为什么人们明知小说是虚构的，却依然会去阅读？
Why do people still read fiction books when they know it’s imaginary
译文简介
阅读小说的好处有很多，还能带来纯粹、健康的乐趣，就像在户外奔跑、呼吸新鲜空气对身体有益一样，阅读小说对精神也大有裨益。
正文翻译
Beth GoldowitzLifelong bibliophile.
贝丝・戈尔多维茨终身藏书家。
At least two thirds of the close to 200 books I read every year are fiction of various genres. Classic literature from the American and European canon, science fiction and fantasy, existential stuff like Sartre and Kafka, all kinds of modern literary fiction. Sometimes I pick a theme - Booker Prize winners, or NY times best sellers. Other times I'm just all over the map.
我每年阅读的近 200 本书中，至少有三分之二是不同类型的小说，包括美国和欧洲经典文学、科幻与奇幻小说、萨特和卡夫卡这类探讨存在主义的作品，以及各类现代文学小说。有时我会围绕特定主题选择书籍，比如布克奖获奖作品或《纽约时报》畅销书；有时则没有固定方向，阅读范围十分广泛。
Why? Because it tells stories well. Humans love telling and listening to stories. An active imagination is one sign of an intelligent and creative mind, and fiction is wide ranging and exciting to read. You can travel to the dark reaches of space, follow a country doctor on his rounds, capture mustangs in the wild West, engage in a sordid affair with an artist's model, struggle to win a race, cast magic spells, solve mysteries, wonder at the cruelty of human existence, exalt in the power of love, and cast spells to destroy evil enemies, then hang out with dragons.
为什么要读小说？因为它擅长讲故事，而人类天生就喜欢讲故事、听故事。活跃的想象力是聪慧且富有创造力的标志，而小说题材广泛、读起来充满乐趣。通过小说，你可以前往宇宙的黑暗边缘，跟随乡村医生出诊，在西部荒野捕捉野马，与艺术家模特展开一段不正当恋情，为赢得比赛拼尽全力，施展魔法咒语，破解悬疑谜团，感叹人类生存的残酷，赞颂爱情的力量，还能施咒消灭邪恶敌人，之后与巨龙共处。
There's also the appreciation of language. Writing fiction is an art, and good writing is a joy unto itself, whether one prefers Pynchon, Hemingway, Bradbury, or Thurber. It can be simple and direct, full of metaphor and poesy, convoluted and complex. Language in the hands of a good writer is always rewarding whether they're writing fiction or explaining how forest ecologies function.
阅读小说还能让人欣赏语言之美。小说创作本身就是一门艺术，无论你喜欢托马斯・品钦、海明威、布拉德伯里还是瑟伯，优秀的文字本身就能带来愉悦。小说的语言可以简洁直白，也可以充满隐喻与诗意，还可以复杂曲折。在优秀作家的笔下，无论是创作小说，还是解释森林生态系统的运作，语言总能带来收获。
Fiction is the human experience captured on the page for your enjoyment. It's enlightening as well as entertaining. It introduces you to other times, other lives, other worlds. Why wouldn't you read fiction? Seriously?
小说将人类的经历呈现在书页之上，供人欣赏。它兼具启发性与娱乐性，能带你接触不同的时代、别样的人生和全新的世界。说真的，为什么不读小说呢？
Mindy BrownFrodo Baggins fan
明迪・布朗弗罗多・巴金斯粉丝
I don’t agree at all with that answer that said fictional characters are just for children. Not true. There are fictional characters for adults and teenagers. There is no age range for fictional characters. The second you start putting them in a box like that, you are dismissing movies made for adults and books written for adults!
我完全不认同 “虚构角色只适合儿童” 的说法，这种观点是错误的。虚构角色也分面向成年人和青少年的类型，并不存在年龄限制。一旦你开始给虚构角色贴上 “只适合儿童” 的标签，就相当于否定了为成年人创作的电影和书籍！
From my experience, fictional characters are real! They’re real! And I already feel reality and fantasy balancing on my end. So, there’s that! :)
以我的经历来看，虚构角色是真实的！他们真的存在！而且在我看来，现实与幻想已经达到了平衡，情况就是这样！:)
Anyway, since I know fictional characters are real, admiring them is a bit more intense. The fictional characters are like my second family. I live a double life. I don’t know who would believe me when I say this, but it’s true!
总之，正因为我知道虚构角色是真实的，所以对他们的崇拜会更加强烈。这些角色就像我的第二个家人，我过着双重生活。我不知道说这些话会有谁相信，但这确实是事实！
We all have different admirations for fictional characters. Some of us have crushes, some of us avoid talking about fictional characters, and then you got people in denial and saying fictional characters don’t exist, when the opposite is true. And then you’ve got some of us who are in love with fictional characters, like me with Frodo Baggins from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, the character, because that’s who we’re destined to be with!
我们对虚构角色的崇拜方式各不相同：有些人会对角色产生迷恋，有些人不愿谈论虚构角色，还有些人否认虚构角色的存在，可事实恰恰相反。另外，还有像我这样爱上虚构角色的人 —— 我爱上了《指环王》三部曲中的弗罗多・巴金斯，因为我们注定要和这样的角色相伴！
It doesn’t matter if you think fictional characters are real or not, they exist somewhere in the dimensions and we’re aware and not aware of it. But they are here and they’re coming and going as we speak.
无论你是否认为虚构角色真实存在，他们都存在于某个维度之中，只是我们有时能感知到，有时感知不到。但此时此刻，他们就在这里，来来去去。
As for your question, why do we admire fictional characters? They give us someone to relate to. When reality is too much to handle, admiring fictional characters is not so bad.
