各樣的奇幻生物與超人般斬怪物如廚房切菜的主角嗎? 不, 在這部小說裡, 魔法早已成為鄉野傳聞以及老奶奶會說的枕邊故事. 唯一稱的上是奇幻生物的The Others(中文譯成異鬼)也只有在序章中現個影之後就再也沒聲息了. 那這個奇幻小說又怎麼會好看? 沒有魔法 (所以當然也不會有亂丟火球的魔法師), 沒有龍, 沒有精靈和矮人, 沒有無敵的主角. 有的只有堅守正義與忠誠, 卻有私生子的御前首相; 愛子心切, 卻無力回天的公爵夫人; 征戰沙場, 卻治國無能的昏君; 與當上御林鐵衛 (Kingsguard)的親弟弟亂倫的皇后; 身為公爵長子, 卻投身守衛長城的私生子; 其貌不揚, 卻精明機巧的侏儒; 一心期待白馬王子, 卻發現未婚夫是個殘忍的變態的貴族小姐; 年方十三, 卻被親哥哥賣給東方蠻族酋長冀希換取復國兵力的前朝公主...英雄已死, 諸侯爭戰, 陰謀與利益取代了忠貞與信仰, 種種人事物譜出了喬治馬汀的這部傑作---Song of Ice and Fire.
背景--魔法已死, 英雄不在, 凜冬將至的Westeros大陸
故事的背景是在夏冬二季極長的Westeros大陸, 一季可長達數年至數十年, 而隨著長夏而來的即是更長的凜冬. 統治大陸的王國合稱七大王國(The Seven Kindoms). 而境內七大家族只有三個佔有重要地位: 北境Stark家族, 以冰原狼為家徽, 堅忍果敢而重視榮譽; 當朝的Baratheon, 家族標誌為頭戴寶冠的雄鹿. 排行老二的Robert是當前國王; 王國西方則是Lannister家族的勢力範圍, 家徽是紅底金線的怒吼雄獅, 孿生長子Jaime是御林鐵衛之一，妹妹Cersei則是King Robert的皇后，還有一子Tyrion是侏儒.
十多年前，肇因於統治者Targaryen家族倒行逆施, 王子Rhaegar為愛搶奪Stark家族的Lyanna, Lyanna抗拒不成反而在遭強暴後死於Rhaegar手中。Lyanna未婚夫婿Robert Baratheon和她的哥哥Eddard Stark, 從小一同長大, 情同手足的朋友起兵抗暴. 最後Robert在三河交會的三叉戟之戰擊斃Rhaegar, Targaryen王朝敗亡, 僅存年幼的王子Viserys和公主Daenerys越過海峽逃往東方大陸。Robert登上王位，娶王國最大家族Lannister之女Cersei為妻, Eddard則成為北境領主, 娶了House Tully之女Catelyn為妻.
故事開始時，御前首相Jon Arryn離奇死亡, King Robert不遠千里赴Stark家族根據地Winterfell拜訪久未謀面的摯友Eddard, 請他繼任首相, 並且為太子Joffrey選擇Eddard長女Sansa為未婚妻. 在諸多政治考量下, Eddard帶著大女兒Sansa和二女兒Arya赴首都King's Landing. 前任首相Arryn的妻子是Catelyn的妹妹Lysa Tully, 她秘函Catelyn, 指稱首相之死並非意外,而是Lannister家族的陰謀. 而在Eddard前往首都King's Landing前夕, 兒子Brandon又"意外"從城樓上面摔下來, 而證據都指向素有小惡魔(The Imp)之稱的Tyrion Lannister...如同Cersei對Eddard Stark公爵所說的一句話:" In a game of the thrones, you win, or you die." Stark公爵還能夠在暗潮洶湧的宮廷鬥爭之中撥亂反正嗎? 夫人Catelyn能夠抽絲剝繭, 找出意圖殺子的幕後藏鏡人嗎? 前朝公主Daeneyrs遠嫁東方蠻族, 又要如何走上西行的復國之道?
很複雜是嗎? 上面的只是第一冊A game of thrones的前100 pages, 整部A game of thrones卻有七百多頁! 接下來的故事更是錯綜複雜, 但是讀來卻是條理分明, 清清楚楚, 完全不會有拖泥帶水, 頭不對尾的情形.
