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Review: The Stormlight Archive – Book One The Way of Kings – Prologue: To Kill

Introduction

Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive: The Way of Kings opens with a striking and unforgettable prologue, To Kill, which sets the stage for the grand epic that follows. This intense and action-packed introduction throws readers directly into the heart of a pivotal moment in Roshar’s history, establishing key themes of betrayal, duty, and the devastating power of warfare. More than just an exhilarating opening, To Kill provides crucial context for the larger conflict that will unfold throughout the series. Sanderson’s signature world-building, intricate character work, and masterful use of foreshadowing make this prologue an essential piece of The Way of Kings and a compelling start to one of modern fantasy’s most ambitious sagas.

評論：《颶光典籍：王者之路》序曲：殺戮

介紹

布蘭登·桑德森（Brandon Sanderson）的《颶光典籍：王者之路》以一個引人注目且難以忘懷的序曲《殺戮》開場，為接下來的史詩故事鋪設了基礎。這個充滿張力與動作的開場直接將讀者帶入羅沙（Roshar）歷史上重要的一刻，奠定了背叛、責任與戰爭毀滅性力量的主題。這不僅是一次刺激的開場，還為接下來將要展開的宏大衝突提供了重要的背景。桑德森擅長的世界建構、錯綜複雜的角色塑造以及巧妙的預示手法，使得這篇序曲成為《王者之路》不可或缺的部分，也是現代奇幻文學中最具雄心的史詩之一的精彩開端。

The Fall of King Gavilar

The prologue is told from the perspective of Szeth, an assassin from the Shin people, who has been bound by an unbreakable oath to obey his masters. Under their orders, he carries out an assassination that will alter the course of history: the murder of King Gavilar Kholin. From the moment Szeth enters the palace, Sanderson immerses the reader in a scene of chaos and destruction, showcasing the terrifying capabilities of both Shardblades and Shardplate in combat.

Szeth’s unique abilities immediately set him apart from ordinary warriors. He wields Stormlight, an energy source that fuels his Surgebinding powers, allowing him to perform supernatural feats such as walking on walls and surviving otherwise fatal wounds. As he moves through the palace, effortlessly cutting down seasoned warriors, the reader gets a firsthand look at the immense power that Surgebinding grants. This not only demonstrates the lethal potential of Stormlight but also foreshadows the significance of such abilities in the greater conflict to come.

The assassination itself is executed with clinical precision, but Sanderson does not merely focus on the action—he delves into the psychological torment that Szeth endures. Declared "Truthless" by his people, Szeth follows his orders with unwavering obedience, yet he despairs over the horrors he is forced to commit. His internal conflict—his certainty that Surgebinding has returned to the world despite his people's insistence that it has not—adds a tragic dimension to his character, making him one of the most compelling figures in the novel.

加維拉·科林之死

序曲由賽司（Szeth）這位來自雪諾瓦人（Shin）的刺客視角講述，他因無法違背的誓言而被迫服從主人。在主人的命令下，他執行了一次將改變歷史進程的暗殺行動：刺殺加維拉·科林（Gavilar Kholin）國王。自從賽司進入宮殿的那一刻起，桑德森便讓讀者進入了一場充滿混亂與毀滅的場面，展示了碎刃（Shardblades）與碎甲（Shardplate）在戰鬥中的可怕威力。

賽司的獨特能力立即使他與普通戰士區別開來。他利用颶光（Stormlight）這種能量源來啟動無實之人（Surgebinding）能力，使他能執行超自然的壯舉，如在牆上行走或生還於致命傷。當他在宮殿中移動，輕鬆擊殺經驗豐富的戰士時，讀者得以親眼目睹無實之人所賦予的巨大力量。這不僅展示了颶光的致命潛力，也預示了這些能力在即將到來的更大衝突中的重要性。

