🔊  Listen on Audible

Review: The Stormlight Archive – Book One The Way of Kings – Part 1: Above Silence, Chapter 1: Stormblessed

評論：《颶光典籍：王者之路》第一部《沉默之上》第1章：受颶風祝福

Introduction

Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive: The Way of Kings begins its first official chapter, "Stormblessed," by immersing readers in the harsh and war-torn world of Roshar. Set on the Shattered Plains, this opening chapter introduces one of the novel’s most pivotal characters: Kaladin Stormblessed, a former spearman turned lowly bridge slave. Through Kaladin’s perspective, Sanderson immediately establishes key themes of suffering, resilience, and fate, while also providing the reader with a visceral look at the brutal war waged between the Alethi and the Parshendi.

"Stormblessed" is a powerful chapter that not only sets the tone for the rest of the novel but also highlights Sanderson’s strengths in character-driven storytelling, intricate world-building, and foreshadowing.

引言

布蘭登·山德森（Brandon Sanderson）的《颶光典籍》（The Stormlight Archive）首部曲《王者之路》（The Way of Kings）在正式章節「受颶風祝福」（Stormblessed）中，帶領讀者進入殘酷且飽受戰火摧殘的羅莎（Roshar）。故事背景設定於破碎平原（Shattered Plains），此章節首次介紹了小說中最關鍵的角色之一——卡拉丁（Kaladin）。他曾是英勇的長槍兵，卻淪為地位低下的橋隊（bridge crew）奴隸。透過卡拉丁的視角，山德森立即建立起小說的核心主題，包括苦難、堅韌與命運，同時也讓讀者身臨其境地感受到阿勒西（Alethi）與帕申迪（Parshendi）之間殘酷戰爭的慘烈景象。

「受颶風祝福」這一章不僅奠定了整部小說的基調，更充分展現了山德森在角色塑造、精妙的世界觀建構以及鋪陳伏筆上的卓越才華。

Kaladin’s Introduction: A Broken Hero

The chapter follows Kaladin, a man who once held a promising future as a skilled spearman but is now reduced to a lowly slave, branded and stripped of his former identity. He is part of a bridge crew, one of the lowest and most expendable roles in the Alethi war effort, tasked with carrying massive wooden bridges under enemy fire.

From the moment we meet Kaladin, he is portrayed as a man hardened by experience yet still possessing an unyielding sense of duty. Despite being surrounded by despair, he instinctively tries to protect and inspire those around him, something that sets him apart from the other bridge slaves. His reputation as "Stormblessed" is both an acknowledgment of his battlefield prowess and a cruel irony, as his life has been marked by hardship and betrayal.

One of the most striking elements of this chapter is the contrast between Kaladin’s inner strength and external powerlessness. Though once a proud soldier, he is now bound by chains, suffering alongside fellow slaves who have long since given up hope. Sanderson’s writing captures the psychological weight of Kaladin’s fall, making him an instantly compelling protagonist.

卡拉丁的登場：支離破碎的英雄

本章圍繞著卡拉丁（Kaladin）展開，他曾經是技藝高超的長槍兵，擁有光明的未來，然而如今卻淪為低賤的奴隸，被烙印、被剝奪了過去的身份。他所隸屬的橋隊（bridge crew）是雅烈席人（Alethi）軍隊中最卑微、最不值一提的存在，負責在敵軍的箭雨下搬運龐大的木橋，以供軍隊快速越過戰場險地。

卡拉丁自登場之時，便展現出一個經歷過殘酷現實洗禮卻仍懷抱堅定信念的男子形象。即便身處絕望之境，他仍本能地試圖保護並鼓舞身邊的人，這使他與其他早已麻木、絕望的橋隊奴隸截然不同。他的外號「受颶風祝福」（Stormblessed）既是對他戰場英勇事蹟的肯定，亦是殘酷的諷刺——他的生命充滿了痛苦與背叛，彷彿被風暴詛咒一般。

本章最令人印象深刻的地方在於卡拉丁內在堅韌與外在無助之間的強烈對比。他曾經是驕傲的戰士，如今卻被鐐銬束縛，與那些早已放棄希望的奴隸一同受苦。山德森的筆觸細膩地刻畫了卡拉丁從巔峰墜落谷底的心理重擔，使他自登場起便成為極具吸引力的主角。

