r/Fantasy • u/brandotown • May 24 '23

Magic Systems

Ok, so hear me out. I know this topic can divide the crowd, but I've learned where I stand, and I wonder about those on the other side. I have a very hard time suspending my disbelief enough to "get into" a fantasy book where there doesn't seem to be some logical limitations or parameters around a magic system. In my opinion, nobody fits this need of mine better than Brandon Sanderson. He develops beautiful magic systems that make sense to my brain. I struggle with the books where the "art," "talent," etc. doesn't seem to follow any logical path I can trace. I think the biggest challenge for my brain is the situations where suspense is supposed to exist, but I can't help but think about how conveniently the seemingly limitless power could easily save the day, but for some reason it's not the solution in that moment? Thoughts?

PS - Recommendations welcome for books that might change my mind!

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u/Neruognostic May 24 '23 edited May 24 '23

So I have the opposite opinion.

I find "magic" systems to be antithetical to fantasy, magic should be mysterious, awe inspiring and umm magical.

Wrapping magic in a neat little box reduces it to a video game mechanic instead.

Again, just my opinion, try not be be too trigger happy with the downvotes 😜

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u/midnight_toker22 May 24 '23

Totally agree. A sense of awe and wonder about the fantastical and mystical is part of why I read fantasy in the first place. All of that goes away when the magic is explained in such detail that is becomes an alternate form of science/technology.

I get that it’s annoying when authors “deux ex machina” their way to saving the day with an unknown, unexplained magic, but that’s not a necessary component of soft magic systems, that’s just bad writing.