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Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant 向达伦大冒险：鬼不理的助手

 

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With their aristocratic bearing and worldly sophistication, bloodsucking vampires have always had a strictly adult appeal. That is, until Darren Shan published The Saga of Darren Shan, a series of “autobiographical” vampire stories for young adults. By eliminating the glamor but increasing the gore, Shan has hooked kids, and in particular boys, everywhere from his native Ireland to Taiwan.

谈吐举止宛若贵族，人情世故练达，嗜血的吸血鬼一向只受成人青睐。不过，自从向达伦出版了《向达伦大冒险》这一系列自传性色彩浓厚，描述吸血鬼故事的青少年读物以后，情况已大大不同。除去吸血鬼的翩翩风采，却增添了许多血腥的成分，小朋友（特别是男孩子）都迷上了向达伦，于是他从故乡爱尔兰一路发烧到台湾，红遍半边天。

 

Shan, whose real name is Darren O’Shaughnessy, was born in London in 1972 to Irish parents. By the time he moved to Ireland with his family, six-year-old Shan already aspired to be a writer, but he only began writing as a teenager. At 15, Shan first tasted literary success, winning a prize in a writing competition, and he completed his first novel while still only 17.

向达伦本名为达伦．欧沙纳希，1972年出生于伦敦，父母皆为爱尔兰人。6岁时举家迁居爱尔兰，那时候的小向达伦就已立志要当作家，不过他的写作生涯要等到青少年时才正式展开。15岁时，向达伦在一项征文比赛中获奖，在文学创作上初尝胜利的果实，完成生平第一部小说时年仅17岁。

 

Shan later attended university and got a job at a television company, but he kept writing, and eventually decided to concentrate full-time on his passion. To survive financially, he moved in with his parents, writing in his bedroom. In 1999, Shan’s first adult novel was published, but despite favorable reviews, it sold poorly.

向达伦之后就读大学，后来在一家电视公司工作，但是他仍持续写作，最后下定决心要专心投入全职写作的梦想。因经济拮据，为了节省开销他搬回家乡与父母同住，在自己的房间里埋首笔耕。1999年时，他出版了第一本给大人看的小说，虽颇获好评但销路平平。

 

While he struggled with adult fiction, Shan decided to write children’s horror as light relief. This turned out to be his golden ticket, although like many successful writers before him, he needed a lucky break. Publishers initially rejected Shan’s work, but after his agent, who also represents J.K. Rowling, presented it to them a second time, an editor at one of the publishers decided that she actually liked it. Soon after that, Shan’s first children’s book, Cirque Du Freak, was published in February 2000, and it quickly became a big hit.

在以大人为对象的文学创作上遇到瓶颈时，向达伦决定写些给儿童看的恐怖文学作为调剂。没想到，此举后来竟然成为他的幸运金卡，诚如许多畅销作家前辈，他在创作上正需好运降临。一开始，出版社纷纷退回向达伦的作品，但在他与J.K.罗琳同属的经纪人把书再次推荐给出版商后，其中一位出版社的编辑觉得那本书还不错。不久之后，向达伦的第一本童书《怪奇马戏团》于2000年2月出版，旋即成为最热门的畅销书。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

strictly [ˋstrɪktlɪ] adv. 严格地; 仅限于 restricted to something

publish [ˋpʌblɪʃ] v. 出版；发行

hook [hʊk] v. 吸引; 引(人)上钩；抓住 captivate; to cause to become addicted

in particular 特别地；尤其

native [ˋnetɪv] adj. 祖国的，家乡的

aspire [əˋspaɪr] v. 向往；怀有大志[to/after][+to-v]

literary [ˋlɪtə͵rɛrɪ] adj. 文学的，文艺的

competition [͵kɑmpəˋtɪʃən] n. 竞赛，比赛

passion [ˋpæʃən] n. 热情，激情

financially [faɪˋnænʃəlɪ] adv. 财政上；金融上

favorable [ˋfevərəb!] adj. 良好的; 赞同的；有利的

review [rɪˋvju] n. 批评，评论

horror [ˋhɔrɚ] n. 令人恐怖的事物; 恐怖，震惊

 