The Brutality of War and the Shattered Plains

Sanderson wastes no time immersing readers in the harsh realities of Roshar’s warfare. The Shattered Plains, a vast, broken landscape of plateaus separated by deep chasms, serve as the primary battlefield between the Alethi and Parshendi forces. This terrain creates a unique form of warfare, where armies must use temporary bridges to traverse the chasms, a task forced upon the bridge crews, who are used as human shields to absorb enemy fire.

Through Kaladin’s eyes, we witness the sheer brutality of the Alethi war machine. The bridge crews are treated as expendable cannon fodder, running under a hail of enemy arrows to place bridges for the real soldiers—those lucky enough to wear armor and wield Shardblades. The dehumanizing nature of this role is emphasized as Kaladin watches helplessly while his fellow slaves are cut down.

Sanderson’s depiction of this battle is both visceral and tragic, highlighting the hierarchical cruelty of the Alethi military. The elite warriors—those in Shardplate—stand far removed from the suffering of the common soldiers, emphasizing the stark divide between the powerful and the powerless.

戰爭的殘酷與破碎平原

山德森毫不拖泥帶水，迅速將讀者帶入羅莎（Roshar）世界中殘酷無情的戰爭現實。破碎平原（Shattered Plains）是一片廣闊且支離破碎的高原地形，由無數深邃裂谷分隔，成為雅烈席人（Alethi）與帕山迪人（Parshendi）之間主要的戰場。這片地形催生出獨特的作戰方式——軍隊必須使用臨時搭建的橋梁來跨越裂谷，而這項艱鉅且致命的工作則強加在橋隊（bridge crew）身上，這些奴隸被迫充當「人體盾牌」，以吸收敵軍箭雨的攻擊。

透過卡拉丁（Kaladin）的視角，我們親眼見證了雅烈席戰爭機器的殘酷無情。橋隊的成員如同被拋棄的炮灰，在密集的箭雨下奔跑，為真正的戰士——那些幸運地穿著碎甲（Shardplate）、手持碎刃（Shardblades）的士兵——架設橋梁。這種非人道的對待方式在本章中被強調至極，當卡拉丁無力地看著同伴被無情屠殺時，這種絕望感更是撼動人心。

山德森對這場戰鬥的描寫既震撼又悲慘，突顯了雅烈席軍隊森嚴的階級制度與殘酷不仁的現實。那些身披碎甲的精銳戰士與普通士兵的苦難相隔甚遠，形成了一道難以逾越的權力鴻溝，強調了強者與弱者之間殘酷的對比。

Foreshadowing and the Mystery of Kaladin’s Past

As the chapter unfolds, Sanderson drops cryptic hints about Kaladin’s past, raising questions about how a skilled soldier came to be branded as a slave. The nickname "Stormblessed" suggests that Kaladin was once a respected warrior, yet now he finds himself at the very bottom of society.

Throughout the chapter, Kaladin displays an unnatural sense of awareness and intuition, particularly in how he instinctively tries to protect the weaker members of his bridge crew. Though he is beaten down by circumstance, there is a lingering spark of leadership within him, hinting at a greater destiny.

Additionally, subtle elements of Stormlight and Surgebinding begin to appear in Kaladin’s interactions, though neither he nor the reader fully understands their significance yet. Sanderson masterfully sows these seeds early, ensuring that Kaladin’s journey from despair to heroism will be one of the novel’s central arcs.

