5 stars for Kaleidoscope of Death (Like a Dream book 1) by Xi Zi Xu |《死亡万花筒》入梦【上】西子绪著.
It has been a long time since I read a Chinese novel. I read this novel because I watched the Chinese drama, The Spirealm |《致命游戏》. I like the drama story so much that I watched it twice successively. But somehow, I find that it is still not enough. Then I realised why - I want very much to know the original story that was penned by the author, not just the one that has been re-scripted by the drama production team. So, I went ahead to place my order to buy the books and read them for myself. It is never too late to start reading the original work.
Indeed, the Chinese drama, The Spirealm |《致命游戏》originates from a suspenseful online novel, Kaleidoscope of Death |《死亡万花筒》written by author Xi Zi Xu. It is serialized in Jinjiang Literature City. The full text has a total of 857,083 words and has been completed. It tells the story of a man called Lin Qiushi who accidentally entered a strange world called "Door". Behind each door lies a different horror scene and life-and-death test. Due to its popularity, the story is now available in dead tree version. The box set is divided into two volumes, Like a Dream |《入梦》and Break the Cocoon |《破茧》. Each volume has two books - a total of four books.
I enjoyed reading this book immensely. Even though I already know much of the story and its development from watching the Chinese drama, it is still a joy reading the book. For one, a drama will never be filmed and portrayed exactly as it is intended in the book. So, there will always be room for enjoyment.
Like a Dream book 1 |《入梦》【上】is as mysterious as its title. The book concentrates on the lower level doors in an alternate world where the two main characters, Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu, enter to find themselves in unexpected strange encounters. To survive, they work together to find clues that will lead them to a key to open a door - the door that will bring them back to the relative safety of the real world. In the process, they have to face not only the terrifying creatures and strange events behind the door, but also uncover the deep connection between themselves and the world. There are a total of four doors in this book 1, all of them equally scary and bizarre.
For my own reference, I am putting down name of the doors here as listed in the book (the former) as opposed to what the drama has it termed (the latter). Though name of the doors could be the same, the door content and its sequence as showned in the drama does not always follow that of the book. Also, as what the author has pointed out, I want to highlight that the number of doors in the title is based on the number of doors entered by character Lin Qiushi, not the level he entered.
Book Door 1《独自莫凭拦》vs Drama Door 1《雪村》
Book Door 2《菲尔夏鸟》vs Drama Door 2《菲尔夏鸟》
Book Door 3《阿姐鼓》vs Drama Door 3《阿姐鼓》
Book Door 4《雨中女郎》vs Drama Door 7《雨中女郎》
I have not read much this year, yet it took me only a week to finish reading this entire book 1. Well, I guess that says a lot about how brilliant this author is, in spinning a captivating tale that is not only spine-chilling but also sprinkled with lighthearted moments and an element of (sexual) innuendo.
I think I have found and gotten back what I have lost in the past year - the motivation to read and my love for reading.
Publisher: 江苏凤凰文艺出版社
Publication date: 2021年07月
*** Favourite Quote 1 ***
《欢迎来到门的世界》page 77
光明再次笼罩了整个屋子，也驱散了黑暗带来的未知和恐惧，林秋石终于能清楚的看到眼前人了。
男人的模样比他想象中的还要好看，但也是陌生的，两人眼神相接，大约是看出了林秋石目光中的警惕和隐隐的恐慌，男人又笑了，他对着林秋石伸出手，语调温和：“欢迎来到门的世界。”
*** Favourite Quote 2 ***
《新生》page 172
“我早就说过，门不是惩罚，而是奖励。” 阮南烛说，“必死之人进入门里，只要通过了十二扇门，就能获得新生。”
*** Favourite Quote 3 ***
《有的人，天生就是为门而生的。》page 179
酒足饭饱之后，大家各自散去，林秋石也回了自己的房间，洗了个热水澡，再出来时，却看见阮南烛坐在他的床上等着他。
“南烛，有事吗？” 林秋石擦着头发走了过去。
“我需要你。” 阮南烛语出惊人。
林秋石听到这句话愣了：“什么……意思？”
“字面上的意思。” 阮南烛说，“你不能死。”
林秋石完全没有多想什么，他道：“可以说得更清楚一些吗？”
阮南烛最后只说了一句话，他说：“有的人，天生就是为门而生的。”
他说完这话，便离开了，留下一脸茫然的林秋石。
*** Favourite Quote 4 ***
《字面上的意思》page 48, 82, 179, 271, 311, 313
page 48
“自然是填井了。” 木匠说，“选个晚上，把死物往井里一放，就成了。”
“死物？什么死物？” 小柯感觉不妙，语气一下重了许多，“您这话是什么意思？”
木匠说：“字面上的意思。”
page 82
阮南烛道：“你快死了。”
林秋石愣住了：“啊？什么意思？”
“字面上的意思。” 阮南烛慢慢地说下去，“不过只要你能撑过十二扇门，就能活下来，彻底脱离门的控制。”
page 179
“南烛，有事吗？” 林秋石擦着头发走了过去。
“我需要你。” 阮南烛语出惊人。
林秋石听到这句话愣了：“什么……意思？”
“字面上的意思。” 阮南烛说，“你不能死。”
page 271
那是个早晨，林秋石照例到楼下吃早饭，却没看见张冕。他等了一会儿，却见大家都是一副什么都没发生的表情， 他很好奇：“张冕呢？怎么没看到他？”
“昨晚就跑了。” 陈非啃着程一榭做的松饼，随口说了句。
“跑了？” 林秋石惊了，“跑了是什么意思？” 他们这儿又不是传销组织，什么叫跑了。
陈非说：“字面上的意思，受不了阮哥的压榨，溜了。”
page 311
直到回到了他们的房间，阮南烛才说了句：“我怀疑有内鬼。“
“什么意思？” 林秋石道。
阮南烛说：“字面上的意思，团队里有人故意杀人。”
page 313
阮南烛说：“那个希望我们死的人，用了新的画框。” 他笑了笑，“好在现在已经解决了。”
林秋石：“什么意思？”
阮南烛：“字面上的意思，还有，我发现了一张的新的纸条。”
~ Kaleidoscope of Death (Like a Dream book 1) |《死亡万花筒》入梦【上】
Xi Zi Xu | 西子绪
@}--->>--->>-----
起初的异样，是家里的猫不让抱了。 林秋石发现周围的一切都开始变得充满了不协调感。 然后某一天，当他推开家中的门，却发现熟悉的楼道变成了长长的走廊。 走廊的两头，是十二扇一模一样的铁门。 故事由此开始。
*Blurb from Goodreads*
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