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Review: The Stormlight Archive – Book One The Way of Kings – Part 1: Above Silence, Chapter 3: City of Bells

評論：《颶光典籍：王者之路》第一部《沉默之上》第3節：鈴城

Introduction

In Chapter 3: City of Bells, Brandon Sanderson temporarily shifts the narrative focus from the grim realities of war on the Shattered Plains to a more scholarly and political setting—the vibrant and mysterious city of Kharbranth, also known as the City of Bells. This chapter introduces readers to Shallan Davar, a young noblewoman with a troubled past and a dangerous goal. Through Shallan’s perspective, Sanderson offers a contrast to the bleakness of Kaladin’s storyline, replacing brutality with intrigue, hidden motives, and philosophical reflection.

引言

在《颶光典籍：王者之路》第三章〈鈴城〉（City of Bells）中，布蘭登・山德森暫時將敘事焦點從破碎平原上戰火連綿的殘酷現實移開，轉向一個充滿學術氣息與政治算計的舞台——充滿生氣與神祕氛圍的城市卡布嵐司（Kharbranth），又稱「鈴之城」。在這一章中，讀者將首次認識紗藍‧達伐（Shallan Davar）——一位來自貴族世家的年輕女子，身負沉重的過去與危險的目標。

透過紗藍的視角，山德森展現出一條與卡拉丁故事線截然不同的敘事道路——不再是充滿殘酷與絕望的戰場，而是充滿陰謀、隱藏動機與哲理性反思的知識之旅。這樣的轉換為整部小說增添了多樣的色彩與更深層的主題探索，使整體世界觀更加完整與立體。

World-Building and Setting: Kharbranth, the City of Bells

Kharbranth is a marvel of world-building. Perched along the cliffs overlooking the ocean, it’s a city defined by its unique architecture, its bell-laden design, and its reputation as a center of learning. As Shallan arrives by ship, Sanderson paints a vivid picture of a city carved into rock, alive with the sounds of bells that chime with every breeze or movement of the city’s inhabitants.

This city is home to the Palanaeum, the greatest library known in Roshar, and it’s here that Shallan sets her sights. But her mission is not one of innocent study—she seeks to steal from Jasnah Kholin, one of the most powerful and controversial women in the world, and niece to the Highprince Dalinar Kholin.

世界觀與場景描寫：鈴之城──卡布嵐司

卡布嵐司（Kharbranth）是布蘭登・山德森筆下精妙的世界建構之一。這座城市座落於海邊峭壁之上，以其獨特的建築風格、遍佈城中的鐘鈴設計，以及作為學術重鎮的地位而聞名於世。當紗藍‧達伐（Shallan Davar）乘船抵達時，山德森以生動筆觸描繪出這座鑿刻於岩壁上的城市——微風拂過或人群移動時，成千上萬的鐘鈴隨之作響，讓整座城市彷彿因聲音而活了起來。

這座城市同時是帕拉尼奧大典藏室（Palanaeum）──羅莎（Roshar）最偉大的圖書館──的所在地，也是紗藍此行的目的地。然而，她此行並非為了純粹的學習，而是帶著不為人知的任務：她意圖竊取知識與力量，對象正是舉世聞名且充滿爭議的女性──加絲娜‧科林（Jasnah Kholin），她同時也是高王子達利納‧科林（Dalinar Kholin）的姪女。

Introduction to Shallan: Intelligence, Desperation, and Deception

Shallan is introduced not only as intelligent and curious, but also as desperate. Her family’s fortune is crumbling, and she has taken it upon herself to commit theft in order to preserve their status. This tension between her natural scholarly disposition and her hidden agenda creates a fascinating duality within her character. She reveres Jasnah and genuinely wishes to learn from her—but at the same time, she is manipulating her way into the woman’s confidence.

Sanderson does an excellent job portraying Shallan’s internal conflict. She is witty, perceptive, and layered with insecurity. Her thoughts are filled with doubts about her mission, yet she steels herself for the deception she must carry out. This adds a morally grey component to the story, contrasting Kaladin’s more emotionally charged arc.

紗藍的登場：智慧、絕望與欺瞞交織的人物描寫

紗藍‧達伐（Shallan Davar）的出場不僅展現出她的聰穎與好奇心，也同時揭露了她內心深處的絕望。她的家族財務正逐漸瓦解，而她將挽救家族的重擔一肩扛起，甚至不惜鋌而走險地計劃竊取知識與財寶，以維持家族的社會地位。這種她天生對學術與知識的熱忱，與其暗藏的目的之間所產生的緊張感，塑造出她角色中的矛盾與深度。

她一方面敬仰加絲娜‧科林（Jasnah Kholin），真心渴望成為她的學生，從她身上學習哲學與智慧；但另一方面，卻又必須精心設計計謀、一步步博取對方的信任，以達成她的秘密任務。

布蘭登・山德森（Brandon Sanderson）在描繪紗藍的內心掙扎上極為細膩。她機智敏銳，觀察入微，同時又飽受不安與自我懷疑困擾。儘管她對自己的任務充滿動搖，卻仍強迫自己堅定意志，完成這場欺騙。這樣的描寫為故事增添了一層道德灰階的色彩，與卡拉丁（Kaladin）那充滿情感壓迫與苦難掙扎的主線形成鮮明對比。

Themes of Knowledge and Morality

In City of Bells, the thematic emphasis shifts from war and survival to knowledge, truth, and moral ambiguity. The chapter asks important questions:

Is it justified to commit a wrong act (such as theft) for a seemingly noble cause?

