Magic that's not so magical

dogfacedboy · Feb 13, 2010

So I'm trying to develop a magic system in my fantasy world in which magic is less of a mystical phenomenon and more of a practical tool and I was wondering at the kind of reaction an average reader might have toward it. It's a medieval-ish setting, but magic is used for improving the quality of life more than anything else. For example: smokeless torches, sewage disposal, food preservation, etc. In my head I've likened wizards to lawyers or doctors. It's the kind of thing that anybody can do once they've been fully trained, but not just anybody can succeed at the training.

Part of my motivation in using this system is that I wanted to do something a little different with magic, but also my story will span several hundred years and I was hoping that the magic system would serve as a reason why no significant technological advances are made.

My concern is that the magic won't be exciting and colorful and will turn away readers who have an expectation that magic is supposed to be... well... magical. Should I be worried?

Etola · Feb 13, 2010

dogfacedboy said:
So I'm trying to develop a magic system in my fantasy world in which magic is less of a mystical phenomenon and more of a practical tool and I was wondering at the kind of reaction an average reader might have toward it. It's a medieval-ish setting, but magic is used for improving the quality of life more than anything else. For example: smokeless torches, sewage disposal, food preservation, etc. In my head I've likened wizards to lawyers or doctors. It's the kind of thing that anybody can do once they've been fully trained, but not just anybody can succeed at the training.

Part of my motivation in using this system is that I wanted to do something a little different with magic, but also my story will span several hundred years and I was hoping that the magic system would serve as a reason why no significant technological advances are made.

My concern is that the magic won't be exciting and colorful and will turn away readers who have an expectation that magic is supposed to be... well... magical. Should I be worried?

Hey there, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm kind of experimenting with a similar idea in my own WIP, and I'm sure others have done it before us. Magic systems have taken all sorts of shapes in all sorts of stories--treated as anything from the secret and uber-mystical, reserved for only a few god-like beings, to a work-a-day job with all of the pitfalls and tedium of any other job. As long as the story and characters are compelling, the rest is really all window dressing, and all you really need to worry about is to make sure that the magic is used consistently and believably. I doubt any reader is going to throw the book aside just because some wizard uses it to reinforce a ceiling beam.

GeorgeK · Feb 13, 2010

It's been a few decades since I read it, so I might get the name of the series wrong, but, "The Illearth Wars."

owlion · Feb 13, 2010

It sounds like a great idea! It's always refreshing to see a new take on things that are used so often - like magic.
If it's done well, it should be very interesting to read

Annayna · Feb 13, 2010

I say do it.

More power to ya

and good luck

Snivscriv · Feb 13, 2010

I'll be interested to see how your approach works out. I'm doing just the opposite in my stories. For me, magic is something that a magician uses rarely, and only for special needs, like fighting or healing. Most of the time, magicians have to get through their day-to-day lives like the rest of us poor slobs.

Selcaby · Feb 13, 2010

I think there would still be advances even if everyone used magic instead of technology. People would discover new spells or invent new ways to use existing spells, or just invent new things to do. I'm not saying you can't do it, but you need a better reason for things to stay the same or else your world will be unrealistic (not that lack of realism necessarily matters if it simplifies things).

Smiling Ted · Feb 13, 2010

You might want to read

What Good Is a Glass Dagger?
Magic, Inc.

and

The Lord Darcy Mysteries

Death Wizard · Feb 13, 2010

I like your take on things.

MAP · Feb 13, 2010

dogfacedboy said:
So I'm trying to develop a magic system in my fantasy world in which magic is less of a mystical phenomenon and more of a practical tool and I was wondering at the kind of reaction an average reader might have toward it. It's a medieval-ish setting, but magic is used for improving the quality of life more than anything else. For example: smokeless torches, sewage disposal, food preservation, etc. In my head I've likened wizards to lawyers or doctors. It's the kind of thing that anybody can do once they've been fully trained, but not just anybody can succeed at the training.

Part of my motivation in using this system is that I wanted to do something a little different with magic, but also my story will span several hundred years and I was hoping that the magic system would serve as a reason why no significant technological advances are made.

My concern is that the magic won't be exciting and colorful and will turn away readers who have an expectation that magic is supposed to be... well... magical. Should I be worried?

I think this can be fun if you're creative in the ways that magic is used. You should still have rules for your magic then find innovated ways to bend them.

JK Rowlings did something similar in Harry Potter, and you know how well that worked out for her.

thothguard51 · Feb 13, 2010

In any magic system, no matter how the magic is used, there will always be someone who uses, or wants magic for their own power and with this power comes a distrust in others who can also weld this power.

If you are only using magic to benefit your civilization, then you need to think deeper because someone is thinking otherwise...

dogfacedboy · Feb 14, 2010

thothguard51 said:
If you are only using magic to benefit your civilization, then you need to think deeper because someone is thinking otherwise...

That's a good point. Even in the real world, I should never underestimate people's abilty to corrupt and abuse even the most mundane resources. And magic should be no exception. Hmm. That could prove useful in all kinds of ways.

Thanks.

Magic that's not so magical

dogfacedboy

Etola

Still looking for stars...

GeorgeK

ever seeking

owlion

Absorbing inspiration from the moon

Annayna

Vampire

Snivscriv

Selcaby

Writer of wrongs

Smiling Ted

Ah-HA!

Death Wizard

Tumhe na koci puujetha

MAP

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...

dogfacedboy