Magic
From KneeQuickie
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Magic is a general term for the various supernatural or spiritual forces in fiction usually set in contrast with natural or physical law (in other words science). It is one of the main elements distinguishing fantasy as a genre and probably its main hallmark. A great many conworlds feature some form of magic due to their affinity for the fantasy genre and the influence of Tolkien on conworlding. Despite its heavy use in conworlding, though, magic remains difficult to satisfactorily define or distinguish from concepts like technology and psychic powers.
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Mechanics of magic
In a given conworld, magic typically follows a series of rules that define how it may be used, how one uses it, and so forth. These rules may follow intuitive or logical patterns or they may be seemingly arbitrary or esoteric, but in any case they are almost always present in some fashion, even if the conworlder doesn't consciously work them out. A magical system without any rules or limitations has no way of providing structure for the creator or reader and risks becoming a deus ex machina or an unending handwave (leading to the perennial rationale that a wizard did it). A character with limitless power can simply leap over any complication thrown in their way, thereby demolishing any suspense the writer might hope to generate.
The sheer range of possibilities for creating a magical system defies easy summarization. Unbound by the demands of scientific accuracy, magic can take forms limited only by the human imagination and whatever standard of coherency the readership requires. Even so, magical systems in fiction generally follow certain patterns and tropes, with a few basic approaches predominating.
Conworlders have often tended toward a "scientific" or technical approach to magic, treating it as an alternate form of physics or technology. Mark Rosenfelder, among others, notes that this differs significantly from how people in the past conceived of magic and stems largely from the pervasive influence of modern science in how we view the world. Rosenfelder also asserts that magical systems work best as nonrational since otherwise they simply imitate science fiction by other means.
People, places, things
In most fantastic settings, humans (or at least some of them) can learn to use magic and magic users appear regularly in fantasy fiction. The use of magic usually requires some special attributes in the magician, most often innate talent or intense study and often both.
Powers and abilities
Limitations
Almost all magical systems have a variety of limitations and rules which prevent magic from becoming too powerful and overwhelming the plot.
Comparison with conphysics
Arthur C. Clarke once famously noted that "All sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". In many cases conphysics and technology based on it may lead to effects that resemble magic, such as the replicators of Star Trek which can create material objects out of pure energy. Sometimes known, albeit tentative, scientific laws are invoked to justify such incredible technologies. Science fiction writers have often appealed to quantum physics or exotic forms of matter, for example, to power their faster-than-light starships. In other cases, they have simply made up fictional, but internally consistent, physical principles to justify new technology. Many technologies in Star Trek, for instance, depend on a physical plane known as subspace, while the minovsky particle in Mobile Suit Gundam spawns many key developments in that setting.
Conversely many magical systems, such as those in "hard fantasy", aim for a level of rigor analogous to science. In the Fullmetal Alchemist world, alchemy allows many magical feats such as transmutation and even creating animate beings. Yet it attempts to cast such powers in framework with scientific laws such as equivalent exchange. Given the difficulty of consistantly distinguishing the two, many argue that the difference between magic and technology has more to do with literary conventions, imagery, and terminology than anything concrete.
Others, such as Vohpenonoma'e and Marie Brennan, maintain that magic and technology differ in some fundamental ways. Brennan opines that magic involves a kind of personal and spiritual involvement that technology lacks. A replicator from Star Trek, however fantastic its abilities, has no innate moral character and certainly no spiritual involvement on the part of its user. It works exactly the same no matter who uses it and requires nothing miraculous or subjective to function. By contrast a spell to conjure food from thin air may require some trait of the caster to function like innate magical ability or the right spiritual orientation. One could not design a machine that mechanistically casts the food conjuring spell with no spiritual input or personal involvement like one could a replicator.
In some worlds magic coexists with more ordinary physics in some fashion. The Star Wars universe features fairly typical SF notions of hyperspace, energy weapons, and so forth, but also includes the mystical Force. Conspicuously, however, the magical and technical elements show very little overlap or interaction and generally act as separate spheres.
Relation to Religion
Since it deals in supernatural forces, magic often overlaps with mythic and religious elements in a setting.
Notable systems
- "The Serving of Powers" in Almea
- Magic in Middle Earth
- Wizardry in Harry Potter
- The Force in Star Wars
- Alchemy in Fullmetal Alchemist
