林夢(mèng)蕓
對(duì)于中國(guó)網(wǎng)絡(luò)文學(xué)來說,今年是個(gè)大年,因?yàn)檫M(jìn)入了第20個(gè)年頭。一個(gè)研討會(huì)在上海市舉行,與會(huì)者深入探討網(wǎng)絡(luò)文學(xué)發(fā)展至今多個(gè)層面的問題,并公布了“中國(guó)網(wǎng)絡(luò)文學(xué)20年20部作品”的評(píng)選結(jié)果。
1998年,被視為第一部網(wǎng)絡(luò)文學(xué)作品的《第一次的親密接觸》在BBS上開始連載。作品采用的是讓人驚奇的更新方式,各種網(wǎng)民才會(huì)懂的火星文句子,就連內(nèi)容,講的都是虛無縹緲又浪漫純真的網(wǎng)戀。
到2018年,網(wǎng)絡(luò)文學(xué)正式邁入第20個(gè)年頭。至今我們?cè)缇土?xí)慣了手機(jī)閱讀,習(xí)慣了網(wǎng)絡(luò)用語,習(xí)慣了邊看小說邊和作者互動(dòng)……
今天,網(wǎng)絡(luò)文學(xué)已擁有超過1300萬個(gè)注冊(cè)者的寫作隊(duì)伍,發(fā)表作品1600余萬篇,讀者更是超過了3.78億人次。
不知不覺中,網(wǎng)絡(luò)文學(xué)已經(jīng)影響了一代人的寫作和閱讀方式。
而比這更值得一提的是它已代表著中國(guó)走出國(guó)門——去年,一則“美國(guó)男子因追中國(guó)網(wǎng)絡(luò)小說成功戒掉毒癮”的消息刷屏了社交網(wǎng)絡(luò),引出了網(wǎng)文之前一直未被關(guān)注的受眾——外國(guó)讀者。
而在許多作家心里,早已把網(wǎng)絡(luò)小說和日本動(dòng)漫、韓國(guó)電視劇、好萊塢商業(yè)片相提并論,列為中國(guó)獨(dú)有的文化輸出。
2016年4月,國(guó)內(nèi)老牌網(wǎng)絡(luò)小說論壇“龍的天空”貼出了這樣一則帖子:“什么樣的中國(guó)網(wǎng)絡(luò)小說,竟然讓1000萬個(gè)外國(guó)人看了又想看?”
這則標(biāo)題略顯夸張的帖子,介紹了好幾個(gè)外國(guó)書迷自發(fā)建立的分享中國(guó)網(wǎng)絡(luò)小說的網(wǎng)站。稍微逛一逛你就會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn),1000萬這個(gè)數(shù)字,其實(shí)是低估了。
其中,wuxiaworld算是比較大的一家,擁有自己的翻譯團(tuán)隊(duì),語種涉及英語、韓語、越南語等等,作品極多,規(guī)模極大,幾乎每一章節(jié)的評(píng)論數(shù)都在三位數(shù)左右。
點(diǎn)進(jìn)這些網(wǎng)站,明顯可以看出,玄幻小說最符合外國(guó)人的口味。而最受歡迎的作者,就是專寫玄幻的“我吃西紅柿”,他的《星辰變》《吞噬星空》《盤龍》在spcnet的閱讀量甚至在金庸之上。有些“專業(yè)術(shù)語”難用字面翻譯,網(wǎng)站還會(huì)專門整理出幾頁“武俠詞匯定義”“玄幻詞匯定義”等,服務(wù)十分到位。
這些年,我們的影視作品受技術(shù)所限,沒能完美展現(xiàn)東方仙俠的魅力,倒是網(wǎng)絡(luò)文學(xué)用文字填補(bǔ)了想象力,把具有東方文化特色的瑰麗世界描寫得繪聲繪色。就像我們愛看西方魔幻,對(duì)外國(guó)人來說,東方仙俠一樣充滿了神秘感和新鮮感。
外國(guó)讀者群體的日益壯大,也吸引了國(guó)內(nèi)網(wǎng)站的注意。比如起點(diǎn)中文網(wǎng),起初和這些翻譯網(wǎng)站合作分享版權(quán),后來干脆建立了屬于自己的海外閱讀網(wǎng)站:起點(diǎn)國(guó)際。在這里,《圣墟》成了《The Sacred Ruins》,由Alsey和Mike負(fù)責(zé)翻譯,分別于周一、周三、周五和周末更新。
以往,國(guó)外的民間翻譯網(wǎng)站只觸及已經(jīng)完結(jié)的作品,大多是幾年前的經(jīng)典小說。如今實(shí)現(xiàn)了同步更新,意味著外國(guó)網(wǎng)友也能第一時(shí)間看到中國(guó)正在流行的小說。有意思的是,因?yàn)楦铝坑邢?,外?guó)網(wǎng)友也踏上了“催更”的道路。網(wǎng)友“True Seeker”說:“我也不想看起來不太感激的樣子,但你們更得實(shí)在是太慢了……”
這一切,始于閱文集團(tuán)白金作家風(fēng)凌天下的玄幻作品《我是至尊》。
為什么是這本書?作者本人的感受又是如何?筆者近日專訪了風(fēng)凌天下。
2017年6月1日,《我是至尊》在起點(diǎn)中文和起點(diǎn)國(guó)際實(shí)現(xiàn)了全球同步首發(fā),海外讀者可以零時(shí)差閱讀英文版。這也是國(guó)內(nèi)網(wǎng)絡(luò)文學(xué)作品首次實(shí)現(xiàn)雙語全球同步上線,堪稱中國(guó)文學(xué)界的一個(gè)里程碑事件。
在起點(diǎn)國(guó)際的評(píng)論區(qū),有外國(guó)網(wǎng)友驚喜回復(fù):“零點(diǎn)的時(shí)候我發(fā)現(xiàn),起點(diǎn)中文和起點(diǎn)國(guó)際竟然更新了同一章節(jié),所以這部小說是全球同步連載的?天哪!”
