📚心得【Expanse #1：Leviathan Wakes】 by Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck, 2011

#Space_Opera #Thriller #Mystery #Drama #宇戰

要我一句話概括《Expanse》的話，大概就是"Space opera done right and how it should be told."

當初，就是Syfy與Amazon上的《太空無垠》電視劇讓我掉入了「硬核科幻」的圈，當時一個月內binge watch 1~5季，之後就開始找各種至少非奇幻的科幻經典看。大概2、3年了吧，書單繞了一大圈，在知道Amazon短時間內不打算拍第7季後，我終於決定回來拜讀讓我入坑的《Expanse》第一集。

原本想著「這劇情大概不會差太多吧」，結果發現電視劇刪掉了許多重要角色(例如Dresden)，也剌掉了Miller警探重要的角色描寫與自己為何會沉迷於Juliette的案子(電視劇直接說一見鍾情，莫名其妙 = =)，當初看電視劇的一些不合理與快速帶過處，小說內都有一一解釋、推演。讀的過程中，雖然我早已知道故事大綱，卻不覺得有被雷到、破梗的感覺，角色們的情緒也都有傳達給讀者，角色刻劃非常了得。

一般來說，一個系列的第一集通常只以鋪陳為主，不會是能自成一集的經典作品，或是根本沒有收尾、直接讓讀者接第二集，但至少《Leviathan Wakes》不是，一個曲折的長事件結束得很完美，讓讀者在進入第二集前會想沉澱、反芻。第一集的結局，可說是遠征到了盡頭、終於找到朝思暮想魂牽夢縈的東西般的史詩級結局，雖然不像其他神作那樣有個想要說服讀者的核心思想，但那衝擊性更勝一籌。

通常一部偏硬核的科幻作品，它的重點會放在世界建構、社會描述、新穎思想、核心哲學等上，其中幾個的篇幅總會多餘其他，《Leviathan Wakes》則是很均衡的都用對話來描述，這讓整個故事讀起來更通順、口語化，角色們的動機也"幾乎"都能理解，整個世界在事件與對話中自然攤開；雖然嚴格說來這部作品是由兩人撰寫，其中一人還幫Star Trek寫過腳本，和其他作品相較有點作弊。

唯一能抱怨的大概只有「沒有什麼核心思想」這點吧，多數好的科幻作品之所以能「回甘」，就是因為能發人深省、覺得自己在讀完故事後成為一個更完全的人，之後在待人處事上因之而有所改變，《Expanse》幾乎沒有提及任何思想，至少第一集沒有，讀完後只記得很厲害的劇情與角色帶來的張力。

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總分：88分，沒想傳達的核心哲學思想，但劇情、張力、角色、政治文化描述都足以踏上神壇的神作。

核心思想：★★★☆☆ 核心討論議題是否有趣*5

劇情編排：★★★★★ 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：★★★★★ 結局滿意度與有無餘韻*3

易讀程度：★★★★☆ 閱讀時章節是否難消化*2

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#Space_Opera #Thriller #Mystery #Drama #Realistic_Space_Battle

If I had to describe 《Expanse》 in one sentence, it would be "A space opera done right and how it should be told."

Initially, it was the Syfy and Amazon's TV series 《Expanse》 that led me into the world of hard sci-fi. Within just a month, I binge-watched seasons 1 to 5. After that, I started seeking out various classic non-fantasy sci-fi works. It's been about two or three years now, and after circling back through numerous reading lists, when I found out Amazon had no plans for season 7 in the short term, I finally decided to return to the source and read 《Expanse》's first book that originally hooked me.

I thought, "The story probably wouldn't be too different," but I was surprised to find that the TV series had deleted many important characters (like Dresden) and stripped away detective Miller's crucial character development and his obsession with Juliette's case. The show just vaguely explained it as an unexplained instant attraction, which felt random and confusing. All the inconsistencies and rushed moments from the TV series were meticulously explained and developed in the book. Even though I already knew the plot outline, I didn't feel disappointed or spoiled at all. The characters' emotions were effectively conveyed to me, and their development was truly outstanding.

Generally speaking, the first book of a series often focuses mainly on world-building and setting up for future stories, rarely standing on its own as a classic work or leaving readers hanging without resolution. But 《Leviathan Wakes》 isn't like that. It concludes a long, intricate event in a satisfying way, leaving readers wanting to reflect and savor before diving into the second book. The ending of the first book could be described as an epic conclusion — like reaching the end of a long-awaited journey and finally finding what you've been searching for. While it doesn't deliver the profound central idea found in other masterpieces, its impact is even stronger because of that.

Typically, a hard sci-fi work focuses on world-building, societal descriptions, innovative ideas, and core philosophical themes, with several aspects often overshadowing others. But 《Leviathan Wakes》 strikes an excellent balance, using dialogue to describe all these elements smoothly and conversationally, making the story flow naturally and feel more relatable. The characters' motivations are "almost" always understandable, and the world unfolds organically through events and conversations. Although it's technically co-written by two authors (one of whom has also written for 《Star Trek》), it feels slightly unfair compared to other works. But again, it's done naturally and impressively.

The only complaint I have is that there's "no central philosophical idea." Many great sci-fi works linger in your mind because they make you think deeply and grow as a person, inspiring changes in how you interact with others afterward. But 《Expanse》 barely touches on any ideas at all — at least not in the first book. All I'm left with after reading it is an appreciation for its intense plots and character-driven tension.

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IMO Rating: 88. While lacking a central philosophical idea, this masterpiece still stands atop its pedestal with its gripping storyline, character development, political and cultural descriptions.

Core Theme: ★★★☆☆ (*5)

Plot Quality: ★★★★★ (*4)

Character Development: ★★★★★ (*3)

Science Validity: ★★★★★ (*3)

Ending Satisfaction: ★★★★★ (*3)

Readability: ★★★★☆ (*2)