📚心得【Expanse #3: Abaddon's Gate】 by Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck, 2013
#Space_Opera #Thriller #Mystery #Drama #Xeno-tech #文明遺跡
看過電視劇後再來看小說，才知道電視劇魔改的多誇張。為了簡化角色數量，電視劇不但「放生」了很多應死人物，把根本不在蟲洞門Slow Zone內的Bobbie等人丟進蟲洞，最扯的是讓罪該萬死、完全是大反派的Ashford直接成為正派角色，基本上刪掉了Bull這個悲劇正派角色的所有劇情與地位。
看到第三集，我不得不佩服《Expanse》的兩位作者的說故事節奏與文筆功力，為何每集的結尾都能寫得像是「人類有了嶄新的機會，希望與危險同時存在」的感覺？讓讀者能聯想到的可能性以等比級數倍增，很想直接接著下一集看。
下面講自己對劇情的心得，此段當防雷。
和第二集相比，我認為第三集在劇情上更為精彩：面對從金星生出、移動到天王星附近的Ring，UN、MCR、OPA都派出軍隊與學術人員前去探勘，主角一行人也因為一連串事件不得不前往，卻不知道這又是老對手Mao家族成員的陰謀。
這次Melba／Clarrisa角色的成長與態度轉變實在很令人驚豔，從一個乖巧的千金女孩變成冷血技工殺手，最後竟又成為關鍵時刻的英雄，而這之間的差別只在於當下的情緒、是否糾結於過去仇恨、能否顧全大局與了解各個文化的程度而已。有時，太專注於一件事情的結果，就是會忽略那件事情以外的所有一切，執著到最後，反而可能因為那忽略掉的事物而踢到鐵板。
據Discord Sci-fi Bookclub的書友們所說，第2~4集是相對無聊的，第二集可以說是有些無趣，但閱讀第三集時真的沒有那種感覺，門的開啟可以說是整個故事主軸中重要的一環，Medina Station建立的歷史再怎麼說也十分重要。
IMO總分：79分，劇情推進、悲劇角色、重要轉捩點一氣呵成的優秀續集。
核心思想：★★★☆☆ 核心討論議題是否有趣*5
劇情細節：★★★★☆ 綜觀整體劇情的質與量*4
角色刻畫：★★★★★ 角色群的必要性與深度*3
科學軟硬：★★★★☆ 是否符合現實物理現象*3
結局滿意：★★★★★ 結局滿意度與有無回甘*3
易讀程度：★★★☆☆ 閱讀時章節是否難消化*2
#Space_Opera #Thriller #Mystery #Drama #Xeno_Tech #Civilization_Ruins
After watching the TV series and then reading the novel, I realized just how crazy the changes were. To simplify the number of characters, the show not only "set free" a bunch of people who should have died but also sent Bobbie and others, who weren't even in the wormhole gate Slow Zone, into the wormhole. The craziest part is turning Ashford, who totally deserves to be the big villain, into a main character—essentially erasing Bull's entire tragic storyline as a protagonist.
By the third episode, I couldn’t help but admire the storytelling pace and writing skills of The Expanse's two authors. How do they manage to make every episode’s ending feel like "humankind has a fresh chance with hope and danger coexisting"? It multiplies the possibilities readers can think of exponentially, making me want to dive straight into the next episode.
Warning: The following contains spoilers.
Compared to the second episode, I found the third one more exciting in terms of plot. Facing the mysterious Ring emerging from Venus and moving near Uranus, UN, MCR, and OPA all sent their military forces and academics to investigate. Meanwhile, the main characters are forced to go there too, without realizing it’s another scheme by their old rival, Mao.
This time, Melba/Clarrisa's growth and attitude shift were truly shocking. From a behaving rich girl to a cold-blooded technician assassin and then a hero in the critical moment—the difference lies in her emotions at that moment, whether she’s stuck on past hatred, if she can prioritize the bigger picture, and how well she understands different cultures. Sometimes, being too focused on one thing can make you ignore everything else. Obsessing over it to the end might lead you to trip over what you overlooked.
From what my Discord Sci-fi Bookclub friends said, episodes 2-4 are relatively boring. While I could agree that episode two is a bit dull, reading the third one didn’t give me that feeling at all. The opening of the wormhole gate can be considered a major part of the story’s main plotline, and the history behind Medina Station being built is pretty significant in its own right.
IMO Rating: 79. A solid sequel with smooth progression, tragic characters, key turning points, and everything tied together nicely.
Core Theme: ★★★☆☆ (*5)
Plot Quality: ★★★★☆ (*4)
Character Development: ★★★★★ (*3)
Science Validity: ★★★★☆ (*3)
Ending Satisfaction: ★★★★★ (*3)
Readability: ★★★☆☆ (*2)
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