為此,風(fēng)凌天下還有點(diǎn)懵:“我是新書剛開始發(fā)的時(shí)候才知道的,當(dāng)時(shí)(編輯)給我發(fā)了一個(gè)全球首發(fā)的動(dòng)態(tài)圖。沒什么特殊的心情,當(dāng)時(shí)就想了一件事:外國(guó)人看得懂嗎?”
風(fēng)凌天下,35歲,山東漢子,作家富豪榜榜上常客,“網(wǎng)文之王”十二主神之一。
代表作品有《異世邪君》《傲世九重天》《天域蒼穹》等,累計(jì)點(diǎn)擊量有15億,長(zhǎng)期位居網(wǎng)絡(luò)小說熱搜榜前五位。其中,根據(jù)《傲世九重天》改編的同名網(wǎng)游,日流水高達(dá)3000萬。
這一次的同步上線,使得風(fēng)凌天下在海外也名聲大噪。最初的成名作《凌天傳說》都被掛上了起點(diǎn)國(guó)際的banner位,用英語寫著“著名作家風(fēng)凌天下的首部完本小說”。
面對(duì)這一切,他本人顯得有些笨拙,自然也就不太在意,“因?yàn)榇_實(shí)不懂英語?!?/p>
對(duì)網(wǎng)絡(luò)作家來說,實(shí)時(shí)了解讀者的想法、掌握市場(chǎng)的回饋是最重要的一點(diǎn)。顯然,外國(guó)人的想法,了解起來還挺困難的?!拔視?huì)截圖發(fā)到我的讀者群里,讓他們給我翻譯。”
相較之下,翻譯組就不能這么坦然了。
據(jù)悉,《我是至尊》的英文版由起點(diǎn)全職簽約的翻譯組進(jìn)行,很專業(yè),他們還有個(gè)特別“中二”的名字,叫“終極幻想翻譯組”。因?yàn)槭切米髌?,所以總?huì)面臨一些難翻譯的詞。比如,主角的兄弟跟主角說“走,跟我去端掉一個(gè)黑廠子”。這時(shí),翻譯組就會(huì)拜托風(fēng)凌天下做一些詞典里都沒有的“土話定義題”:“他們來問我‘黑廠子到底應(yīng)該怎么定義,我想,就是一個(gè)違法犯罪的場(chǎng)所吧。這樣的例子太多太多了?!?h3>網(wǎng)絡(luò)小說的根在中國(guó)傳統(tǒng)文化
為什么“首部全球雙語同步首發(fā)”的機(jī)會(huì)會(huì)落到風(fēng)凌天下身上?