至于你的问题 —— 为什么我们会崇拜虚构角色？因为他们能让我们找到共鸣。当现实难以承受时，崇拜虚构角色也不失为一种慰藉。
Robert MillerFormer Security Guard
罗伯特・米勒前保安
Imagination is the key to creativity. Thinking and growing, in other words dreaming is the key to life and living. Rich DeVos and Jay van Andel, the founders of Amway, were greatly criticized in their youth for dreaming—making up stories, thinking things that were not true. Thus, with their dreams they created their own truths. This may or may not have made them free but it did make them remarkably wealthy.
想象力是创造力的关键，思考与成长 —— 换句话说就是梦想 —— 是生活与生存的关键。
安利公司的创始人理查德・德沃斯和杰・范安德尔年轻时，曾因 “空想”（编造故事、思考不切实际的事情）受到严厉批评。但他们凭借这些梦想，创造了属于自己的现实。这或许没有让他们获得自由，却确实让他们积累了巨额财富。
It is by knowing each other’s mind that we can understand each other. Our stories, whether they are the parables of Jesus or the successful movies out of Hollywood touch and teach our greatest fears and hopes. Is there someone who has not seen and does not admire Desmond Doss the conscientious obxtor who saved 75 or so men in the battle of Okinawa? Or has watched The Pacific from Spielberg and Hanks and not been saddened, I cried, at the death of John Basilone? While based on a truth these were fictionalized accounts. And like the short short stories of Aesop they teach. When the time comes and you face a choice of giving in to your fear or doing what is right what is your choice—what action will you take.
只有了解彼此的想法，我们才能相互理解。无论是耶稣的寓言，还是好莱坞的成功电影，这些故事都触及并让我们领悟到内心最深的恐惧与最真切的希望。难道有人没看过《钢锯岭》，不崇拜在冲绳战役中救下约 75 人的良心拒服兵役者德斯蒙德・多斯吗？难道有人看了斯皮尔伯格和汉克斯制作的《太平洋战争》，看到约翰・巴斯隆牺牲时不会感到悲伤吗？我当时都哭了。这些故事虽基于真实事件，却经过了艺术加工，就像伊索的短篇寓言一样，能给人以启示。当你面临抉择 —— 是向恐惧屈服，还是坚持做正确的事时，你会怎么选？会采取怎样的行动？
And many times the choice is more subtle. Read John D. MacDonald’s early thriller Nightmare in Pink and realize the trouble everyone had was because an accountant decided to do something “outside the pale.”
很多时候，抉择并非非黑即白，而是更为微妙。读一读约翰・D・麦克唐纳的早期惊悚小说《粉色噩梦》就会发现，书中所有人遭遇的麻烦，都源于一名会计决定做一件 “越界” 的事。
Per the great Roger Zelazny fiction gives us a “funhouse mirror” on reality that will accent some things and make light of others. And always, it’s a bit easier if there is a moral guide for us as individuals to follow. To use a metaphor, in our journey to the Light at the top of the Mountain fiction may be the Tenzing Norgay or guide we use to get there. And isn’t it wonderful that by “reaching the top” Edmund Hillary brought someone else there as well? Or? Was it the other way around?
正如伟大的作家罗杰・泽拉兹尼所说，小说为我们提供了一面 “哈哈镜”，映照出现实 —— 它会突出某些事物，同时淡化另一些事物。而且，对我们每个人而言，如果有一个道德准则可以遵循，事情总会变得容易一些。打个比方，在我们攀登 “山顶之光” 的旅程中，小说或许就是我们的丹增・诺尔盖（珠穆朗玛峰首登者之一），是引领我们登顶的向导。埃德蒙・希拉里（另一位首登者）“登顶” 时还带上了其他人，这难道不美好吗？或者，事实其实是反过来的（即丹增・诺尔盖带领希拉里登顶）？
Hatu UshitshaLives in Your Mother's House (1900–present)
哈图・乌希沙居住于 “你母亲的房子”（查了下，这是个梗，“Your Mother's House” 作为美国一个常见的生活场景，经常引发各种家庭故事。）（1900 年至今）
because fictional characters are made to be likeable. fictional characters aren’t made to survive through years and years of natural sextion and evolution, they’re made to entertain us. they’re not realistic
因为虚构角色的设定就是为了让人喜欢。它们并非经过漫长的自然选择和进化而来，而是为了娱乐我们而被创造出来的，并不符合现实。
a) fictional characters made for children. so like cartoons, tv shows or anything related to children entertainment. fictional characters are usually indestructable and very emotionally strong or strong willed. like Spongebob from… Spongebob is literally indestructable. you can cut him up to a million pieces, and he will still be alive and will attach himself again. beat him to a pulp and he will still puff up. he can transform into a hulk-like thing too. everyone in Spongebob is indestructable. fictional characters in children’s shows cannot die unless they have to for the plot to continue.
a）面向儿童的虚构角色，常见于动画片、电视节目或其他儿童娱乐内容中。这类角色通常具有 “不死之身”，且情感强大或意志坚定。比如《海绵宝宝》里的海绵宝宝，他简直是无坚不摧：就算被切成一百万片，依然能活着并重新拼接起来；就算被打得稀烂，也能恢复原状；他还能变身成类似绿巨人的形态。《海绵宝宝》里的所有角色都不会轻易死去，除非剧情需要他们死亡来推动发展。
b) fictional characters in animation (anime, movies,…). characters in anime are very anatomically incorrect. the eyes are too big and the noses are non-existent. and they’re always schoolgirls!!!! why!!!!!!!!!!! and they’re usually always written for you to be attracted to them. like a girlfriend/boyfriend. like they’re written as submissive, shy, blush a lot, innocent,… basically something every neckbeard wants. cougha childcough. and in movies, the characters are always very strong willed. they will never stop until they get what they want. like they would get beat up, lose all their limbs, not have any weapons, but still be fighting and win. where is the logic in that? oh Im sorry, plot armour. and lastly, adult animation. no!! I don’t mean hentai you perv. I meant like Rick and Morty or smth. the characters are always written to have bad words in their daily vocabulary, alcoholic, sex deprived/addicted to sex, and depressed. these kinds of shows are kinda the reason why I don’t wanna grow up. “would I change in the future? would I be a chronic drinker who dies of HIV when I grow up?” haha silly me. I hate adult tv shows. they’re so lame. the characters are pathetic. they serve no purpose and they should kill themselves, now!! and I can say that bc they’re not gonna do anything bc they’re not real argargarg. oh and also they use a lot of “dark” humour which is just… cringe.
