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Review: The Eye of the World: Book One of The Wheel of Time – Prologue: Dragonmount

Introduction

The prologue of The Eye of the World, titled Dragonmount, serves as a gripping and powerful opening to The Wheel of Time series. It introduces readers to the tragic downfall of Lews Therin Telamon, the Dragon, and establishes the cosmic struggle between light and shadow. This section not only sets the stage for the novel but also foreshadows many of the central themes and conflicts that will drive the series forward. Robert Jordan’s masterful world-building, his use of dramatic irony, and the sheer emotional weight of the scene make Dragonmount one of the most memorable prologues in fantasy literature.

評論：《時光之論》系列 第一部 – 世界之眼 序章：龍山

引言

《世界之眼》的序章，標題為龍山，作為《時光之輪》系列的開篇，展現了一場震撼人心且極具張力的開場。這一章節帶領讀者見證龍路斯·瑟林·鐵拉蒙（Lews Therin Telamon）的悲劇性墮落，並奠定了光與影之間的宇宙級鬥爭。不僅如此，這一序曲還為整部小說建立基礎，並預示了貫穿整個系列的核心主題與衝突。勞勃·喬丹（Robert Jordan）以其卓越的世界觀構築能力、戲劇性的反諷運用，以及場景所承載的巨大情感重量，使得龍山成為奇幻文學中最令人難忘的序曲之一。

Plot Summary

The prologue opens in the aftermath of a devastating battle, with Lews Therin Telamon, once the most powerful male Aes Sedai and the leader of the forces of light, wandering through his palace in a dazed and broken state. The grandeur of his surroundings is marred by destruction, and the corpses of his family and retainers lie strewn across the halls. Yet, Lews Therin, driven mad by the Dark One’s taint on saidar, the male half of the One Power, does not even recognize them or realize the horror he has wrought.

Enter Elan Morin Tedronai, known as Ishamael, the Betrayer of Hope, one of the most powerful of the Forsaken. He confronts Lews Therin, revealing to him the full extent of his actions. Ishamael takes pleasure in tormenting the fallen hero, explaining that Lews Therin had murdered his wife, Ilyena, along with his children and kin. At first, Lews Therin does not believe him, but as his fragmented mind clears for a brief moment, the truth of Ishamael’s words shatters him. Overcome with grief and horror, he lets out an anguished cry and teleports away.

Alone on a desolate plain, Lews Therin calls upon the One Power one last time, drawing in so much energy that his body and soul cannot contain it. He unleashes a massive surge of Power, causing the land to shatter and rise into a towering mountain—Dragonmount. This cataclysmic event is both his final act of despair and the beginning of a new cycle of the Pattern. As Ishamael watches, he acknowledges that Lews Therin’s soul will be reborn, setting the stage for the return of the Dragon and the battle against the Dark One.

劇情概要

序曲開場於一場毀滅性戰爭的餘波之中，曾經是最強大的男性兩儀師（Aes Sedai）與光明勢力的領袖——路斯·瑟林·鐵拉蒙（Lews Therin Telamon），正漫無目的地遊蕩在自己的宮殿內。他的神智已然崩潰，滿目瘡痍的殿堂中，宏偉的景象已被破壞殆盡，而他的親族與僕從的屍體四散於大廳各處。然而，因為闇帝（Dark One）對陽極力（saidin）的玷污，路斯·瑟林陷入瘋狂，不僅無法認出這些屍體，甚至未曾意識到自己犯下的駭人暴行。

此時，艾蘭·摩林·特冬耐（Elan Morin Tedronai），亦即伊煞梅爾（Ishamael），「希望的叛徒」，棄光魔將（Forsaken）中最強大的存在之一，現身於路斯·瑟林面前。他直面這位墮落的光明之龍，冷酷地揭露了真相。伊煞梅爾以戲謔與殘酷的快意折磨路斯·瑟林，告知他——正是他親手殺死了自己的妻子伊琳娜（Ilyena）、子女與所有至親。起初，路斯·瑟林無法接受這個事實，但當他的破碎心智短暫地恢復清明時，伊煞梅爾的話語讓他徹底崩潰。絕望與痛苦席捲他的意識，他發出撕心裂肺的吶喊，隨即瞬移離開宮殿。

