How to build a fictional world - Kate Messner

如何構築小說世界 - 凱特．梅斯納 (Kate Messner)

譯者: Geoff Chen 審譯者: Zhiting Chen

在托爾金的奇幻世界

In J.R.R.'s world,

Gandalf is one of five wizards sent by the Valar

甘道夫屬於諸神派遣的五名巫師

to guide the inhabitants of Middle Earth

前往指引中土大陸之民

in their struggles against the dark force of Sauron.

對抗索倫與其黑暗之力

Gandalf's body was mortal,

甘道夫的肉身與凡人無異

subject to the physical rules of Middle Earth,

受到中土物理法則的支配

but his spirit was immortal,

然而靈魂不滅

as seen when he died as Gandalf the Grey

因此灰袍甘道夫戰死後

and resurrected as Gandalf the White.

仍能重生為白袍甘道夫

According to the Wachowski's script,

根據華卓斯基的劇本

an awakened human only has to link up

覺醒的人類只要連結至母體

and hack the neon binary code of the Matrix

駭進母體的系統 竄改二元代碼

to learn how to fly a helicopter in a matter of seconds.

就可以在數秒內學會駕駛直升機

Or if you are the One, or one of the Ones,

如果你是救世主

或是救世主之一

you don't even need a helicopter, you just need a cool pair of shades.

你連駕直升機都不用

戴副墨鏡耍酷就可以上天下地

Cheshire cats can juggle their own heads.

柴郡貓可以用頭玩拋接球

iPads are rudimentary.

iPad 早就落伍了

No Quidditch match ends until the Golden Snitch is caught.

一場魁地奇比賽

沒抓到金探子就不能結束

And the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe,

至於生命、宇宙與一切的終極答案 （*出自《銀河系漫遊指南》）

and everything

is most certainly 42.

正是42 （*出自《銀河系漫遊指南》）

Just like real life, fictional worlds operate consistently

如同真實生活

虛構的世界要持續運作

within a spectrum of physical and societal rules.

必須依靠一系列物理和社會法則

That's what makes these intricate worlds

這些錯綜複雜的世界 正是因此才

believable, comprehensible, and worth exploring.

足夠可信

易於理解

而且值得更深入探索

In real life, the Law of Gravity holds seven book sets of "Harry Potter"

現實中，萬有引力定律

讓哈利波特全七集

to millions of bookshelves around the world.

穩穩立於全世界無數書架上

We know this to be true, but we also know

我們都知道這是真的

但我們也知道

that ever since J.K. typed the words

打從 J.K. 羅琳寫下這些文字

wizard, wand, and "Wingardium Leviosa,"

寫下巫師

魔杖

以及「溫加顛拉維阿薩」(飄浮咒語)

that Law of Gravity has ceased to exist

萬有引力定律便不再存在於

on the trillions of pages resting between those bookends.

安坐於書架上的 這數兆書頁之內了

Authors of science fiction and fantasy literally build worlds.

科幻、奇幻小說家

是貨真價實地建造世界

They make rules, maps, lineages,

他們創造規則

地圖

系譜

languages, cultures, universes,

語言

文化

宇宙

alternate universes within universes,

宇宙之外又有不同的宇宙

and from those worlds sprout story, after story, after story.

從這些世界中衍生出

一個一個又一個故事

When it's done well,

成功的話

readers can understand fictional worlds and their rules

讀者就能理解

這些虛構世界與其中的規則

just as well as the characters that live in them do

理解的程度甚至不輸給

真正生活其中的角色

and sometimes, just as well or even better

有時候

甚至可以媲美或超過

than the reader understands the world outside of the book.

讀者對真實世界的理解

But how?

但到底要怎麼做？

How can human-made squiggles on a page

當這些由人隨手寫在紙上的文字

reflect lights into our eyes that send signals to our brains

反射光線進入我們的眼睛

傳輸訊號至腦部

that we logically and emotionally decode as complex narratives

我們憑邏輯與情感 將這些訊號解讀成

複雜的故事

that move us to fight,

驅使我們爭鬥

cry, sing, and think,

流淚

歌唱

與思考

that are strong enough

為什麼這些文字強大到

not only to hold up a world

不僅足以支撐這個

that is completely invented by the author,

完全由作者一手創造的世界

but also to change the reader's perspective

甚至能改變讀者 對真實世界的觀感

on the real world that resumes

使讀者沉浸其中，無法自拔

only when the final squiggle is reached?