作者認(rèn)為,這是由《我是至尊》所傳達(dá)出的正能量決定的:“這是一本完全正能量的小說。雖然整體空間虛構(gòu)在異世界,但背景還是發(fā)生在中國(guó)古代,忠君愛國(guó)、男兒當(dāng)報(bào)國(guó)之類的立場(chǎng)是堅(jiān)定的。編輯和網(wǎng)站的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)也是慎重考慮后選擇了這本書做全球首發(fā)。”
正能量,是風(fēng)凌天下的標(biāo)簽。
從第一本書開始,他就一直秉承一個(gè)信念:不能寫太邪惡的主角,一定要遵循中華民族仁義禮智信、忠孝節(jié)義這些傳統(tǒng)精神。“其實(shí)也不僅僅是我,我個(gè)人認(rèn)為,每一個(gè)成功的網(wǎng)絡(luò)文學(xué)作者,他的內(nèi)心、他的道德觀肯定都是非常正的。因?yàn)椴徽脑捨涣四敲炊嗳耍步^不會(huì)獲得那么大的成功?!?/p>
“我們流著同樣的血液,同樣是炎黃子孫。正義與美好,是我們一直推崇并且渴望的!這是網(wǎng)絡(luò)小說的根本,也是中國(guó)傳統(tǒng)文化的根本之所在。不管是什么題材什么藝術(shù)形式,立足點(diǎn)必須正確才有市場(chǎng)?!?/p>
這種對(duì)于“正與邪”有著明確分野的堅(jiān)定立場(chǎng),與風(fēng)凌天下是退伍軍人的身份息息相關(guān)。
而《我是至尊》從某個(gè)角度來說,寫的就是一個(gè)退伍軍人回到家鄉(xiāng)之后為兄弟報(bào)仇、為國(guó)家效力的故事。對(duì)主角的強(qiáng)烈代入,讓風(fēng)凌天下的責(zé)任感和興奮度上升到了從未有過的高度:“因?yàn)榍楦猩媳容^契合,寫起來也格外順暢?!?/p>
《我是至尊》是作者入行以來投入精力最多的作品。僅籌備就達(dá)4年之久。他隨時(shí)都在為這本書積累,資料、情節(jié)、段子,歸列文檔足有十幾萬字。
風(fēng)凌天下認(rèn)為,自己寫了這么多年,不能被固定的標(biāo)簽所禁錮:“雖然基本的道德觀不會(huì)改變,但我在嘗試塑造更成熟的角色。”
所謂成熟,就是懂得敬畏。
風(fēng)凌天下以往的小說主角和大部分網(wǎng)文一樣,不羈、浪子,對(duì)世間律條、規(guī)矩不屑一顧,活著就是為了“打破”。但在《我是至尊》中,讀者看到了一個(gè)更有責(zé)任感的人物,這也是這部小說最亮眼的圈粉之處。
“人活在世上就必然要受到某種束縛,原則和底線是必要的。懂得尊敬,懂得敬畏;尊敬所有值得尊敬的;敬畏所有應(yīng)該敬畏的……人始終是群體的,真正的無法無天是不存在的。這也算是我個(gè)人的成長(zhǎng)體驗(yàn)吧?!?/p>
Earlier this year saw the success of “20 Years” - China Web Literature Seminar held in Shanghai. Participants exchanged ideas and compared notes about many issues concerning the development of the literary form that made its debut in China in the late 1990s. The first chapter of , regarded as the countrys first “web fiction”, was released on a BBS in 1998, with the use of textspeaks and a surreal storytelling style causing a sensation among the countrys vigilant netizens.
Web fiction has since proliferated in popularity. Today, mobile reading and “web language” has infiltrated peoples everyday life, and interaction with the author in the process of reading has become commonplace, thanks to the invention of things not possible in the era of printed books, such as clickable maps, pop-up character bios, sorting posts by tag, illustrations, and video.
As a result of this, more fans of serialized web fiction have decided to create their own, propagating the form further, leading to the number of serious, original works growing quickly. Today, a total of 13 million registered web fiction authors have published some 16 million works that have served a readership of more than 378 million in China.
It is no exaggeration to say that the new web-based format has changed a very important part of the life of a whole generation in China. What is more worth mentioning is that, Chinas web literature is reaching a foreign audience and becoming a force to be reckoned with on the international stage and in the sense of cultural export.
In 2016, a post released on www.Ikong.cn, one of Chinas first web literature publishing platforms, shared several websites created by a group of foreign fans to introduce Chinese web novels in their own countries. One of the websites is “WuxiaWorld” which has its own well-established multilingual translation team covering English, Korean, Vietnamese, etc. Almost every episode released on the website drew hundreds of comments and likes, indicating fantasy novels from China are the most popular among foreign readers. The works released by an author known as “I love tomatoes” enjoys such a big fan base that he almost beat the “wuxia” novel master Jin Yong.
The mounting popularity of Chinese web literature in foreign countries has drawn the attention of many Chinese websites, one of which is www.qidian.com. The website has launched a special division that serves foreign readers exclusively. With the translation currently managed by Alsey and Mike, the new website updates its content on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and on weekends. The release in installments ensures foreign fans can enjoy the web serials simultaneously with their Chinese counterparts.
June 1, 2017 saw the global release of , a fantasy novel by Fengling Tianxia, one of the “platinum authors” working with China Literature, in both Chinese and English, marking a new milestone in the web literature scene of China.
The representative works by the 35-year-old best-selling author have drawn a whopping 1.5 billion page views in total. One of his works has been recreated into a web game that has garnered more than 30 million hits.
Behind the sensational success of the novel was a hardworking translation team that had to work with the author on numerous language details to ensure a best possible reader experience for English speakers.
was chosen as the first web novel for global release for a good reason: Telling the story of a home-coming veteran, the novel is essentially about brotherly love and a mans love for his nation.
“Positive energy” is the banner of Fengling Tianxia, as reflected in all his works. In a sense, what makes shine is the strong sense of responsibility of the protagonist, and such a strong sense of responsibility also reflects that of the author not only as a storyteller but as a person.