[FangOWolf]

Anything out there with a Michael Crighton type look at how magic works? Maybe a young apprentice learning the tricks of the trade.

[Wulfa_Jones]

Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind discusses magical theory to a point.

The Ascendants of Estoria by James Barclay is about magic just starting to appear in a world and is quite detailed in how it works and how it is controlled.

[FangOWolf]

Thanks Barclays books sounds like it might fit the bill.

[Fung Koo]

Bakker's Prince of Nothing trilogy contains a pretty good description of how the magic in his world works. You don't get the full picture until the very end, and the full picture is somewhat contradictory, but one of the better attempts at rational magic that I've seen.

[FangOWolf]

Thanks Fung, that ones on my Epic list already so I'll definately get to it sometime :)

[Simen]

Anything out there with a Michael Crighton type look at how magic works? Maybe a young apprentice learning the tricks of the trade.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Haven't read Michael Crighton, so I don't know about the magic system, but "young apprentice" (or at least, "apprentice") and "academic study of magic" certainly fits. It's worth a read, anyway.

[Fung Koo]

Loved Strange & Norrell.

[hawkwind]

Read these by Lyndon Hardy. One of the best books for describing how magic works. The first books is split into sections of the different magics and show how Alodar masters each one. Thaumaturgy, Alchemy, Magic, Sorcery, and Wizardry. Take a look at this entry in wikipedia. Gives a good description of each magic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_the_Five_Magics

1. Master of the Five Magics (1980)
2. Secret of the Sixth Magic (1984)
3. Riddle of the Seven Realms (1988)

[FangOWolf]

Thanks Simen Strange & Mr Norrell on on my epic list as well :)
:( guess I need to spend a bit more time reading on the epic list.

Thanks Hawkwind added to the list and from my Highschool years :). I was trapped in all the Moorcock and Howard books at the time.

[Corporal Blues]

Read these by Lyndon Hardy. One of the best books for describing how magic works. The first books is split into sections of the different magics and show how Alodar masters each one. Thaumaturgy, Alchemy, Magic, Sorcery, and Wizardry. Take a look at this entry in wikipedia. Gives a good description of each magic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_the_Five_Magics

1. Master of the Five Magics (1980)
2. Secret of the Sixth Magic (1984)
3. Riddle of the Seven Realms (1988)

I wonder if this series inspired the Megadeth song "Five Magics". I'm pretty sure he mentions those same five magics in the song lyrics.