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单词发音

 

aristocratic [͵ærɪstəˋkrætɪk] adj. 贵族的；有贵族气派的；仪态高贵的

bearing [ˋbɛrɪŋ] n. 举止，风度

worldly [ˋwɝldlɪ] adj. 世间的；尘世的

sophistication [sə͵fɪstɪˋkeʃən] n. 老于世故; 老练

vampire [ˋvæmpaɪr] n. 吸血鬼

saga [ˋsɑgə] n. 传说, 英雄事迹, 冒险故事

autobiographical [͵ɔtə͵baɪəˋgræfɪk!] adj. 自传的；自传体的

eliminate [ɪˋlɪmə͵net] v. 排除，消除

glamor [ˋglæmɚ] n. 魅力，魔力，迷人的力量

gore [gor] n.（流出的）血；凝血；血块

taste [test] v. 尝出…的味道

light relief 使人轻松或松弛的言语或行动 something that is entertaining or relaxing after something that is serious or boring

golden ticket 幸运金卡 a qualification, person or thing that can provide lucrative opportunities

lucky break 好运气 stroke of good fortune

agent [ˋedʒənt] n. 代理商; 经纪

 

 

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

Over the next five years, Shan followed Cirque Du Freak with 11 more books, completing the Darren Shan saga. Divided into four trilogies, the series tells of the trials of regular schoolboy Darren Shan after he is thrust into the sinister world of vampires.

接下来五年内，向达伦又陆续出版了11本《怪奇马戏团》的续集小说，完成《向达伦大冒险》系列。这套系列小说总共分成四部三部曲，描写一位名叫向达伦的平凡小学生，被迫加入险恶的吸血鬼世界后所经历的成长故事。

 

In the first book, we meet Darren and learn how events that change his life forever are put in motion after he goes to see a traveling freak show called “Cirque Du Freak.” Darren is spellbound by the show’s bizarre acts, especially the mysterious Mr. Crepsley and his deadly performing spider. Fascinated by spiders, Darren decides to steal the giant creepy-crawly and train it.

在第一本小说里，主角向达伦登场，他去看了一场名为《怪奇马戏团》的巡回表演，读者会看到向达伦的人生如何因这个决定带来的后果而彻底改变。节目中千奇百怪的表演者让达伦整个人就像着了魔似的，尤其是鬼不理先生和与他同台演出的致命蜘蛛。达伦迷上了那只蜘蛛，于是决定要偷走那只体型巨大令人毛骨悚然的蜘蛛，并好好训练牠。

 

While teaching it tricks one day, Darren loses control of the stolen spider, and it bites his best friend, Steve. Mr. Crepsley, who is really a vampire, agrees to save Steve, but on condition that Darren becomes his assistant and pays off the cost of the antidote. Reluctantly, Darren accepts and is turned into a vampire. Mr. Crepsly stages Darren’s death in order to free him from his previous ties, including his family, and Darren is buried. After the funeral, Mr. Crepsley returns and digs up Darren, who begins a new life as a “vampire assistant.”

某天达伦在训练偷来的蜘蛛新把戏时，一不小心没有控制好，结果蜘蛛咬了他最要好的朋友史提一口。其实是吸血鬼的鬼不理先生答应要救史提，但条件是：达伦必须要成为他的助手，以作为偿还解药的代价。尽管千万个不愿，达伦也只能接受，并让鬼不理把自己变成吸血鬼。为此，鬼不理还筹划了达伦死去的戏码，好让达伦能自由漂泊，不受之前人生的牵绊（包括原生家庭在内），就这样达伦被埋葬了。丧礼过后，鬼不理再度现身，把达伦从地底下挖出来，达伦成为「吸血鬼助理」的新人生也正式展开。

 

In later books in the series, Darren struggles to come to terms with being a vampire and goes on to seek acceptance among other bloodsuckers. He also learns he may play an important role in the fate of the vampire race as he helps them battle their enemies, fearsome vampire offshoots called the Vampaneze.