敘事--特殊的第三人稱分鏡式觀點
大部分的小說, 敘述的方式不外乎是採用全知型的第三人稱, 或是限定觀點的第一人稱, 來帶動整個故事的進行. 前者將視點置於整個故事之上, 讀者猶如全知者般綜觀整個故事的進行. 稍有改變者, 將故事分為兩線, 三線, 甚或多線並行. 而對於冰與火之歌這種類似歷史小說的史詩型奇幻(Epic Fantasy)來說, 一個處理不好, 整個故事看起來就像是歷史教科書般, 某年某月某時某地由某人做了某事, 讀者難有代入感. 第一人稱則是將視點置於書中某一角色之中, 讀者所見所聞均是透過此角色的雙眼雙耳, 作者及讀者彷若化身為書中此角, 參與故事的進行. 而對於史詩型奇幻來說, 採第一人稱寫法恐有以管窺天之虞, 難以一窺"歷史大事"之全貌.
喬治馬汀於此書中採用的書寫方式是在每個章節中選用一主要視點人物, 該章節的故事跟著該視點人物進行, 雖然仍然採用第三人稱方式描述, 但是這種類似"切片"的方式, 使讀者並無法處於一全知者的角度, 致使讀者為了能夠得知事件之全貌, 而不得不繼續翻下一頁. 不採用第一人稱的原因, 可能是每個章節都採用不同的視點人物, 如果再用第一人稱方式描述, 讀者在視點切換上可能會產生混淆的感覺.
第一部A game of thrones中, 作者在八個角色：北境公爵Eddard Stark, 夫人Catelyn, 公爵私生子Jon Snow, 次子Bran, 長女Sansa, 次女Arya, 以及小惡魔Tyrion Lannister和前朝公主Daenerys間來回跳動, 而情節演進在時間軸上緊密結合, 並不會使讀者陷入羅生門般混淆不清, 更無重複敘述之缺點. 甚至將每一章節抽離出來, 都是一個個絕妙的短篇小說, 再短短十數頁之篇幅中, 有完整的起承轉合, 並於每章結尾都有合理但是讓人意外的情節發展, 讓人不禁想知道後續發展為何而翻到下一頁. 可是下一頁又是另一章節, 另一位主角的故事. 如此反覆循環, 等到我察覺的時候, 已經剩不到一百頁故事就要結束了, 而我仍然無法預測故事的結局以及權力陰謀的真實面相.
另外, 作者說故事和運用文字的功力也讓人嘆為觀止. 前者作者利用如同電影運鏡般的方式帶領故事的進程, 甚至讓我覺得, 如果要改編成電視影集, 幾乎不用改寫太多, 直接將整本小說搬出來就是完整的劇本和分鏡表. 在運用文字的技巧方面, 作者擅用比喻的方式描寫某一場景, 例如, 寫Lannister家族與Stark家族於King's Road遭遇, Lannister家族軍隊"有如一朵朵緩緩綻放的鋼鐵玫瑰, 尖刺閃閃發光"地列陣於拂曉晨光之中; 寫Robb Stark率領眾騎兵於深谷中伏擊Jaime Lannister, "猶如自樹林間激迸而出的千萬隻螢火蟲". 讓人在閱讀時自然而然能夠在腦海內描繪出當時的情境. 小子我的英文程度並不是很好, 可是我仍然能夠從此書中看出作者運用文字的巧思.
人物--多面相的角色刻劃
寫人物, 喬治馬汀也是一絕. 大抵此類大部頭作品由於角色眾多, 作者若是無暇兼顧情節發展與角色刻劃, 角色很容易流於"扁平化". 可是在冰與火之歌中, 每個視點人物都有多個面相, 如堅守正義的Eddard Stark公爵, 也曾經在外頭"打野食", 而有了Jon Snow這個私生子, 並且公爵本人亦為此感到遺憾, 他不是為自己的聲望有了汙點而感到遺憾, 而是看到Jon Snow因為身分而無法與其他嫡出的孩子享有同樣待遇而遺憾; 更因為有私生子這件事, 對於他的夫人Catelyn感到深深的愧疚, 總覺得在這事上面自己還是虧欠了Catelyn什麼似的. 另外, 賢慧與摯愛孩子們的Catelyn夫人, 在面對丈夫私生子的時候, 絲毫不掩飾她對Jon Snow的厭惡, 處處挑剔與為難. 以上種種, 都使得角色更有深度.
其中不得不提, 刻劃的最成功的角色非Tyrion Lannister莫屬. 素有小惡魔之稱的Tyrion, 身為Lannister家族的三子, 應是擁有極大權勢與財富, 過著舒服豪華的快樂生活. 但是因為與生具來的先天殘疾--侏儒症, 在成長過程中飽受冷嘲熱諷, 連哥哥, 姐姐, 與父親都瞧不起他, 甚至還帶頭玩弄他(註二). 不快樂的成長過程培養出他自我解嘲的酸澀口吻, 嘴上功夫更是一絕, 簡直到了"惡毒"的地步, 連親姐姐都不放過, 舉例如下:
Cersei yanked her hand back. "How should I know?"