這次刺殺的執行雖然精確無比，但桑德森並不僅僅專注於動作場面——他深入探討了賽司所承受的心理折磨。作為“無實之人”（Truthless），賽司在強迫下執行命令，雖然他堅守無悔的服從，但他對所被迫犯下的可怕罪行感到絕望。他內心的衝突——儘管他的民族堅稱無實之人已不再存在，但他確信無實之人能力已經重返這個世界——為他的角色增添了悲劇色彩，讓他成為小說中最引人入勝的人物之一。

Foreshadowing and Political Intrigue

While the assassination is the prologue’s focal point, Sanderson masterfully embeds subtle hints about the deeper mysteries of Roshar. Before his death, King Gavilar speaks cryptically to Szeth, handing him a strange black sphere and instructing him to "tell them that the Desolation has come." This moment is loaded with foreshadowing, hinting at the return of an ancient catastrophe long thought to be a myth. The mystery of the black sphere remains a lingering question throughout the novel, subtly reminding readers that there are forces at work far beyond what is immediately apparent.

Additionally, the political ramifications of Gavilar’s murder ripple throughout the rest of the book. His death destabilizes the kingdom of Alethkar, leading to a brutal war between the Alethi and the Parshendi—who, shockingly, claim responsibility for the assassination despite hiring Szeth to carry it out. This paradox sets up one of the novel’s core conflicts and hints at the deeper, hidden truths surrounding Roshar’s various factions. Sanderson’s ability to weave layers of intrigue into what initially appears to be a straightforward assassination highlights his skill in crafting a complex and immersive world.

預示與政治陰謀

雖然刺殺事件是序曲的核心，但桑德森巧妙地將關於羅沙（Roshar）更深層謎題的微妙提示埋藏其中。在加維拉·科林（Gavilar Kholin）國王臨終時，他對賽司（Szeth）語帶玄機，將一顆奇異的黑色球體交給他，並指示他「告訴他們，災難已經來臨。」這一刻充滿了預示，暗示著一場被認為已經是神話的古老災難將重返現世。黑色球體的謎團貫穿全書，輕輕提醒讀者，還有一些遠遠超過眼前所見的力量在運作。

此外，加維拉的死亡在小說的其餘部分引發了深遠的政治後果。他的死讓雅烈席卡王國（Alethkar）陷入動盪，導致雅烈席卡人（Alethi）與帕山迪人（Parshendi）之間爆發了殘酷的戰爭——帕山迪人出人意料地聲稱對刺殺事件負有責任，儘管他們實際上雇用了賽司來執行這項任務。這一矛盾設置了小說的核心衝突之一，並暗示了圍繞羅沙各方勢力的更深層隱秘真相。桑德森將層層陰謀編織入最初看似簡單的刺殺事件中，展示了他在創造複雜且引人入勝的世界中的卓越技巧。

Szeth’s Character and Themes of Duty and Identity

One of the most fascinating aspects of To Kill is its exploration of Szeth’s character. He is not a mindless killer; rather, he is a man trapped by an unjust fate, compelled to follow orders he knows to be wrong. The concept of being Truthless raises profound ethical and philosophical questions—how much agency does Szeth truly have? Is he responsible for the murder he commits, or is the blame solely on those who control him?

This theme of duty versus personal morality is central not only to Szeth’s arc but to many other characters in The Way of Kings. Kaladin, Dalinar, and even Shallan grapple with similar struggles, forced to navigate the tension between their obligations and their own sense of right and wrong. Sanderson uses Szeth’s internal conflict as a microcosm of the broader moral dilemmas that permeate the entire series.

