[Habeed]

Ok, I picked up the tome titled "Runelords : The Sum of All Men" and decided to give it a shot. I'd read mixed reviews on these boards : many like it and say the style and constant action is great. But others hate its infamous feature : the magic system.

At first, I thought Runelords magic system was the worst idea I'd ever heard. To become more powerful, someone has to become MAIMED in return. To make a runelord see better, someone has to become BLIND. And there's NO undoing the "endowment" unless the person who was endowed DIES. (i.e. you can't just give your sight away for a few weeks). So its permanent, and someone has to constantly suffer as a price for the magic. And it immeadiatly begs the question : how can a "good" character possibly justify maiming someone in order to make himself stronger?

I still don't "like" the idea. But its INTERESTING. Farland deals with almost all the issues associated with the system : the action of the book revolves around it. And it works really well as a plot device : great leaders, with lots of endowments, take to the battlefields PERSONALLY. Since an endowed man can have the power of hundreds, even thousands : rather than having to waste paper characterizing the "troops", only the leaders are important. Anyway, once I got over how much I hated the magic system, I found a tightly written story that's quite, quite good. Try Runelords : you may like it.

P.S. its got a second magic system, an elemental magic system, that's also cool.

[Cellandros]

Personally, I loved the magic system for exactly the reasons you were troubled by it: permanent repercussions. A well thought-out system of checks and balances; coupled with the uniquness of it all.

The moral and ethical debates that the magic system can inspired are wonderful, and also help the reader delve into the psyche and motivation of each character.

Runelords is definately a great book and I know there are several folks on the board who love it.

[Zsinj16]

Wow, Habeed, a fantasy book you actually read and liked without picking it apart, there may be hope for you yet! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Habeed]

I never pick apart GRRM, guys. He is the Master (that humming noise is me worshipping before an alter with A storm of Swords in a prominant position.) I'm just not happy with the crap out there that some authors like to spew out.

[Rob B]

Habeed, glad you liked it. The next two books are even better, IMHO.

[Pathir]

Habeed, I too was not drawn to this system of magic, and truth to tell still have to finish the first book. I only got through some hundred pages or so...
That was also due to other books arriving in my home, books I couldn't let lying around without reading (George RR's third and Williams final Otherland), but I still haven't returned to it. Maby I will pick it up again now you mentioned having the same problems with it as I did.
Mixed reviews always make me curious and have a go at the book in question myself.