b）动画（动漫、电影等）中的虚构角色。动漫角色的身体比例往往不符合解剖学常识，眼睛过大，鼻子几乎看不见，而且角色总是设定成女学生！为什么啊！！！这些角色的设定通常就是为了让人产生好感，就像理想中的男友或女友 —— 他们被塑造成温顺、害羞、容易脸红、天真无邪的样子，基本上是所有 “死宅” 心中的理想型（小声吐槽：简直像小孩子的审美）。而电影中的角色往往意志坚定，不达成目标绝不罢休：就算被打得遍体鳞伤、失去四肢、手无寸铁，依然会继续战斗并取得胜利。这有什么逻辑可言？哦抱歉，这就是 “主角光环”。最后说说成人动画，别想歪了！我不是指色情动画，你这个变态。我说的是《瑞克和莫蒂》这类作品。里面的角色通常满口脏话、酗酒、性压抑或纵欲、情绪低落。这类动画让我有点不想长大，会忍不住想 “未来我会变成这样吗？会不会变成一个长期酗酒、最后死于艾滋病的人？” 哈哈，我真傻。
我讨厌成人电视剧，它们太无聊了，里面的角色也很可悲，毫无存在意义，真该立刻消失！我敢这么说，是因为他们只是虚构的，不会真的做什么，啊啊啊！而且这些作品还大量使用 “黑色幽默”，简直尴尬到不行。
so my point is, we admire fictional characters bc they’re flawless and idealistic. we want to be them but we can’t. and they are living our dreams. and all we can do is watch as they shatter all of their bones and fight normally, protected by plot armour.
所以我的观点是，我们崇拜虚构角色，是因为他们完美无缺、符合理想。我们渴望成为他们，却无法做到，而他们正过着我们梦想中的生活。我们所能做的，就是看着他们在 “主角光环” 的保护下，就算摔得粉身碎骨，依然能正常战斗。
Henry ShuM.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University
亨利・舒康奈尔大学电气与计算机工程硕士
What do you mean by “fake”?
Let’s say by “fake” you mean something that you think can never happen. Then, a human walking right through a wall is probably as “fake” as it can get.
你说的 “虚假” 是什么意思？
假设你说的 “虚假” 是指你认为绝不可能发生的事情，那么 “人穿墙而过” 可能就是最典型的 “虚假” 场景了。
But quantum mechanics dictates that there is a nonzero chance that a human can walk right through a wall and come out the other side. (Look it up. This is not BS.) The chance is extremely low, but it’s not zero.
但量子力学表明，人穿墙而过并从另一边出来的概率并非为零（你可以去查资料，这不是胡说八道）。虽然这个概率极低，但确实存在。
In fact, modern cosmology and quantum theory seem to suggest that whenever an event is recorded (e.g. via writing fiction), say for example the event John F. Kennedy survived in 1963 and continued to be the president, that event does actually happen somewhere in the multiverse. It’s just that where it happens is so far away from us that we can never experimentally observe it.
事实上，现代宇宙学和量子理论似乎表明，只要某个事件被记录下来（比如通过小说创作）—— 例如 “1963 年肯尼迪总统没有遇刺，继续担任总统” 这一事件 —— 它就确实会在多元宇宙的某个地方发生。只是这个发生地距离我们太过遥远，我们永远无法通过实验观测到。
Except we can, through that novel I’m holding in my hands, immersing myself in a place beyond the event horizon of our own observable universe with the assurance that it does happen, somewhere out there.
I just love it!
但我们其实可以 “观测” 到 —— 通过我手中的这本小说，我能沉浸在一个超出我们可观测宇宙视界的地方，并且确信那个事件确实在某个地方发生了。
我爱死这种感觉了！
Vikas KapoorEmployee of the Tiger at Biocosmos (2002–present)
维卡斯・卡普尔生物宇宙公司 “老虎” 部门员工（2002 年至今）
Wow, reality is all around and life aint that simple friend. Some day we might live in a virtual reality where happiness is effortless. People gorge on fiction to attach to, or just escaping or even getting ideas or joy. Sometimes getting involved in a lie to bring about a peace is better than getting choked on reality. Just cause you hate or cant tolerate a harmless pleasure or you think only growth is absolute truth, whether it hurts morals or anyone innocently alive, doesnot make fiction unscientific. Eg. Darkness is often portrayed as being bad but without being a racist ask are all dark things bad. Eyes, night, fuel, hair, birds, animals, insects and others. Fiction or non fiction is a freedom. Why do you want to make a harmful rule to get real always. To each his own. Fiction or Text books, balance is an informed choice. Someone who understands responsibilities and working hard cant be forced. Environment is equally harmed by Textbooks. Ban paper, ban plastic, be another dictator. But, be ready to suffer for not tolerating.