伏筆與卡拉丁過去的謎團

隨著本章情節的展開，山德森巧妙地埋下了一系列伏筆，暗示卡拉丁（Kaladin）過去的謎團，使讀者不禁產生疑問：這位曾經身手不凡的士兵，究竟經歷了什麼，才落得如今身為奴隸、身上烙印恥辱標記的境地？他的稱號「受颶風祝福」（Stormblessed）表明他曾是一名受人敬重的戰士，然而現在，他卻淪落至社會的最底層。

在本章中，卡拉丁展現出異於常人的直覺與敏銳的觀察力，特別是在他下意識地試圖保護橋隊（bridge crew）中較為弱小的成員時，這種行為顯示了他與眾不同的領導氣質。儘管命運對他極為殘酷，他仍未完全被擊垮，他內心深處仍閃爍著一絲不滅的希望，預示著他未來將肩負更偉大的使命。

此外，關於颶光（Stormlight）與封波術（Surgebinding）的細微線索也在本章中悄然浮現，然而，無論是卡拉丁還是讀者，此時都尚未能理解這些現象的真正含義。山德森在故事的早期便巧妙地種下這些伏筆，為後續的情節發展鋪路，預示著卡拉丁將經歷一場從絕望走向英雄之路的精彩轉變，而這正是整部小說最核心的敘事弧線之一。

Themes of Despair and Hope

One of the most poignant aspects of "Stormblessed" is the contrast between hopelessness and resilience. Many of Kaladin’s fellow slaves have abandoned all hope, resigned to their fate as disposable tools of war. Yet, Kaladin refuses to succumb to despair.

This struggle between futility and resistance is a recurring theme throughout The Way of Kings, and Kaladin’s inner turmoil serves as a microcosm of the novel’s larger philosophical questions. Does one submit to fate, or does one fight against it, even in the face of overwhelming odds?

This chapter presents Kaladin’s lowest point, yet it also hints at the possibility of redemption. Despite his suffering, he still cares for those around him, proving that he has not truly broken. His journey—one of overcoming hardship, rediscovering his purpose, and challenging the injustices of the world—begins here.

絕望與希望的主題

《受颶風祝福》（Stormblessed）這一章最令人動容的地方，便是絕望與堅韌之間的強烈對比。卡拉丁（Kaladin）的許多奴隸同伴早已放棄希望，認命地接受自己作為戰爭中可有可無的消耗品的命運。然而，卡拉丁拒絕向絕望屈服。

這種在無力感與抗爭間的掙扎，是《王者之路》（The Way of Kings）中反覆出現的核心主題之一。卡拉丁內心的動盪，正象徵著整部小說所探討的更深層次的哲學問題——一個人應該順從命運，還是應當在面對絕對不利的情勢時仍然奮力抗爭？

在這一章中，卡拉丁正處於他人生的最低谷，但故事同時也暗示著救贖的可能性。儘管身心遭受折磨，他仍然關心身邊的人，證明他尚未被徹底擊垮。他的旅程——一場克服苦難、重拾自我價值並挑戰世界不公的冒險——正是在此刻拉開序幕。

Conclusion

"Stormblessed" is an exceptional opening chapter that encapsulates the emotional weight, intricate world-building, and deep character work that define The Stormlight Archive. Through Kaladin’s tragic fall, the horrors of war, and the flickers of resilience amidst suffering, Sanderson crafts a gripping introduction that immediately invests readers in the story.

More than just a beginning, this chapter sets the foundation for Kaladin’s transformation from a broken slave to a legendary warrior, foreshadowing the trials and triumphs that will define his path. For both newcomers and veteran fantasy readers, "Stormblessed" is a perfect entry into Sanderson’s rich and compelling world—one that promises an unforgettable journey ahead.

結語

《受颶風祝福》（Stormblessed）是一個極為出色的開篇章節，它完美展現了《暴風光輝》（The Stormlight Archive）系列的情感深度、精妙的世界觀建構，以及細膩的人物塑造。透過卡拉丁（Kaladin）的悲劇性墮落、戰爭的殘酷，以及苦難中的那一絲堅韌，布蘭登·山德森（Brandon Sanderson）成功打造了一個扣人心弦的序幕，瞬間將讀者帶入這個宏偉的故事之中。

然而，這一章不僅僅是故事的開端，它更是卡拉丁從一名被摧毀的奴隸，逐步蛻變為傳奇戰士的基石，預示著未來即將面臨的試煉與勝利。無論是對奇幻新手還是資深讀者而言，《受颶風祝福》都是踏入山德森這個豐富且極具吸引力世界的完美入口，開啟一場難以忘懷的史詩之旅。