直到讀完最後一頁的文字？

I'm not sure anyone knows the answer to that question,

我不知道有沒有人曉得

這個問題的答案

yet fantastical, fictional worlds are created everyday

但每天都有人創造出 虛構的奇妙世界

in our minds, on computers,

在我們腦海中

或打進電腦裡

even on napkins at the restaurant down the street.

或是寫在街上那家飯館的餐巾上

The truth is your imagination and a willingness to, figuratively,

事實是，只要你有想像力

而且也願意──打個比方──

live in your own world

生活在你自己的世界裡

are all you need to get started writing a novel.

你就可以開始寫小說了

I didn't dream up Hogwarts or the Star Wars' Cantina,

我沒有夢到霍格華茲

或是星際大戰裡的酒館

but I have written some science thrillers for kids and young adults.

不過我寫了幾部科幻驚悚小說

給小孩或給青少年看

Here are some questions and methods I've used

以下是幾個我用過的問題和方法

to help build the worlds in which those books take place.

幫助自己建立這幾個故事 所發生的世界

我會從基本的時間地點開始

I start with a basic place and time.

Whether that's a fantasy world or a futuristic setting in the real world,

先決定這是一個奇幻世界

或是奠基於現實的未來故事

it's important to know where you are and whether you're working in the past,

知道故事發生在哪裡 是很重要的

時間又是在過去的歷史

present, or future.

現代

還是未來

I like to create a timeline

我喜歡畫一條時間軸

showing how the world came to be.

來紀錄這個世界形成的過程

What past events have shaped the way it is now?

哪些歷史事件 使這世界變成如今的樣貌？

Then I brainstorm answers to questions

然後我會腦力激盪出 各種問題的答案

that draw out the details of my fictional world.

來勾勒虛構世界的細節

What rules are in place here?

這裡存在什麼規則？

This covers everything from laws of gravity,

這可以從萬有引力的存在

or not,

（或不存在）

to the rules of society

到社會規範

and the punishments for individuals who break them.

不遵守規範的人 又會受到什麼懲罰

What kind of government does this world have?

這裡有怎樣的政府？

Who has power, and who doesn't?

是誰掌權

而誰沒有？

What do people believe in here?

這裡的人信仰什麼？

And what does this society value most?

這個社會最推崇的是什麼？

Then it's time to think about day-to-day life.

接著可以開始構思日常生活了

What's the weather like in this world?

這個世界的天氣如何？

Where do the inhabitants live and work and go to school?

居民都住在什麼地方？

去哪工作？

到哪上學？

What do they eat

吃些什麼？

玩些什麼？

and how do they play?

How do they treat their young and their old?

他們待年輕人態度如何？

待老人如何？

What relationships do they have with the animals and plants of the world?

他們和這世界的 動植物是什麼關係？

And what do those animals and plants look like?

動植物長什麼樣子？

What kind of technology exists?

科技如何？

Transportation?

交通如何？

Communication?

彼此如何溝通？

Access to information?

有甚麼管道可以獲得資訊？

There's so much to think about!

太多問題可以想了！

So, spend some time living in those tasks and the answers to those questions,

只要花點時間在這些事情上

找出這些問題的解答

and you're well on your way to building your own fictional world.

你就已經著手 創造屬於自己的世界了

Once you know your world as well as you hope your reader will,

一旦你對這個世界夠熟悉

而你也希望讀者 和你了解它的程度一樣多

set your characters free in it and see what happens.

就把人物放進這個世界

看看會發生什麼

And ask yourself,

別忘了問自己

"How does this world you created shape the individuals who live in it?

「你創造的這個世界

會如何影響生活中的角色？

And what kind of conflict is likely to emerge?"

可能會產生哪種衝突？」

Answer those questions, and you have your story.

回答完這些問題

你就有屬於自己的故事了

Good luck, future world-builder!

未來的世界建築師，祝好運！