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Well, the Dying Earth genre can do this quite effectively. Ouranid Send a noteboard - 03/11/2009 04:08:45 PM

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.


Where science is mistaken for magic in the far future. However, it is often left unexplained, to the degree that it seems more magical than much of contemporary fantasy.
*MySmiley*
Indeed, I marry them in their unlawful bed, with an open heart I affirm the true right of any man and woman to their dark slobbering nights which are rare enough, and against which too many laws conspire.
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What is the purpose of a "good" magic system in fantasy? - 02/11/2009 05:15:29 PM 970 Views
For me at least, it changes with each story, and each telling. - 02/11/2009 07:47:59 PM 641 Views
Well, the Dying Earth genre can do this quite effectively. - 03/11/2009 04:08:45 PM 546 Views
Well, sure, magic is by definition unscientific. - 02/11/2009 08:21:38 PM 636 Views
A "good" system can enhance the otherness of the world or characters. - 02/11/2009 08:34:02 PM 634 Views
Warbreaker felt like it had a lot of untapped potential - 03/11/2009 05:55:23 AM 558 Views
I think it takes a couple of things to make a good magic system - 02/11/2009 09:25:42 PM 537 Views
Concequence is certainly interesting. - 03/11/2009 04:02:58 PM 589 Views
Indeed. - 03/11/2009 04:16:41 PM 595 Views
Sounds interesting. - 03/11/2009 04:30:37 PM 541 Views
Novelty and verisimilitude, for me - 03/11/2009 05:51:22 AM 568 Views
Heh, yes. - 03/11/2009 04:05:37 PM 611 Views
I really don't care as long as it is not horribly inconsistent. - 03/11/2009 07:47:48 AM 583 Views
The problem with heroes is they are just making it up as the go along - 03/11/2009 06:49:25 PM 561 Views
That is not without a whole lot of precident in comics. *NM* - 03/11/2009 08:04:48 PM 230 Views
yes but comics run for decades *NM* - 05/11/2009 09:19:05 PM 234 Views
Although this is technically SciFi... - 03/11/2009 08:23:27 PM 594 Views
Hmmmm. - 05/11/2009 04:34:03 PM 548 Views
needless masturbation? As opposed to "purposeful?" *NM* - 05/11/2009 06:54:27 PM 275 Views
*insert gender joke here* *NM* - 06/11/2009 01:39:47 AM 233 Views
Yes. I actually believe it can be very purposeful. *NM* - 07/11/2009 04:48:27 PM 228 Views

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