Can one pursue truth while also actively engaging in deception?

What does it mean to respect knowledge—can it coexist with manipulation?

Shallan's storyline begins to explore these philosophical tensions. Her situation isn’t simply black-and-white; she is both student and would-be thief, both respectful and deceptive. Sanderson crafts her arc carefully, ensuring her internal dilemmas resonate as more than just plot devices.

知識與道德的主題探討

在《鈴城》這一章中，故事的主題焦點從戰爭與生存轉移至知識、真理與道德的灰色地帶。這一章節拋出了數個耐人尋味的重要問題：

為了看似高尚的目的（如挽救家族），進行錯誤的行為（例如竊盜）是否可以被正當化？

一個人是否能在追求真理的同時，也從事欺瞞行為？

尊重知識的真正意涵是什麼？它是否能與操控與欺騙共存？

紗藍‧達伐（Shallan Davar）的故事線開始深入探討這些哲學上的矛盾張力。她的處境並非非黑即白──她同時是學徒與潛在的小偷，同時敬仰知識又以欺騙之手靠近知識的源頭。她既是渴望知識的求道者，也是為達目的而步步算計的策略者。

布蘭登・山德森（Brandon Sanderson）在構築紗藍這段故事弧線時極為細膩，用心鋪陳，讓她的內心掙扎不只是推動劇情的工具，而是富有情感與哲理深度的人性寫照。

Foreshadowing and Intrigue

Although this chapter may appear calm compared to the chaos of the Shattered Plains, it is rich with foreshadowing. Shallan’s encounter with Jasnah is only beginning, and the reader is left wondering:

Will she succeed in deceiving Jasnah?

What are Jasnah’s real motivations and beliefs?

Will Shallan remain loyal to her family, or will her desire for truth win out?

Additionally, the quiet grandeur of Kharbranth masks potential dangers—intellectual, political, and personal. Sanderson hints that power comes in many forms—not just through Shardblades or war, but through knowledge and reputation as well.

伏筆與懸念

雖然本章相較於破碎平原（Shattered Plains）的混亂而言，表面上顯得平靜許多，但實際上卻充滿了精巧的伏筆與暗藏的張力。紗藍‧達伐（Shallan Davar）與加絲娜‧科林（Jasnah Kholin）之間的交集才剛剛開始，而讀者則開始思索以下幾個關鍵問題：

她是否真的能夠成功欺瞞加絲娜？

加絲娜真正的動機與信念到底是什麼？

紗藍最終會選擇效忠家族，還是會被對真理的渴望所吸引，從而背離原初目的？

此外，雖然卡布嵐司（Kharbranth）表面上安詳優雅，但在這寧靜的表層之下，卻潛藏著種種危險──包括智性上的挑戰、政治的算計、與個人層面的風險。
布蘭登・山德森（Brandon Sanderson）巧妙地暗示：權力的形式有很多種，它並不僅僅存在於碎刃（Shardblades）或戰爭之中，也能體現在知識與名聲之間的較量。

Conclusion

City of Bells is a beautifully crafted chapter that introduces a new protagonist, setting, and tone to The Way of Kings. While Kaladin’s journey explores survival and the brutal truths of war, Shallan’s narrative promises a more intellectual, morally complex story. The chapter expands the scope of the world, adding richness and diversity to the narrative.

Brandon Sanderson continues to impress with his layered storytelling, intricate characters, and philosophical undercurrents. Chapter 3 marks the beginning of a slower, more cerebral arc—but one that is no less compelling. For readers seeking depth, internal conflict, and clever dialogue, Shallan's introduction is a rewarding and essential part of the Stormlight Archive journey.

結語

〈鈴城〉（City of Bells）是一章結構精巧、文筆細膩的篇章，它為《王者之路》（The Way of Kings）帶來了嶄新的主角、場景與敘事語調。相較於卡拉丁（Kaladin）那條聚焦於生存掙扎與戰爭殘酷真相的故事線，紗藍‧達伐（Shallan Davar）這條支線則預示著一段更具智性與道德灰階的旅程。

這一章有效地拓展了羅莎（Roshar）世界的深度與廣度，為整部小說增添了更多豐富性與多樣性。
布蘭登・山德森（Brandon Sanderson）再度展現其高超的敘事手法，他筆下的角色層次分明、情節精密，且時常蘊含深刻的哲理思辨。第三章標誌著一段節奏緩慢但內涵深遠的敘事弧線的開始——這段旅程雖非激烈衝突為主軸，卻絲毫不遜於其他篇章的吸引力。

對於偏好心理掙扎、內在衝突以及機智對話的讀者來說，紗藍的登場絕對是《颶光典籍》（The Stormlight Archive）中一段值得細細品味、不可或缺的重要篇章。