朋友，现实无处不在，生活可没那么简单。或许有一天，我们会生活在一个无需努力就能获得幸福的虚拟世界里。人们沉迷小说，或许是为了找到情感寄托，或许只是为了逃避现实，又或许是为了获取灵感或乐趣。有时候，沉浸在一个 “谎言” 中获得平静，比被现实压得喘不过气要好。不能因为你讨厌或无法容忍这种无害的乐趣，或者认为只有 “成长” 才是绝对的真理（无论这是否会违背道德、伤害无辜的人），就说小说不科学。比如，人们常把 “黑暗” 描绘成邪恶的象征，但抛开种族歧视的偏见想一想，所有与 “黑暗” 相关的事物都是坏的吗？眼睛的颜色、夜晚、燃料、毛发，还有鸟类、动物、昆虫等等，显然不是。阅读小说还是非小说，是一种自由，为什么你要制定一条 “必须面对现实” 的有害规则呢？人各有所好，无论是读小说还是教科书，保持平衡才是明智的选择。一个明白自己责任、努力工作的人，不会被强迫改变选择。而且，教科书同样会对环境造成危害 —— 难道要禁止用纸、禁止用塑料，做一个DC者吗？要知道，不懂得包容，终将自食其果。
Hetta Jones's SpaceAnswered by Hannah B
赫塔・琼斯的空间回答者：汉娜・B
Because it's great to escape, relaxing, and great fun. I enjoy reading about a totally different world with dragons and aliens etc it is more fun than our world. If want to read about real life i just read the news
因为阅读小说能让人很好地逃避现实，既放松又有趣。我喜欢阅读那些关于充满巨龙和外星人的全新世界的故事，这比我们现实世界有趣多了。如果想了解真实生活，我直接看新闻就够了。
Gokul BijuStudied Science at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kottayam (Graduated 2014)
戈库尔・比朱曾在科塔亚姆贾瓦哈尔・纳沃达亚维迪亚亚学校学习科学（2014 年毕业）
Fiction may be fake stories. But it is a good way of expressing author's opinions and ideas to people in a harmless and popular way. A good fiction can take the reader to a whole new world of imagination and creativity. People uses a lot of imagination to visualize what is told in the book. Some books like The Mysterious Island and Journey to the center of earth (Jules Verne) , Gulliver's travels (Jonathan Swift) and Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe) tells the story of a non existing place. The Harry Potter series and Game of thrones series are complete fantasy. Still people reads it because it excites them. They are in a world of pure imagination and creativity. It influences the life of some people very seriously that they may even change their habits and behaviors.
小说或许是虚假的故事，但它是作者以一种无害且受欢迎的方式，向人们表达观点和想法的好途径。一部优秀的小说能带领读者进入一个充满想象力与创造力的全新世界，读者需要充分发挥想象，才能在脑海中呈现书中的内容。有些小说，比如儒勒・凡尔纳的《神秘岛》和《地心游记》、乔纳森・斯威夫特的《格列佛游记》、丹尼尔・笛福的《鲁滨逊漂流记》，讲述的都是不存在的地方的故事；《哈利・波特》系列和《权力的游戏》系列则完全是奇幻题材。即便如此，人们依然会阅读这些小说，因为它们能带来兴奋感，让人沉浸在一个纯粹由想象和创造力构建的世界里。小说对一些人的生活影响很大，甚至能让他们改变自己的习惯和行为。
Katherine Merrilljust another concerned voter
凯瑟琳・梅里尔一名普通的关注社会的选民
It’s just like a fantasy. I adored Basil Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes, probably because he was so handsome and intelligent, with a wry sort of wit. The fact that I liked the person who was acting the role made me like the fictional character. Even though Sherlock was not real, he became real for me through Basil. It’s very simple …..or elementary.
这就像一场幻想。我很喜欢巴兹尔・拉斯伯恩饰演的夏洛克・福尔摩斯，可能是因为这个角色英俊、聪慧，还带着一丝狡黠的幽默感。正是因为我喜欢饰演这个角色的演员，所以也喜欢上了这个虚构角色。虽然夏洛克并非真实存在，但通过巴兹尔的演绎，他在我心中变得真实起来。这其实很简单，或者说，是 “基本演绎法”（此处双关，既指简单易懂，也呼应福尔摩斯的推理方法）。
The WandererFormer Student
流浪者，之前是学生
Hey…have you ever promise your friend that you'll be there whenever he needs you…..or said to your parents that you'll never leave them ever…..you know that it's not possible for you to be there for your friend whenever he needs or be with your parents whole of their life…
Sometime we do or say few things just for happiness and there is nothing wrong with it.
If reading fiction book even when they are imaginary bring smile on someone's face then there is no bad to read them.
嘿……你有没有向朋友承诺过 “无论何时他需要你，你都会在身边”，或者对父母说过 “永远不会离开他们”？你明明知道，你不可能随时在朋友需要时出现，也不可能一辈子都陪在父母身边……
有时候，我们做某些事、说某些话，只是为了追求快乐，这并没有什么错。
如果明知小说是虚构的，阅读它却能让人露出笑容，那么读小说就没有什么不好。
Rather asking why people read fiction..you should ask why people do war or why people hate each other..why humanity is getting endangered from humans.
与其问人们为什么读小说，不如问为什么会有战争、为什么人们会互相憎恨、为什么人类正面临来自同类的威胁。
Mary B.Reads too much, went to college, likes clowns
玛丽・B读书成瘾，上过大学，喜欢小丑
Imagination is good for you. It provides exercise for your mind and emotions, presents you with philosophical questions you would never otherwise encounter (but which can still lead you to universal principles that apply in real life), develops your capacity for empathy, delivers facts in an easily-digestible way, helps you see familiar things from unfamiliar angles, leads you to new interests, gives you a chance to feel and experience new things, and is fun.
想象力对人有益：它能锻炼你的思维和情感，让你接触到平时不会遇到的哲学问题（但这些问题仍能引导你领悟适用于现实生活的普遍原则），培养你的共情能力，以易于理解的方式传递知识，帮助你从陌生的角度看待熟悉的事物，激发新的兴趣爱好，让你有机会感受和体验新事物，而且充满乐趣。
There are tons of benefits, plus plain old wholesome enjoyment. It's the mental equivalent of running around outside and getting some fresh air.
