[shevek]

Dragonlance is perhaps the most blatantly bad (from what I'm told.) I am not familiar enough with Dungeons and Dragons to
say for a fact, but from what I've seen, the magic system in the books relies strictly on the game mechanics, which I suppose is okay if you like the game, but pretty sad if you do not. I did not

Yep, it was based on the D&D magic system. But it was done so very badly. While the D&D system is notoriously lacking, it's not that dull.

Anyway, incorporating magic is one of the most difficult things. Look at Feist: In his later books horribly failing to balance magic (the Pug syndrome: "I have it but can't use it"). I have yet to see a consistant higher magic world with closely described and balanced magic. Jordan is quite good, limiting magic through the "taint" and the "forgotten art" (old concepts though), but we'll see how it ends.



[This message has been edited by shevek (edited May 24, 2000).]

[Giarc]

Music and magic. Wasn't that the first system used in fantasy? In the first 'book' of the Silmarillion....the creation of middle earth was by means of the music of the Valar.
Tolkien used magic well I think: sparingly and with a sense of mystery. This book seems to reveal more about it's nature than LOTR or The Hobbit. Since Wastra didn't provide an overview of Goodkind's system perhaps I should quickly add my impression of it.
In Goodkind's world there are two forms of magic: additive and subtractive. Additive magic is limited to creative actions, subtractive limited to destructive. Additive magic can be used to kill by creating a weapon (for instance), it can create illusion, and it can heal. Basically anything where something is being brought into being, or added to. It cannot be used to 'remove' life force etc. Likewise, subtractive magic can be used to remove things and obviously has major implications for directly killing things. Very powerful and far rarer than additive magic. In fact, only Richard Rahl, Emporer Jagang, and (to a far lesser extent) Kahlan retain subtractive magic abilities. Subtractive magic cannot be used to heal or create things.
Overall, magical abilities are a very rare condition (magic is slowly dying it seems). Additive magic users are the most common form. But it is those who wield both additive and subtractive magic who truly have power. Historically there were more wizards but the ability was almost wiped out in the ancient war of the wizards.
The biggest unresolved question is what type of magic does the witch Shota possess? It doesn't seem to fit within his system *shrug*
Overall he does it well I believe, although the Shota thing is a niggling question that does detract from the overall use. Though it also adds an air of mystery which is good.