獨自來到一片荒蕪的大地，路斯·瑟林最後一次引動無極力（One Power），吸收了遠超自身靈魂與肉體所能承受的龐大能量。他釋放出驚天動地的力量，撕裂大地，使大地崩碎、隆起，最終形成了一座巍峨高聳的山峰——龍山（Dragonmount）。這場浩劫既是他絕望的終曲，同時也標誌著因緣（Pattern）新一輪循環的開端。遠處的伊煞梅爾目睹一切，心知路斯·瑟林的靈魂終將轉世，而這也象徵著真龍轉生（Dragon Reborn）的命運已然啟動，光與影的終極戰爭亦將再次展開。

Themes and Symbolism

The Cycle of Time and Rebirth

Dragonmount immediately introduces one of the core concepts of The Wheel of Time: the cyclical nature of history. Lews Therin’s destruction is not an ending, but a beginning. His soul will be reborn, just as the struggle between light and darkness will continue. This theme of repetition and renewal will define the entire series, reinforcing the idea that history is destined to repeat itself, but not always in the same way.

Madness and Despair

The tragedy of Lews Therin’s downfall is deeply tied to the corruption of saidar, the male half of the One Power, by the Dark One. His madness is not only personal but symbolic of the broader fate of all male channelers who will suffer the same fate. This foreshadows the challenges that Rand al’Thor, the protagonist of the series, will face as he struggles with both the burden of his destiny and the threat of madness.

The Duality of Light and Shadow

The confrontation between Lews Therin and Ishamael is a microcosm of the eternal struggle between the forces of the Light and the Shadow. Ishamael’s words drip with cynicism and nihilism, as he insists that the battle is meaningless, that Lews Therin and his allies are doomed to fail again and again. This stark contrast between hope and despair will be a recurring motif throughout the series.

The Power of the One Power

The sheer scale of destruction caused by Lews Therin’s final act is a testament to the terrifying power of the One Power. The creation of Dragonmount is not just a moment of grief, but a display of how world-shattering the consequences of wielding such power can be. This sets the tone for the entire series, where the struggle to control and understand the One Power will be central to the protagonist’s journey.

主題與象徵

時間的輪迴與重生

龍山（Dragonmount）開宗明義地揭示了《時光之輪》系列的核心概念之一——歷史的循環往復。路斯·瑟林（Lews Therin）的毀滅並非終結，而是新生的開端。他的靈魂將再度轉世，而光與暗的對抗也將持續不休。這種循環與重生的主題貫穿整部系列，強調歷史雖然不斷重演，但每一次輪迴都可能產生不同的變數。

瘋狂與絕望

路斯·瑟林的悲劇深深植根於陽極力（saidin）遭受闇帝（Dark One）玷污的影響。他的瘋狂不僅是個人悲劇，更象徵著所有男性施法者的共同命運——他們終將陷入瘋狂，無可避免地步入毀滅之途。這一點預示了本作主角蘭德·亞瑟（Rand al’Thor）所將面對的挑戰：不僅是他註定的宿命，還有心智崩潰的可怕威脅。

光與影的對立

路斯·瑟林與伊煞梅爾（Ishamael）的對峙，實則是光與影永恆鬥爭的縮影。伊煞梅爾的言辭充滿了犬儒與虛無，他冷笑著宣稱這場戰爭毫無意義，因為光明終將再度隕落，昔日的英雄亦註定一敗再敗。希望與絕望的對立貫穿整部作品，成為反覆出現的重要主題。

