網絡文學作為一種新型的文化形態逐漸吸引了一大批讀者，特別是年輕讀者的青睞。而不僅僅在中國市場，中國網絡小說在海外市場同樣受歡迎。
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When online literature first came out in the 1990s, it was considered low-quality, 「fast food」 content, with cheap plots and stereotypical characters. Most serious fans of literature looked down upon it.
上世紀90年代網絡文學首次出現時，它一度被視為是低質量的「快餐」文化，情節拙劣，人物老套。大多數書迷都瞧不起這類網絡文化。
Oh, how things have changed.
如今，一切都變得不同了。
Now serialized on websites and mobile apps, making them easy to access, online novels are being embraced by Chinese readers. The number of readers accessing literature online reached 455 million, making up 53 percent of Chinese internet users. These numbers come from a report released earlier this month by the China Internet Network Information Center.
現在，在網站或者手機應用上連載的網絡小說隨處可見，中國讀者們也接受了這類文學作品。閱讀網絡文學的讀者數量已達4.55億，占中國網民的53%。這些數據來自中國網際網路信息中心發布的一份報告。
The most popular works may get published in print or adapted into games, movies and TV series.
大多數熱門作品都有可能印刷出版，或者改編成遊戲及影視劇。
Over the past decades, online literary works have developed into relatable stories, and authors now write with more imagination. In Jade Dynasty and Legend of Fuyao, for example, the authors use fictional settings to tell their fantastic stories.
經過過去幾十年的發展，網絡文學作品中的故事漸漸能夠引起人們的共鳴，如今的作者也在創作中發揮了更多的想像力。比如，在《誅仙》和《扶搖》中，作者們都採用架空設定來講述奇幻故事。
Their readers have also turned out to be aspiring youths. 「Most online novels are essentially coming-of-age stories about the protagonist’s endeavors,」 Gai Bo, of Peking University’s School of Journalism and Communication, wrote in Publishing Journal. 「Young readers can … project their hopes and dreams on the characters, by identifying with them.」
他們的讀者也都是一些有志青年。「大多數網絡小說本質上都是主人公的成長奮鬥故事，」北京大學新聞與傳播學院的蓋博在《出版科學》上寫道。「年輕讀者能與角色產生身份認同，並將自己的希望與夢想投射在這些角色身上。」
The massive appeal of China’s online literature, which revolves around universal themes, has also extended its reach to millions of readers worldwide.
以普世主題為中心的中國網絡文學擁有著巨大的魅力，也吸引了世界各地的數百萬讀者。
The most popular novels with overseas audiences tend to be classified as xuanhuan, which means fantasy stories that feature adventures and warfare. Jade Dynasty and Legend of Fuyao fall into this category.
最受海外讀者歡迎的小說多為玄幻主題 —— 講述冒險和戰爭的奇幻故事。《誅仙》和《扶搖》都是這類小說。
「Fans can easily find commonalities between the imagined supernatural universes of Chinese xuanhuan and Western fantasy novels,」 Ren Xiang, a research fellow at the Australia-China Institute for Arts and Culture at Western Sydney University, told China Daily.
「書迷們很容易就能發現中國玄幻小說構想的超自然宇宙與西方奇幻小說的共性，」西雪梨大學澳中藝術與文化研究院研究員任翔在接受《中國日報》採訪時如此表示。
「It’s not hard to understand Chinese web novels,」 Jongmay Urbonya, a US college student in China, told China Daily. 「Fantasy stories and novels related to power struggles are global topics.」
「讀懂中國網絡小說並不難，」美國在華大學生約格米·烏爾邦亞在接受《中國日報》採訪時表示。「與權謀爭鬥相關的奇幻小說和故事是全球性的話題。」
With more translation forums flourishing, it’s not difficult to imagine how curious foreign readers will feel about China’s online literature, just as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings were first introduced to China.
如今，越來越多翻譯論壇興起，不難想見外國讀者對於中國網絡文學有著十分強烈的好奇心，就像當年《哈利·波特》與《魔戒》首次引入中國時那樣。
以上文章內容選自《21世紀學生英文報》高三690期
本文英文音頻由我報外籍編輯 Joe Willetts朗讀