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A part of that is planned, and another part is due to a growing author. Jacob Send a noteboard - 03/11/2009 03:11:58 PM
Which seems to be one of Sanderson's Hallmarks, for better or for worse.

Elantris, Warbreaker, even the end of Mistborn left you sure that you didn't know everything about the world, or the magic system. Simultaneously frustrating and interesting.


Part of that nagging feeling when it comes to Sanderson's magic system is that he's only partially revealing his unifying idea in each separate work. These stories fit together into a shared multi-verse somehow and the magic is part of that puzzle.

I hear that Sanderson's capstone work, his THE WAY OF KINGS, includes a very interesting and complex magic system or 3.

Mistborn is certainly his most polished and complete work to date, and it was his intent to leave readers wondering just what was left and what they might not know. I had no problems with that.
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What is the purpose of a "good" magic system in fantasy? - 02/11/2009 05:15:29 PM 994 Views
For me at least, it changes with each story, and each telling. - 02/11/2009 07:47:59 PM 662 Views
Well, the Dying Earth genre can do this quite effectively. - 03/11/2009 04:08:45 PM 566 Views
Well, sure, magic is by definition unscientific. - 02/11/2009 08:21:38 PM 660 Views
A "good" system can enhance the otherness of the world or characters. - 02/11/2009 08:34:02 PM 657 Views
Warbreaker felt like it had a lot of untapped potential - 03/11/2009 05:55:23 AM 578 Views
A part of that is planned, and another part is due to a growing author. - 03/11/2009 03:11:58 PM 718 Views
I think it takes a couple of things to make a good magic system - 02/11/2009 09:25:42 PM 559 Views
Concequence is certainly interesting. - 03/11/2009 04:02:58 PM 607 Views
Indeed. - 03/11/2009 04:16:41 PM 615 Views
Sounds interesting. - 03/11/2009 04:30:37 PM 560 Views
Novelty and verisimilitude, for me - 03/11/2009 05:51:22 AM 587 Views
Heh, yes. - 03/11/2009 04:05:37 PM 631 Views
I really don't care as long as it is not horribly inconsistent. - 03/11/2009 07:47:48 AM 606 Views
The problem with heroes is they are just making it up as the go along - 03/11/2009 06:49:25 PM 583 Views
That is not without a whole lot of precident in comics. *NM* - 03/11/2009 08:04:48 PM 242 Views
yes but comics run for decades *NM* - 05/11/2009 09:19:05 PM 243 Views
Although this is technically SciFi... - 03/11/2009 08:23:27 PM 617 Views
Hmmmm. - 05/11/2009 04:34:03 PM 572 Views
needless masturbation? As opposed to "purposeful?" *NM* - 05/11/2009 06:54:27 PM 285 Views
*insert gender joke here* *NM* - 06/11/2009 01:39:47 AM 242 Views
Yes. I actually believe it can be very purposeful. *NM* - 07/11/2009 04:48:27 PM 237 Views

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