阅读小说的好处有很多，还能带来纯粹、健康的乐趣，就像在户外奔跑、呼吸新鲜空气对身体有益一样，阅读小说对精神也大有裨益。
贝丝・戈尔多维茨终身藏书家。
At least two thirds of the close to 200 books I read every year are fiction of various genres. Classic literature from the American and European canon, science fiction and fantasy, existential stuff like Sartre and Kafka, all kinds of modern literary fiction. Sometimes I pick a theme - Booker Prize winners, or NY times best sellers. Other times I'm just all over the map.
我每年阅读的近 200 本书中，至少有三分之二是不同类型的小说，包括美国和欧洲经典文学、科幻与奇幻小说、萨特和卡夫卡这类探讨存在主义的作品，以及各类现代文学小说。有时我会围绕特定主题选择书籍，比如布克奖获奖作品或《纽约时报》畅销书；有时则没有固定方向，阅读范围十分广泛。
Why? Because it tells stories well. Humans love telling and listening to stories. An active imagination is one sign of an intelligent and creative mind, and fiction is wide ranging and exciting to read. You can travel to the dark reaches of space, follow a country doctor on his rounds, capture mustangs in the wild West, engage in a sordid affair with an artist's model, struggle to win a race, cast magic spells, solve mysteries, wonder at the cruelty of human existence, exalt in the power of love, and cast spells to destroy evil enemies, then hang out with dragons.
为什么要读小说？因为它擅长讲故事，而人类天生就喜欢讲故事、听故事。活跃的想象力是聪慧且富有创造力的标志，而小说题材广泛、读起来充满乐趣。通过小说，你可以前往宇宙的黑暗边缘，跟随乡村医生出诊，在西部荒野捕捉野马，与艺术家模特展开一段不正当恋情，为赢得比赛拼尽全力，施展魔法咒语，破解悬疑谜团，感叹人类生存的残酷，赞颂爱情的力量，还能施咒消灭邪恶敌人，之后与巨龙共处。
There's also the appreciation of language. Writing fiction is an art, and good writing is a joy unto itself, whether one prefers Pynchon, Hemingway, Bradbury, or Thurber. It can be simple and direct, full of metaphor and poesy, convoluted and complex. Language in the hands of a good writer is always rewarding whether they're writing fiction or explaining how forest ecologies function.
阅读小说还能让人欣赏语言之美。小说创作本身就是一门艺术，无论你喜欢托马斯・品钦、海明威、布拉德伯里还是瑟伯，优秀的文字本身就能带来愉悦。小说的语言可以简洁直白，也可以充满隐喻与诗意，还可以复杂曲折。在优秀作家的笔下，无论是创作小说，还是解释森林生态系统的运作，语言总能带来收获。
Fiction is the human experience captured on the page for your enjoyment. It's enlightening as well as entertaining. It introduces you to other times, other lives, other worlds. Why wouldn't you read fiction? Seriously?
小说将人类的经历呈现在书页之上，供人欣赏。它兼具启发性与娱乐性，能带你接触不同的时代、别样的人生和全新的世界。说真的，为什么不读小说呢？
Mindy BrownFrodo Baggins fan
明迪・布朗弗罗多・巴金斯粉丝
I don’t agree at all with that answer that said fictional characters are just for children. Not true. There are fictional characters for adults and teenagers. There is no age range for fictional characters. The second you start putting them in a box like that, you are dismissing movies made for adults and books written for adults!
我完全不认同 “虚构角色只适合儿童” 的说法，这种观点是错误的。虚构角色也分面向成年人和青少年的类型，并不存在年龄限制。一旦你开始给虚构角色贴上 “只适合儿童” 的标签，就相当于否定了为成年人创作的电影和书籍！
From my experience, fictional characters are real! They’re real! And I already feel reality and fantasy balancing on my end. So, there’s that! :)
以我的经历来看，虚构角色是真实的！他们真的存在！而且在我看来，现实与幻想已经达到了平衡，情况就是这样！:)
Anyway, since I know fictional characters are real, admiring them is a bit more intense. The fictional characters are like my second family. I live a double life. I don’t know who would believe me when I say this, but it’s true!
总之，正因为我知道虚构角色是真实的，所以对他们的崇拜会更加强烈。这些角色就像我的第二个家人，我过着双重生活。我不知道说这些话会有谁相信，但这确实是事实！
We all have different admirations for fictional characters. Some of us have crushes, some of us avoid talking about fictional characters, and then you got people in denial and saying fictional characters don’t exist, when the opposite is true. And then you’ve got some of us who are in love with fictional characters, like me with Frodo Baggins from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, the character, because that’s who we’re destined to be with!
我们对虚构角色的崇拜方式各不相同：有些人会对角色产生迷恋，有些人不愿谈论虚构角色，还有些人否认虚构角色的存在，可事实恰恰相反。另外，还有像我这样爱上虚构角色的人 —— 我爱上了《指环王》三部曲中的弗罗多・巴金斯，因为我们注定要和这样的角色相伴！
It doesn’t matter if you think fictional characters are real or not, they exist somewhere in the dimensions and we’re aware and not aware of it. But they are here and they’re coming and going as we speak.
无论你是否认为虚构角色真实存在，他们都存在于某个维度之中，只是我们有时能感知到，有时感知不到。但此时此刻，他们就在这里，来来去去。
As for your question, why do we admire fictional characters? They give us someone to relate to. When reality is too much to handle, admiring fictional characters is not so bad.
至于你的问题 —— 为什么我们会崇拜虚构角色？因为他们能让我们找到共鸣。当现实难以承受时，崇拜虚构角色也不失为一种慰藉。
Robert MillerFormer Security Guard
罗伯特・米勒前保安
Imagination is the key to creativity. Thinking and growing, in other words dreaming is the key to life and living. Rich DeVos and Jay van Andel, the founders of Amway, were greatly criticized in their youth for dreaming—making up stories, thinking things that were not true. Thus, with their dreams they created their own truths. This may or may not have made them free but it did make them remarkably wealthy.