之后的续集里描述达伦如何努力接受成为吸血鬼的事实，并在吸血鬼的世界里寻求认同。他也认知到自己有可能会成为决定吸吸血鬼一族未来命运的关键人物，于是帮助吸血鬼与他们的死对头──吸血鬼衍生的分支但十分可怖的──吸血魔作战。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

divide [dəˋvaɪd] v. 分，划分[（+into/from）]

trial [ˋtraɪəl] n. 考验；磨炼

thrust [θrʌst] v. 用力推

bizarre [bɪˋzɑr] adj. 古怪的; 奇异的

fascinate [ˋfæsn͵et] v. 迷住，使神魂颠倒；强烈地吸引

lose control of 失去控制

on condition that 只要；以……为条件 if, as long as, provided that

pay off 付清﹐ 还清〔债务〕to pay the full amount on

reluctantly [rɪˋlʌktəntlɪ] adv. 不情愿地；勉强地

stage [stedʒ] v. 上演; 筹划；举行

previous [ˋpriviəs] adj. 以前的﹐先前的

funeral [ˋfjunərəl] n. 丧葬，葬仪

come to terms with 忍受; 妥协  to begin to accept and deal with something difficult or unpleasant

 

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单词发音

 

trilogy [ˋtrɪlədʒɪ] n. 三部曲

sinister [ˋsɪnɪstɚ] adj. 阴险的，邪恶的

put/set something in motion 开动某物;  启动某物 if you put something in motion, you start it happening

traveling [ˋtræv!ɪŋ] adj. 巡回的

freak [frik] adj. 怪异的，稀奇的

spellbound [ˋspɛl͵baʊnd] adj. 入迷的；出神的

creepy-crawly [ˋkripɪˋkrɔlɪ] n.【口﹐尤英】令人讨厌的昆虫

antidote [ˋæntɪ͵dot] n. 解毒药，解毒剂

acceptance [əkˋsɛptəns] n. 正式接受; 认可

bloodsucker [ˋblʌd͵sʌkɚ] n. 吸血鬼

offshoot [ˋɔf͵ʃut] n. 支族，旁系

 

 

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

A hit around the world, Shan’s The Saga series has been translated into thirty languages and sold over 10 million copies in over 30 countries. Shan attributes his success to his willingness to give kids enough blood and gore to satisfy their “hunger for horror.”Indeed, the stories certainly feature some stomach-churning scenes, including a vivid description of blood pumping from a woman’s severed arm early in the first book.

向达伦的《向达伦大冒险》系列在全球热卖，已被翻译成30种语言，在全世界30多个国家贩卖，销售量突破1,000万册。向达伦认为作品成功的原因在于自己愿意放手让小孩阅读血腥的叙述，满足孩童对恐怖事物的渴望。的确，这些故事全都有读起来令人倒胃的场景。好比第一集里有一段逼真的叙述，描述一名断了手臂的妇女，鲜血自断臂处汩汩流出的画面。

 

Yet, Shan says his goal is not simply “grossing people out,” but rather exploring the consequences of violence, giving his stories a moral dimension despite their dark tone. Another reason for his books’ appeal is that children identify with the ordinary boy’s coming-of-age story as well as the themes of friendship and loyalty.