"The grieving widow in the Eyrie seems to think it was me. Where did she come by that notion, I worder?" Tyrion asked.
"I'm sure I don't know. That fool Eddard accused me of the same thing. He hinted that Lord Arryn suspected or...well, believed..."
"That you were fucking our sweet Jaime?"
She slapped him.
"Did you think I was as blind as Father?" Tyrion ribbed his cheek. "Who you lie with is no matter to me...although it doesn't seem quite just that you should open your legs for one brother and not the other."
She slapped him.
"Be gentle, Cersei, I'm only jesting with you. If truth be told, I'd sooner have a nice whore. I never understood what Jaime saw in you, apart from his own reflection."
She slapped him.
如此反英雄(anti-heroic)的角色, 每次讀到他的章節, 都在等待Tyrion這次又要用他的尖牙利嘴來"毒殺"某個人了.
[註二]: 沒有提到媽媽, 是因為在生下Tyrion之後, 他母親就去逝了. 所以Tywin Lannister公爵也討厭這個小兒子, 有部分原因是因為他認為Tyrion帶來了公爵夫人的死亡.
結語--90年代最重要的奇幻作家之一
喬治馬汀與勞勃喬丹(Robert Jordan, 時空之輪Wheel of Time作者)以及泰瑞古德坎(Terry Goodkind, 真理之劍Sword of Truth作者)被譽為90年代三大奇幻小說作者, 創作出這部以"薔薇戰爭(War of the Roses)"[註三]為藍本的史詩奇幻小說. 沒有精靈與矮人, 沒有巨龍與巫師, 沒有魔法, 沒有英雄, 只有人與人之間的愛恨, 權力與慾望的爭戰, 謀略伴隨著的死亡, 交織出這部令人屏息閱讀的冰與火之歌.
以上描述受限於小子我的英文以及中文程度, 恐有無法完全領略馬汀大師獨運匠心之處, 更無法表達其中精妙於萬一, 若有疏漏錯誤之處, 望有能者能夠補述之.
[註三]: 薔薇戰爭(War of the Roses), 記得以前國中歷史好像有提到, 發生在英法百年戰爭之後的英國內戰, 導致英國封建勢力消退, 以及間接讓新興中產階級(布爾喬亞?)有機會崛起. 不過那時好像不叫"薔薇戰爭", 叫"紅白玫瑰戰爭". Rose為啥翻成薔薇, 不要問我, 我也感到疑惑.
星期二, 1月 27, 2004
星期四, 1月 22, 2004
星期一, 1月 05, 2004
Some old news about His Dark Materials Trilogy
蔡康永 天遼地闊推薦 不可不讀
wings blog: 黑暗元素三部曲
表皮下的黑暗元素及現實的童話
《黑暗元素》──一種積極的墮落
被當作童書看待的非童書：黑暗元素三部曲
蔡康永 天遼地闊推薦 不可不讀
wings blog: 黑暗元素三部曲
表皮下的黑暗元素及現實的童話
《黑暗元素》──一種積極的墮落
被當作童書看待的非童書：黑暗元素三部曲
星期日, 1月 04, 2004
讀書會
奇幻文學/危險的菲力普‧普曼 (Fantasy - The Dangerous Philip Pullman)
日期: 1/17, 18, 31 or 2/1
1~1.5 hrs
奇幻文學的簡介 以及討論Philip Pullman的作品
建議閱讀書單:
1. 黃金羅盤 (上/下) The Golden Compass
中文版
英文版
2. 奧祕匕首 (上/下) The Subtle Knife
中文版
英文版
3. 琥珀望遠鏡 (上/下) The Amber Spyglass
中文版
英文版
4. 發條鐘 Clockwork
中文版
英文版
5. 我是老鼠! I was a rat!
中文版
英文版
6. 納尼亞魔法王國 The Chronicles of Narnia
中文版
英文版
奇幻文學/危險的菲力普‧普曼 (Fantasy - The Dangerous Philip Pullman)
日期: 1/17, 18, 31 or 2/1
1~1.5 hrs
奇幻文學的簡介 以及討論Philip Pullman的作品
建議閱讀書單:
1. 黃金羅盤 (上/下) The Golden Compass
中文版
英文版
2. 奧祕匕首 (上/下) The Subtle Knife
中文版
英文版
3. 琥珀望遠鏡 (上/下) The Amber Spyglass
中文版
英文版
4. 發條鐘 Clockwork
中文版
英文版
5. 我是老鼠! I was a rat!
中文版
英文版
6. 納尼亞魔法王國 The Chronicles of Narnia
中文版
英文版
星期二, 12月 23, 2003
星期四, 12月 18, 2003
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