想象力是创造力的关键，思考与成长 —— 换句话说就是梦想 —— 是生活与生存的关键。
安利公司的创始人理查德・德沃斯和杰・范安德尔年轻时，曾因 “空想”（编造故事、思考不切实际的事情）受到严厉批评。但他们凭借这些梦想，创造了属于自己的现实。这或许没有让他们获得自由，却确实让他们积累了巨额财富。
It is by knowing each other’s mind that we can understand each other. Our stories, whether they are the parables of Jesus or the successful movies out of Hollywood touch and teach our greatest fears and hopes. Is there someone who has not seen and does not admire Desmond Doss the conscientious obxtor who saved 75 or so men in the battle of Okinawa? Or has watched The Pacific from Spielberg and Hanks and not been saddened, I cried, at the death of John Basilone? While based on a truth these were fictionalized accounts. And like the short short stories of Aesop they teach. When the time comes and you face a choice of giving in to your fear or doing what is right what is your choice—what action will you take.
只有了解彼此的想法，我们才能相互理解。无论是耶稣的寓言，还是好莱坞的成功电影，这些故事都触及并让我们领悟到内心最深的恐惧与最真切的希望。难道有人没看过《钢锯岭》，不崇拜在冲绳战役中救下约 75 人的良心拒服兵役者德斯蒙德・多斯吗？难道有人看了斯皮尔伯格和汉克斯制作的《太平洋战争》，看到约翰・巴斯隆牺牲时不会感到悲伤吗？我当时都哭了。这些故事虽基于真实事件，却经过了艺术加工，就像伊索的短篇寓言一样，能给人以启示。当你面临抉择 —— 是向恐惧屈服，还是坚持做正确的事时，你会怎么选？会采取怎样的行动？
And many times the choice is more subtle. Read John D. MacDonald’s early thriller Nightmare in Pink and realize the trouble everyone had was because an accountant decided to do something “outside the pale.”
很多时候，抉择并非非黑即白，而是更为微妙。读一读约翰・D・麦克唐纳的早期惊悚小说《粉色噩梦》就会发现，书中所有人遭遇的麻烦，都源于一名会计决定做一件 “越界” 的事。
Per the great Roger Zelazny fiction gives us a “funhouse mirror” on reality that will accent some things and make light of others. And always, it’s a bit easier if there is a moral guide for us as individuals to follow. To use a metaphor, in our journey to the Light at the top of the Mountain fiction may be the Tenzing Norgay or guide we use to get there. And isn’t it wonderful that by “reaching the top” Edmund Hillary brought someone else there as well? Or? Was it the other way around?
正如伟大的作家罗杰・泽拉兹尼所说，小说为我们提供了一面 “哈哈镜”，映照出现实 —— 它会突出某些事物，同时淡化另一些事物。而且，对我们每个人而言，如果有一个道德准则可以遵循，事情总会变得容易一些。打个比方，在我们攀登 “山顶之光” 的旅程中，小说或许就是我们的丹增・诺尔盖（珠穆朗玛峰首登者之一），是引领我们登顶的向导。埃德蒙・希拉里（另一位首登者）“登顶” 时还带上了其他人，这难道不美好吗？或者，事实其实是反过来的（即丹增・诺尔盖带领希拉里登顶）？
Hatu UshitshaLives in Your Mother's House (1900–present)
哈图・乌希沙居住于 “你母亲的房子”（查了下，这是个梗，“Your Mother's House” 作为美国一个常见的生活场景，经常引发各种家庭故事。）（1900 年至今）
because fictional characters are made to be likeable. fictional characters aren’t made to survive through years and years of natural sextion and evolution, they’re made to entertain us. they’re not realistic
因为虚构角色的设定就是为了让人喜欢。它们并非经过漫长的自然选择和进化而来，而是为了娱乐我们而被创造出来的，并不符合现实。
a) fictional characters made for children. so like cartoons, tv shows or anything related to children entertainment. fictional characters are usually indestructable and very emotionally strong or strong willed. like Spongebob from… Spongebob is literally indestructable. you can cut him up to a million pieces, and he will still be alive and will attach himself again. beat him to a pulp and he will still puff up. he can transform into a hulk-like thing too. everyone in Spongebob is indestructable. fictional characters in children’s shows cannot die unless they have to for the plot to continue.
a）面向儿童的虚构角色，常见于动画片、电视节目或其他儿童娱乐内容中。这类角色通常具有 “不死之身”，且情感强大或意志坚定。比如《海绵宝宝》里的海绵宝宝，他简直是无坚不摧：就算被切成一百万片，依然能活着并重新拼接起来；就算被打得稀烂，也能恢复原状；他还能变身成类似绿巨人的形态。《海绵宝宝》里的所有角色都不会轻易死去，除非剧情需要他们死亡来推动发展。
b) fictional characters in animation (anime, movies,…). characters in anime are very anatomically incorrect. the eyes are too big and the noses are non-existent. and they’re always schoolgirls!!!! why!!!!!!!!!!! and they’re usually always written for you to be attracted to them. like a girlfriend/boyfriend. like they’re written as submissive, shy, blush a lot, innocent,… basically something every neckbeard wants. cougha childcough. and in movies, the characters are always very strong willed. they will never stop until they get what they want. like they would get beat up, lose all their limbs, not have any weapons, but still be fighting and win. where is the logic in that? oh Im sorry, plot armour. and lastly, adult animation. no!! I don’t mean hentai you perv. I meant like Rick and Morty or smth. the characters are always written to have bad words in their daily vocabulary, alcoholic, sex deprived/addicted to sex, and depressed. these kinds of shows are kinda the reason why I don’t wanna grow up. “would I change in the future? would I be a chronic drinker who dies of HIV when I grow up?” haha silly me. I hate adult tv shows. they’re so lame. the characters are pathetic. they serve no purpose and they should kill themselves, now!! and I can say that bc they’re not gonna do anything bc they’re not real argargarg. oh and also they use a lot of “dark” humour which is just… cringe.