不过，向达伦表示，他的目的可不是单纯地要读者觉得恶心，而是要探讨暴力会引发的后果，因此尽管作品风格黑暗，他的故事却因这一点而赋有道德层面的寓意。他的作品还有另一个吸引人的原因，书中平凡小男孩的成长故事，以及友谊与忠诚的主题，都很容易引起孩子们的共鸣。

 

Then, there are Shan’s unique vampires, which differ considerably from the attractive, immortal creatures of the night portrayed by Stephenie Meyer and Anne Rice. Not only are Shan’s vampires mostly scarred and ugly, but they are actually alive, aging at one-tenth the human rate; and unlike classic vampires, they lack fangs, instead using sharp nails to bleed their prey. Notably, most of them (the exception being the Vampaneze) refrain from killing the humans on whom they feed.

再者，向达伦笔下的吸血鬼与众不同，更与史蒂芬妮．梅尔与安．莱斯笔下妩媚动人且永生不死的夜行者有着天壤之别。向达伦的吸血鬼不仅大多长相丑陋、满是疮疤，他们还名副其实地活着，成长速率是人类的十分之一；他们也没有传统吸血鬼的獠牙，而是用尖锐的指甲来为他们的猎物放血。最特别的是，大部分的吸血鬼（吸血魔除外）都会克制自己不杀害所吸血的对象。

 

Since completing The Saga, Shan has written The Demonata, an equally popular demon-focused series. While his success has brought him significant wealth, Shan actually lives a simple life in the same Irish town where he grew up. He allows himself one indulgence, however – collecting artworks of famous painters like Picasso. With a recent Hollywood adaptation of The Saga series and more books to come, Shan should be able to afford to add a new piece or two to his collection.

完成了《向达伦大冒险》系列后，向达伦又写了以恶魔为主题的《魔域大冒险》系列，同样也是大受好评。写作的事业成功为他带来了可观的财富，但向达伦却安于在从小成长的爱尔兰小镇过着平凡简单的生活。不过，他纵容自己的一项爱好──那就是搜集如毕加索这类名画家的真迹作品。最近好莱坞要将《向达伦大冒险》系列改拍成电影，加上未来还会有更多新书推出，相信向达伦应该有能力为他的宝贝收藏再添一两幅新的战利品。

 

−by James Laughton-Smith

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

indeed [ɪnˋdid] adv. 实际上; 的确

vivid [ˋvɪvɪd] adj. 生动的；逼真的；清晰的

violence [ˋvaɪələns] n. 暴力，暴力行为

dimension [dɪˋmɛnʃən] n. 方面; 层次

tone [ton] n. 格调; 风格

identify [aɪˋdɛntə͵faɪ] v. （与……）认同[（+with）]

loyalty [ˋlɔɪəltɪ] n. 忠实；忠诚

considerably [kənˋsɪdərəblɪ] adv. 相当，非常

portray [porˋtre] v. 描写﹐描述

mostly [ˋmostlɪ] adv. 大多数地，大部分地

notably [ˋnotəblɪ] adv. 特别地; 显著地

exception [ɪkˋsɛpʃən] n. 例外

refrain [rɪˋfren]  from 抑制...; 忍住...; 自己戒除...; 避免...

 

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单词发音

 

attribute [əˋtrɪbjʊt] v. 把……归因于；把……归咎于[（+to）]

stomach-churning [ˋstʌmək͵tʃɝnɪŋ] adj. 令人厌恶的；让人恶心的

sever [ˋsɛvɚ] v. 切断，割断

gross people out 使（人）作呕；触怒；惹人讨厌  to cause (a person) to feel distaste or strong dislike for (something)

moral [ˋmɔrəl] adj. 道德（上）的

coming-of-age n. 成年；成熟

immortal [ɪˋmɔrt!] adj. 不死的，长生的

scarred [skɑrd] adj. 结疤的

fang [fæŋ] n. 尖牙; 毒牙

feed (up) on someone  靠...为食  to eat someone

significant [sɪgˋnɪfəkənt] adj. 显著的

indulgence [ɪnˋdʌldʒəns] n. 沉溺；放纵; 嗜好，爱好

 

 

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant