当人们都以为暴雪推出的下一部小说将是围绕沃金展开的故事时,传来了一个好消息:暴雪将提前推出原定2013年底发售的小说《巨龙的黎明》(Down of the Aspects)的第一部分。根据美国著名图书出版商Simon & Schuster公司的消息,这小说的第一部分将于2013年的2月19日发售。
更好的消息是,小说有90页,不是短篇;而且这小说是以电子书的形式发售的,售价为1.99美元。
本书作者为大名鼎鼎的理查德·A·纳克,他又来拿守护巨龙来开刀了。
《巨龙的黎明》
Description
THE AGE OF DRAGONS IS OVER.
Uncertainty plagues Azeroth’s ancient guardians as they struggle to find a new purpose. This dilemma has hit Kalecgos, youngest of the former Dragon Aspects, especially hard. Having lost his great powers, how can he—or any of his kind—still make a difference in the world?
The answer lies in the distant past, when savage beasts called proto-dragons ruled the skies. Through a mysterious artifact found near the heart of Northrend, Kalecgos witnesses this violent era and the shocking history of the original Aspects: Alexstrasza, Ysera, Malygos, Neltharion, and Nozdormu.
In their most primitive forms, the future protectors of Azeroth must stand united against Galakrond, a bloodthirsty creature that threatens the existence of their race. But did these mere proto-dragons face such a horrific adversary alone, or did an outside force help them? Were they given the strength they would become legendary for...or did they earn it with blood? Kalecgos’s discoveries will change everything he knows about the events that led to the...DAWN OF THE ASPECTS
PART I
The former Dragon Aspects are on the brink of going their separate ways to forge new destinies. As Kalecgos ponders the uncertain future awaiting his kind, he uncovers a mysterious artifact that allows him to see through the eyes of his late predecessor, Malygos. Intense visions bombard Kalecgos, transporting him to a time when the original Aspects were no more than primitive proto-dragons. Across ancient Kalimdor’s northern plains, they fought for survival against each other and a terrifying creature that dominated the era: the Father of Dragons, Galakrond. But many questions remain for Kalecgos. What are the origins of this strange artifact? Are its visions a gift, or a curse?
官方内容提要:
巨龙的时代结束了。
不安的情绪困扰着艾泽拉斯古老的守护者们,此时他们正在努力寻找一个新的目标。最年轻的龙王卡雷苟斯则尤其感到迷茫。失去了强大力量,他——以及他的族群如何才能继续在这个世界中扮演特殊的角色?
这个问题的答案在久远的过去,那是暴虐的始祖龙统御蓝天的时代。借助在诺森德中心区域附近找到的一件神器,卡雷苟斯目睹了那个野蛮的年代所发生的一切并且吃惊于巨龙的起源,以及阿莱克斯塔萨、伊瑟拉、玛利苟斯、耐萨里奥和诺滋多姆过去的历史。
这些后来的艾泽拉斯守护者们的身体还只是最初的形态,它们联合起来对抗着迦拉克隆,后者是一只嗜血的猛兽,威胁这龙族的生存。但是难道这些势单力薄的始祖龙真的独自直面这只恐怖的怪兽?还是有一支强大的外援对它们进行了帮助?这种传奇般的强大力量,是外来者的出现赋予了这些巨龙的……还是它们凭借牺牲,自我奋斗赢来的?卡雷苟斯的发现将改变他所知的一切,并将开启……巨龙的黎明。
第一部分
曾经的龙王们即将分道扬镳,迎接新的生活。此时卡雷苟斯正在为其族群未知的未来绞尽脑汁的思考,他发现了一件神器,可以让他通过前任玛利苟斯的双眼审视这个世界。那些惊人的画面震撼着卡雷苟斯,将他送回了那个龙王们还不过是始祖龙的年代。穿过远古卡利姆多大陆的北部平原,他们为了生存自相残杀,同时还需抵御统治那个纪元的可怕怪物:龙之父——迦拉德隆。但是卡雷苟斯脑中依然有许多问题。这件不同寻常的神器的来源是什么?这些画面究竟是一件礼物,还是一份诅咒?
由这段摘要,我们大致可以预测出这将是一部着重描写巨龙发源时期历史的作品,并将向我们展开在大灾变过后,随之到来的凡人时代中,巨龙们是如何摆脱心中的困惑和不适,克服种种困难,再一次完成崛起的故事。
纳克先生特别善于掌握宏大而复杂的史诗题材,他的《上古之战三部曲》系列,既是《魔兽世界》官方系列小说的开端,也成功奠定了“魔兽世界的价值超越了游戏本身”这一事实的基础,更是为暴雪积累了大量忠实的魔兽剧情迷。