大英清单 | 10个必去的“奇幻世界”

BRITANNICA LISTS

Are you sick of the dull monotony of reality? Are you looking for a vacation spot that is truly out of this world? If so, here are some alternate universes created by some of the world’s most imaginative authors.

10. H.P. Lovecraft’s Dreamlands

Constructed through the influence of dreamers from various dimensions, H.P. Lovecraft’s macabre Dreamlands was initially forged by his Dream Cycle (a set of loosely connected short stories) and was posthumously added to by several successors in the horror genre. There are several ways in which you can enter this fantastic universe, the easiest being through simply dreaming and the most perilous being through traversing dangerous waking and dreaming realms whilst awake. Once in the Dreamlands, you will notice that time has a lengthening effect, where one waking hour may last for longer than a week, and as well as the larger-than-life scenery, which is rife with haunted forests and towering castles, all inhabited by the likes of pirates, monsters, and gods.

9. Terry Pratchett’s Discworld

If one day you find yourself flying through space in a disc-shaped world that’s supported by four enormous elephants atop a 10,000 mile-long piloting turtle, then you might consider the slight possibility that you are in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. Inhabitants here range from werewolves to dwarfs, wizards to yetis, and dragons to Death himself (most often found riding his horse Binky), thus making Discworld a melting pot for a plethora of species that often benefit from the rational diplomacy of Commander Sam Vimes and his motley squad. So be sure to check your prejudices upon arrival, for, in a world with vegetarian werewolves and six-foot dwarves, rarely are things what one might expect.

8. Edgar Rice Burrough’s Pellucidar

If you start digging a hole or head to the North Pole, you just might find your way into Edgar Rice Burrough’s land of Pellucidar—the Hollow Earth land where its concave surface creates an upward-curved horizon, the Sun is always at high noon, and prehistoric wildlife is bountiful. Although this timeless world, abounding with vegetation, may seem like a heaven in Earth, one must beware of the human-enslaving reptilian Mahars and their apelike servants, the Sagoths. Also, outside their empire exist several other species to watch out for, including the deranged Jukans, the snake-men Horibs, and the Buried People of Amiocap. But if it’s adventure you’re seeking, Pellucidar is the place for you!

7. C.S. Lewis’s Narnia

If you have been looking for a marvelous world full of such mythical creatures as centaurs, fauns, and unicorns—some of which being endowed with the power of speech—then you need only to climb through the back of a wardrobe. As you stumble into C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, take note of the domed sky, penetrable by only immortals, where burning stars spell out premonitions and the actions of the world’s creator, the famed lion Aslan; make fast friends with a wedded beaver couple; and, most importantly, stay clear of the evil White Witch, who has a special knack for making it “[a]lways winter and never Christmas.” However, as long as you remain honest and loyal to those you love, Narnia is sure to be the miraculous realm you always dreamed of.

6. J.M. Barrie’s Never-Never Land

Are you tired of being an adult and dealing with endless responsibilities? Are you looking for a place to eternally recapture your youth? Well then tie down your shadow and escape to the Sea of a Thousand Islands, where Never-Never Land can be found. Here, you can partake in endless food fights with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, all while ignoring the burdens of age. You can also pull pranks with the crew on the cantankerous Captain Hook—just be careful to not get on the wrong side of nor underestimate the short-tempered fairy Tinker Bell. So come to Never-Never Land, where you can ignore any and all of life’s problems and regain your long-lost youth.

5. Jonathan Swift’s Lands of Gulliver

Come spend an extended vacation on Gulliver’s Cruise, where you can be a giant on Lilliput, be the size of an insect on Brobdingnag, discuss abstractions with Laputans (be sure to bring your flappers), and bask in the virtue of the Houyhnhnms (though steer clear of the degenerate, vicious Yahoos). If it is adventure you seek and you don’t fear for your safety, then this cruise—complete with shipwrecks, inclement weather, and pirates—will surely quench your thirst for danger. On this trip, you will witness petty wars, fear bird-sized wasps, observe cucumber-based experiments, and even discuss the meaning of life with horses. So leave the family at home and embark on this once in a lifetime adventure with your master of languages Lemuel Gulliver.

4. L. Frank Baum’s Land of Oz

Where there is a wind, there is a way into the wondrous land of Oz. Once here, you can take a stroll upon the yellow-brick road to any of the four countries—Munchkin, Winkie, Gilikin, or Quadling. While sauntering through the enchanted forest, you can pay a visit to the courageous Lion, king of the beasts, but be careful later as you come upon the fragile realm of the China Princess. If you desire company, you can always find the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow to join in your excursion to the fanciful Emerald City, located at the intersection of all the countries. However, if terrorizing winged monkeys and ravenous wolves become too much for you to handle, you can simply tap your silver (not ruby) slippers together and wish yourself home.

3. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth

On your trip to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, a continent in the world of Arda, don’t forget to pack plenty of lembas (bread), for a great deal of journeying will be at the top of the agenda. Places to visit include the elvish city of Rivendell, where days blend together and beauty is abundant, creating a heavenlike aura; the Fangorn Forest, where you can hopefully meet Treebeard and his clan of Ents; and, on your way to the home of the hobbits—the Shire—the valley of river Withywindle, where, with any luck, you can hear Tom Bombadil singing away as he manages the forest and picks flowers for his radiant wife. On your voyages, you will certainly run into wizards and dwarfs, as well as fellow men. However, remain wary of orcs and dragons as well as the southeast mountain stronghold of Modor, where only evil is sure to be found.

2. Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland

You don’t need a purpose (nor a porpoise) to visit the nonsensical world of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland. You need only to follow a rushing rabbit down a hole, and soon reason and logic will give way to chaos and absurdity. In Wonderland, one must be sure keep one’s wits about them, for identities are quickly confused, shapes and persons change sizes, and beheading condemnations are frivolously handed out. However, if you relish in the surreal, than you can enjoy perpetual tea time with the Mad Hatter and March Hare while you listen to baffling stories from the narcoleptic Dormouse—just don’t frustrate him with interjecting questions.

1. George R.R. Martin’s Westeros

Hardly a place to vacation, a visit to George R.R. Martin’s Westeros requires one to know the terrain as well as the houses of the Seven Kingdoms and those who rule them. Although the Starks of Winterfell may seem inviting and just, they inhabit the coldest kingdom that’s too close for comfort to the icy Wall. The Vale of Arryn is rendered inaccessible during the winter due to the surrounding Mountains of the Moon, and the land of Dorne, though graced with pleasant weather, is dominated by deserts. Highgarden of the Reach, however, lorded over by the Tyrells, promises rich scenery with delicious vintages and sweets. And, although it may be a dream to gaze upon the Iron Throne, one must be vigilant of many eyes and whisperers in King’s Landing, so to avoid being mistaken as a serious contender in the Game of Thrones.