b）动画（动漫、电影等）中的虚构角色。动漫角色的身体比例往往不符合解剖学常识，眼睛过大，鼻子几乎看不见，而且角色总是设定成女学生！为什么啊！！！这些角色的设定通常就是为了让人产生好感，就像理想中的男友或女友 —— 他们被塑造成温顺、害羞、容易脸红、天真无邪的样子，基本上是所有 “死宅” 心中的理想型（小声吐槽：简直像小孩子的审美）。而电影中的角色往往意志坚定，不达成目标绝不罢休：就算被打得遍体鳞伤、失去四肢、手无寸铁，依然会继续战斗并取得胜利。这有什么逻辑可言？哦抱歉，这就是 “主角光环”。最后说说成人动画，别想歪了！我不是指色情动画，你这个变态。我说的是《瑞克和莫蒂》这类作品。里面的角色通常满口脏话、酗酒、性压抑或纵欲、情绪低落。这类动画让我有点不想长大，会忍不住想 “未来我会变成这样吗？会不会变成一个长期酗酒、最后死于艾滋病的人？” 哈哈，我真傻。
我讨厌成人电视剧，它们太无聊了，里面的角色也很可悲，毫无存在意义，真该立刻消失！我敢这么说，是因为他们只是虚构的，不会真的做什么，啊啊啊！而且这些作品还大量使用 “黑色幽默”，简直尴尬到不行。
so my point is, we admire fictional characters bc they’re flawless and idealistic. we want to be them but we can’t. and they are living our dreams. and all we can do is watch as they shatter all of their bones and fight normally, protected by plot armour.
所以我的观点是，我们崇拜虚构角色，是因为他们完美无缺、符合理想。我们渴望成为他们，却无法做到，而他们正过着我们梦想中的生活。我们所能做的，就是看着他们在 “主角光环” 的保护下，就算摔得粉身碎骨，依然能正常战斗。
Henry ShuM.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University
亨利・舒康奈尔大学电气与计算机工程硕士
What do you mean by “fake”?
Let’s say by “fake” you mean something that you think can never happen. Then, a human walking right through a wall is probably as “fake” as it can get.
你说的 “虚假” 是什么意思？
假设你说的 “虚假” 是指你认为绝不可能发生的事情，那么 “人穿墙而过” 可能就是最典型的 “虚假” 场景了。
But quantum mechanics dictates that there is a nonzero chance that a human can walk right through a wall and come out the other side. (Look it up. This is not BS.) The chance is extremely low, but it’s not zero.
但量子力学表明，人穿墙而过并从另一边出来的概率并非为零（你可以去查资料，这不是胡说八道）。虽然这个概率极低，但确实存在。
In fact, modern cosmology and quantum theory seem to suggest that whenever an event is recorded (e.g. via writing fiction), say for example the event John F. Kennedy survived in 1963 and continued to be the president, that event does actually happen somewhere in the multiverse. It’s just that where it happens is so far away from us that we can never experimentally observe it.
事实上，现代宇宙学和量子理论似乎表明，只要某个事件被记录下来（比如通过小说创作）—— 例如 “1963 年肯尼迪总统没有遇刺，继续担任总统” 这一事件 —— 它就确实会在多元宇宙的某个地方发生。只是这个发生地距离我们太过遥远，我们永远无法通过实验观测到。
Except we can, through that novel I’m holding in my hands, immersing myself in a place beyond the event horizon of our own observable universe with the assurance that it does happen, somewhere out there.
I just love it!
但我们其实可以 “观测” 到 —— 通过我手中的这本小说，我能沉浸在一个超出我们可观测宇宙视界的地方，并且确信那个事件确实在某个地方发生了。
我爱死这种感觉了！
Vikas KapoorEmployee of the Tiger at Biocosmos (2002–present)
维卡斯・卡普尔生物宇宙公司 “老虎” 部门员工（2002 年至今）
Wow, reality is all around and life aint that simple friend. Some day we might live in a virtual reality where happiness is effortless. People gorge on fiction to attach to, or just escaping or even getting ideas or joy. Sometimes getting involved in a lie to bring about a peace is better than getting choked on reality. Just cause you hate or cant tolerate a harmless pleasure or you think only growth is absolute truth, whether it hurts morals or anyone innocently alive, doesnot make fiction unscientific. Eg. Darkness is often portrayed as being bad but without being a racist ask are all dark things bad. Eyes, night, fuel, hair, birds, animals, insects and others. Fiction or non fiction is a freedom. Why do you want to make a harmful rule to get real always. To each his own. Fiction or Text books, balance is an informed choice. Someone who understands responsibilities and working hard cant be forced. Environment is equally harmed by Textbooks. Ban paper, ban plastic, be another dictator. But, be ready to suffer for not tolerating.
