What are some good magical powers books?

[Jarrett17584]

I love magical power books. Set in urban or medieval or anywhere in between. I'm almost done with on series and i need another reccomendation.

 

[Tony Williams]

What have you read already?

For a fun read, you still can't beat Sprague de Camp's "The Intrepid Enchanter"

 

[Jarrett17584]

I have already read The Circle Of Magic series which i suggest to you they are awesome. And i want some that compare to that Tamora Pierce wrote them/.

 

[JBI]

Try The Wheel of Time. Jordan uses one of the best systems of magic I have ever read.

Also, you may try Cry of the Newborn by James Barcley. This is about a bunch of kids who are the first people in the world born with magical abilities.

 

[Jarrett17584]

thx Cry Of The Newborn sounds kool u know who wrote it?

 

[Joe Abercrombie]

Why, Cry of the Newborn was penned by the very wonderful James Barclay, who, incidentally, may soon be experiencing the cries of his own newborn (see what I did there?)

You're lucky too, as the sequel, Shout for the Dead, has just this month been published.

 

[Jarrett17584]

kool thx.....well i highly reccomend the The circle Opens series and The circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce

 

[Werthead]

Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing Trilogy features no less than three excellently-detailed, logical magical systems, all competing with one another. The Psukh, the Gnosis and the Agnogic magical systems I think will eventually outstrip Jordan's One Power (itself still a reasonable system and, as shown in the latest Wheel of Time volume, still capable of delivering surprises), once they are given more time to develop.

Steven Erikson's Warren system in The Malazan Book of the Fallen is also pretty good, although it takes a lot longer (until the fifth volume) before someone actually sits down and explains to another character how it works.

Apparently the Order/Chaos system used by LE Modesitt in his Recluce books is supposed to be pretty good, but I've only read one book and it didn't feature much sorcery in it.

 

[Tony Williams]

Another one worth looking out for is Randall Garrett's Lord Darcy series - set in an alternate Earth (approx 19th century technology) in which magic works. The hero is an investigator, so they are crime novels as well.

 

[JBI]

Apparently the Order/Chaos system used by LE Modesitt in his Recluce books is supposed to be pretty good, but I've only read one book and it didn't feature much sorcery in it.

The system is interesting, but generally is very black and white, pretty much only subjective, and doesn't have any objectiveness.

 

[Werthead]

IIRC, Chaos magic in the series is used to kill people, throw around fireballs and stuff, whilst Order can only heal and ensure the natural continuation of things? But there are loopholes, so Order-wielders can put 'preserve' spells on enemies in a Chaos magic zone, and the Chaos magic disrupts or reverses the preserve spell and kills them (messily)? I remember the critic David Langford saying it was a simplistic system which can be twisted into doing interesting things, making it better than most magic systems out there.

 

[Optimutt]

As odd as this might sound, I recommend both David Eddings' series, "The Belgariad" and "The Mallorian." And, to belabor the obvious, "Harry Potter." I assume you've read all three series, but whatever. Thought I'd get them out there, anyway.

 

[James Barclay]

Tell you what Joe, you're one clever fellow. To weave fantasy and reality together. You should be an author, you know.

And no newborn cries just yet... but the clock is ticking down fast we hope. The little nipper was due yesterday.

NOM