無極力的威能

路斯·瑟林最後施展的力量所帶來的毀滅，體現了無極力（One Power）的可怕威能。他以自己的悲痛與絕望為引，傾瀉出的強大能量足以撕裂大地，崛起一座高聳入雲的龍山。這不僅僅是悲劇的終章，更是施法者力量所能帶來的毀滅性後果的警示。這也為整個故事奠定了基調，因為對力量的理解與掌控，將成為主角旅程的核心課題。

Writing Style and Narrative Impact

Robert Jordan’s prose in Dragonmount is rich and evocative, drawing the reader into a world that feels both ancient and immediate. His ability to blend epic scale with intimate tragedy is on full display here. The descriptions of Lews Therin’s palace, the haunting imagery of his slain loved ones, and the explosive climax all contribute to an unforgettable opening sequence.

Jordan’s use of dramatic irony is particularly effective—while Lews Therin is unaware of his own atrocities, the reader quickly grasps the horror of his situation. This technique heightens the emotional impact when he finally realizes the truth. Additionally, Ishamael’s dialogue is chilling and poetic, reinforcing his role as both a tempter and a harbinger of doom.

The pacing of the prologue is also worth noting. It begins in eerie silence, slowly unveiling the depth of Lews Therin’s madness, then builds to an explosive and world-altering climax. This careful escalation makes Dragonmount a masterclass in narrative structure.

寫作風格與敘事影響

羅伯特·喬丹在《龍山》中的文筆既細膩又震撼，將讀者帶入一個既古老又充滿現實感的世界。他在這一章節中完美地融合了史詩級的格局與個人的悲劇，展現了卓越的敘事功力。對於路斯·瑟林宮殿的描寫、對其摯愛親屬橫屍遍地的淒美畫面，以及最終驚天動地的高潮，都共同構築了一個令人難以忘懷的開場篇章。

喬丹對戲劇性反諷的運用尤其出色——當路斯·瑟林渾然不知自己犯下的滔天大罪時，讀者卻能迅速意識到眼前景象的恐怖。這種敘事手法極大地增強了情感衝擊力，使當路斯·瑟林終於意識到真相的瞬間變得更加震撼。此外，伊煞梅爾的對白冷冽詭譎、富有詩意，不僅突顯了他的誘惑者形象，也強化了他作為末日先兆的角色。

序章的節奏同樣值得注意。故事從詭譎的沉寂開始，逐步揭露路斯·瑟林瘋狂的深度，最終推向一場震撼世界的毀滅性高潮。這種精心鋪陳的遞進，使《龍山》成為敘事結構上的典範之作。

Conclusion

The prologue of The Eye of the World, Dragonmount, is an unforgettable introduction to The Wheel of Time series. It establishes key themes, introduces one of the most important historical events in the series, and delivers a tragic, powerful character moment in Lews Therin’s downfall. Jordan’s writing is immersive and impactful, making this one of the most compelling openings in modern fantasy literature.

For new readers, Dragonmount is both a tantalizing glimpse into the grand scale of the series and a deeply emotional moment that sets the tone for everything to come. For returning fans, it serves as a haunting reminder of the stakes at play and the weight of destiny. Whether experienced for the first time or revisited after finishing the series, this prologue remains one of the most iconic scenes in The Wheel of Time.

結論

《世界之眼》的序章《龍山》是《時光之輪》系列中令人難以忘懷的開篇。它不僅奠定了核心主題，也展現了整個系列中最重要的歷史事件之一，並透過路斯·瑟林的悲劇性墮落，塑造出極具震撼力的角色時刻。喬丹的文筆極具沉浸感與衝擊力，使這成為當代奇幻文學中最引人入勝的開場之一。

對於新讀者而言，《龍山》既是一扇通往龐大故事世界的窗口，也是一場極具情感張力的序幕，為接下來的故事奠定了基調。而對於重讀的粉絲來說，它再次喚起整個系列的關鍵抉擇與命運重擔，提醒讀者這場鬥爭的代價與意義。無論是首次閱讀還是完成全系列後重溫，這個序章始終是《時光之輪》中最具標誌性的場景之一。