朋友，现实无处不在，生活可没那么简单。或许有一天，我们会生活在一个无需努力就能获得幸福的虚拟世界里。人们沉迷小说，或许是为了找到情感寄托，或许只是为了逃避现实，又或许是为了获取灵感或乐趣。有时候，沉浸在一个 “谎言” 中获得平静，比被现实压得喘不过气要好。不能因为你讨厌或无法容忍这种无害的乐趣，或者认为只有 “成长” 才是绝对的真理（无论这是否会违背道德、伤害无辜的人），就说小说不科学。比如，人们常把 “黑暗” 描绘成邪恶的象征，但抛开种族歧视的偏见想一想，所有与 “黑暗” 相关的事物都是坏的吗？眼睛的颜色、夜晚、燃料、毛发，还有鸟类、动物、昆虫等等，显然不是。阅读小说还是非小说，是一种自由，为什么你要制定一条 “必须面对现实” 的有害规则呢？人各有所好，无论是读小说还是教科书，保持平衡才是明智的选择。一个明白自己责任、努力工作的人，不会被强迫改变选择。而且，教科书同样会对环境造成危害 —— 难道要禁止用纸、禁止用塑料，做一个DC者吗？要知道，不懂得包容，终将自食其果。
Hetta Jones's SpaceAnswered by Hannah B
赫塔・琼斯的空间回答者：汉娜・B
Because it's great to escape, relaxing, and great fun. I enjoy reading about a totally different world with dragons and aliens etc it is more fun than our world. If want to read about real life i just read the news
因为阅读小说能让人很好地逃避现实，既放松又有趣。我喜欢阅读那些关于充满巨龙和外星人的全新世界的故事，这比我们现实世界有趣多了。如果想了解真实生活，我直接看新闻就够了。
Gokul BijuStudied Science at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kottayam (Graduated 2014)
戈库尔・比朱曾在科塔亚姆贾瓦哈尔・纳沃达亚维迪亚亚学校学习科学（2014 年毕业）
Fiction may be fake stories. But it is a good way of expressing author's opinions and ideas to people in a harmless and popular way. A good fiction can take the reader to a whole new world of imagination and creativity. People uses a lot of imagination to visualize what is told in the book. Some books like The Mysterious Island and Journey to the center of earth (Jules Verne) , Gulliver's travels (Jonathan Swift) and Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe) tells the story of a non existing place. The Harry Potter series and Game of thrones series are complete fantasy. Still people reads it because it excites them. They are in a world of pure imagination and creativity. It influences the life of some people very seriously that they may even change their habits and behaviors.
小说或许是虚假的故事，但它是作者以一种无害且受欢迎的方式，向人们表达观点和想法的好途径。一部优秀的小说能带领读者进入一个充满想象力与创造力的全新世界，读者需要充分发挥想象，才能在脑海中呈现书中的内容。有些小说，比如儒勒・凡尔纳的《神秘岛》和《地心游记》、乔纳森・斯威夫特的《格列佛游记》、丹尼尔・笛福的《鲁滨逊漂流记》，讲述的都是不存在的地方的故事；《哈利・波特》系列和《权力的游戏》系列则完全是奇幻题材。即便如此，人们依然会阅读这些小说，因为它们能带来兴奋感，让人沉浸在一个纯粹由想象和创造力构建的世界里。小说对一些人的生活影响很大，甚至能让他们改变自己的习惯和行为。
Katherine Merrilljust another concerned voter
凯瑟琳・梅里尔一名普通的关注社会的选民
It’s just like a fantasy. I adored Basil Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes, probably because he was so handsome and intelligent, with a wry sort of wit. The fact that I liked the person who was acting the role made me like the fictional character. Even though Sherlock was not real, he became real for me through Basil. It’s very simple …..or elementary.
这就像一场幻想。我很喜欢巴兹尔・拉斯伯恩饰演的夏洛克・福尔摩斯，可能是因为这个角色英俊、聪慧，还带着一丝狡黠的幽默感。正是因为我喜欢饰演这个角色的演员，所以也喜欢上了这个虚构角色。虽然夏洛克并非真实存在，但通过巴兹尔的演绎，他在我心中变得真实起来。这其实很简单，或者说，是 “基本演绎法”（此处双关，既指简单易懂，也呼应福尔摩斯的推理方法）。
The WandererFormer Student
流浪者，之前是学生
Hey…have you ever promise your friend that you'll be there whenever he needs you…..or said to your parents that you'll never leave them ever…..you know that it's not possible for you to be there for your friend whenever he needs or be with your parents whole of their life…
Sometime we do or say few things just for happiness and there is nothing wrong with it.
If reading fiction book even when they are imaginary bring smile on someone's face then there is no bad to read them.
嘿……你有没有向朋友承诺过 “无论何时他需要你，你都会在身边”，或者对父母说过 “永远不会离开他们”？你明明知道，你不可能随时在朋友需要时出现，也不可能一辈子都陪在父母身边……
有时候，我们做某些事、说某些话，只是为了追求快乐，这并没有什么错。
如果明知小说是虚构的，阅读它却能让人露出笑容，那么读小说就没有什么不好。
Rather asking why people read fiction..you should ask why people do war or why people hate each other..why humanity is getting endangered from humans.
与其问人们为什么读小说，不如问为什么会有战争、为什么人们会互相憎恨、为什么人类正面临来自同类的威胁。
Mary B.Reads too much, went to college, likes clowns
玛丽・B读书成瘾，上过大学，喜欢小丑
Imagination is good for you. It provides exercise for your mind and emotions, presents you with philosophical questions you would never otherwise encounter (but which can still lead you to universal principles that apply in real life), develops your capacity for empathy, delivers facts in an easily-digestible way, helps you see familiar things from unfamiliar angles, leads you to new interests, gives you a chance to feel and experience new things, and is fun.
想象力对人有益：它能锻炼你的思维和情感，让你接触到平时不会遇到的哲学问题（但这些问题仍能引导你领悟适用于现实生活的普遍原则），培养你的共情能力，以易于理解的方式传递知识，帮助你从陌生的角度看待熟悉的事物，激发新的兴趣爱好，让你有机会感受和体验新事物，而且充满乐趣。
There are tons of benefits, plus plain old wholesome enjoyment. It's the mental equivalent of running around outside and getting some fresh air.
阅读小说的好处有很多，还能带来纯粹、健康的乐趣，就像在户外奔跑、呼吸新鲜空气对身体有益一样，阅读小说对精神也大有裨益。
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阅读小说的好处有很多，还能带来纯粹、健康的乐趣，就像在户外奔跑、呼吸新鲜空气对身体有益一样，阅读小说对精神也大有裨益。
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