In Jordan's WoT, there is TONS of explanation. there is a "scientific" explanation to much of the magic system, and it works. Part of the fun of that series IMO, is that i like to see how it all comes together. Just like in House, or CSI or any of those sort of shows, the magic is in how everything matches up, or in how things are countered. And the SPECIFIC knowledge of that makes it interesting. The knowledge of exactly how the main character etc just defeated the bad guy is better than just knowing that it happened.

On the other hand, there are books like GRRM's aSoIaF series, where magic is neither common, nor scientific. Pretty much just classic "magic" in the sense that it is sorcerers/witches/etc doing whatever it is they do, and OUR characters observing it. There is a certain level of mysticism that is enjoyable there as well, WANTING to know how it is done but not knowing. For me anyways.

I see the problem coming in where authors try and mix mystical and fantastical with scientific. Whenever an author tries to do that, I lose all interest in the magic system. When Terry Brooks tried to go all scientific instead of magical, i lost interest in the entire series. I almost had that experience with Erikson but he didn't go so far.


But that all is just me, I'm interested to see what others think.