賽司的角色與責任與身份的主題

《殺戮》最迷人之處之一在於對賽司（Szeth）角色的探討。他不是一個無思考的殺手；相反，他是一個被不公命運所困的人，迫不得已要遵從他知道是錯誤的命令。所謂「無實之人」（Truthless）的概念引發了深刻的倫理和哲學問題——賽司到底擁有多少主動權？他為自己所犯下的謀殺負責嗎？還是該責任全歸於那些控制他的人？

這一責任與個人道德的衝突主題，不僅是賽司故事弧線的核心，也貫穿於《王者之路》的其他許多角色中。卡拉丁（Kaladin）、科林（Dalinar），甚至紗藍（Shallan）都在面對類似的掙扎，必須在自己的責任與對錯的判斷之間找到平衡。桑德森將賽司的內心衝突作為一個縮影，呈現出整個系列中普遍存在的道德困境。

World-Building and Magic System

As an introduction to Roshar, To Kill serves as a masterclass in immersive world-building. In just a few pages, Sanderson introduces the reader to:

The Shards: Szeth wields no Shardblade or Shardplate, yet he easily defeats warriors who do, emphasizing both his skill and the sheer power of Stormlight-infused Surgebinding.

Surgebinding: The first glimpse of this magic system demonstrates its fluidity and creativity, distinguishing it from traditional fantasy magic. The way Szeth manipulates gravity is both visually stunning and strategically fascinating.

The Everstorm and Desolations: Hints about a coming disaster—the "Desolation"—imply that Gavilar’s assassination is only the beginning of something far more catastrophic.

Unlike many fantasy series that spend time on exposition dumps, Sanderson drops readers directly into the action while allowing them to piece together the rules of the world naturally. His ability to balance action with deep lore ensures that every moment in the prologue feels both urgent and meaningful.

世界建構與魔法系統

作為對羅沙（Roshar）的介紹，《殺戮》是一堂浸入式世界建構的範例。桑德森在短短幾頁內向讀者介紹了：

碎刃（Shardblades）：賽司並未使用碎刃或碎甲，但他輕易擊敗了持有這些武器的戰士，這不僅突顯了他本身的技能，也強調了充滿颶光（Stormlight）的封波術（Surgebinding）所帶來的強大力量。

封波術（Surgebinding）：這一魔法系統的初次亮相展現了其流動性與創造性，將其與傳統奇幻魔法區分開來。賽司操控重力的方式既視覺震撼又充滿戰略魅力。

永颶（Everstorm）與寂滅（Desolations）：關於即將來臨的災難——「寂滅」的暗示，暗示了加維拉·科林（Gavilar Kholin）被刺殺只是更大災難的開始。

與許多奇幻系列耗費大量篇幅在詳盡的背景介紹上不同，桑德森將讀者直接帶入行動中，同時讓他們自然地拼湊出世界的規則。他在行動與深厚背景間的平衡能力，確保了序曲中的每一刻都既緊迫又充滿意義。

Conclusion

To Kill, the prologue of The Way of Kings, is a stunning and multifaceted introduction to The Stormlight Archive. It seamlessly blends exhilarating action, deep characterization, and intricate world-building, setting the stage for the epic narrative to come. Szeth’s tragic role as the assassin, the foreshadowing of ancient threats, and the political chaos that ensues make this opening chapter an unforgettable reading experience.

For both new readers and longtime fantasy enthusiasts, To Kill serves as a perfect entry point into Sanderson’s richly crafted world, promising a story filled with mystery, conflict, and breathtaking magic. It is an electrifying beginning to one of the most ambitious fantasy series in modern literature.

結論

《殺戮》，《王者之路》（The Way of Kings）的序曲，是一個令人驚艷且多層次的開篇，為《颶光典籍》奠定了基礎。它巧妙地融合了刺激的動作、深刻的角色刻畫以及精緻的世界建構，為接下來的史詩故事鋪設了舞台。賽司作為刺客的悲劇角色、對古老威脅的預示以及隨之而來的政治混亂，使這一開篇成為一段難以忘懷的閱讀經歷。

對於新讀者以及長期喜愛奇幻小說的讀者來說，《殺戮》是進入桑德森精心構建的世界的完美切入點，承諾為讀者帶來充滿神秘、衝突和驚心動魄魔法的故事。這是現代文學中最雄心勃勃的奇幻系列之一的激動人心的開端。