The magic goes away

[phantom power]

There is something about fantasy literature that I've been curious about for a long time: with almost no exception, knowledge of magic is something that decays over time. The most powerful magic is always a relic of some kind or other. I actually wrote a term paper on this in a Tolkien class, relating to the Silmarillion.

I am not aware of any fantasy novel written about magic as a growing art/science, where current magic is more powerful than past magic, and the plot revolves around new magic being developed. And not re-discovered, but truly new.

The only exception I can think of is Heinlein's "magic, inc"

Is anybody aware of fantasy novels where knowledge of magic progresses over time?

[Fumesucker]

1. I don't have an answer to your question, but your OP title is also the title of a story..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_Goes_Away

[phantom power]

2. Yes, I couldn't resist.

Niven's story is interesting because in that fantasy world, the actual source of magic is disappearing over time. Magic as a non-renewable resource.

[Fumesucker]

3. I was wondering if you were being a little coy or not..

Of course now you reference another story about magic..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Source_of_Magic

I suspect I could carry on entire conversations in nothing but SF and fantasy cliches and titles. :evilgrin:

[semillama]

4. Hmmm, not in particular

although I suppose that one could argue that the Harry Potter series might represent an example of accumulation of magical knowledge.

But you're right, most of the novels I can think of that deal with magic have the current levels of use and knowledge less than in the past (Wheel of Time, Shannara, etc).

[phantom power]

5. Harry Potter. Yeah, they always have "the latest model Magic X."

I think one problem with a "progressive magic" plot is that you are drawn into explaining how magic works, at which point it either starts to look like engineering, or highlights how little sense magic makes.

Barbara Hambly does a good job of walking that tightrope. I always liked her descriptions of the prepwork and execution of spells. I can imagine her pulling off a novel where magic is a growing art/science.

[kentauros]

6. Well, I'm working on something like that.

But it is a combination of Spirit and magic, so no science involved. I still have to be careful not to be overly detailed as I like to do when I write... ;)

[phantom power]

7. Please let us know when it is finished...

I think writing a "progressive magic" fantasy is about finding the right kinds of literary idioms, or techniques, or what-have-you, to make it feel right. Which is probably easier to say than do. Everybody more or less "knows how to write" a classic fantasy of the "decaying magic" kind. That literary form has been well established.

[kentauros]

8. I'll probably let many around here know about it when I'm done

:)

For a while, I had a major problem with the plot, as I had been expanding a mild romantic short story into a novel. I finally figured out where I was going with it all, but won't really get into the expansion of the magic until maybe a later book. I've never been published before, so we'll see how it all goes...

[salvorhardin]

9. What about the Discworld novels? n/t

[phantom power]

10. Could be. I never read any of them.

[Dead_Parrot]

12. You really, REALLY should do.

Linguistics: "Rincewind could scream for mercy in nineteen languages, and just scream in another forty-four."

Magic armour: "Many an ancient lord's last words had been, "You can't kill me because I've got magic aaargh.""

Technology: "One of the universal rules of happiness is: always be wary of any helpful item that weighs less than its operating manual."

Marriage: "A marriage is always made up of two people who are prepared to swear that only the other one snores."

Chemistry: "The Alchemist's Guild is opposite the Gambler's Guild. Usually. Sometimes it's above it, or below it, or falling in bits around it."

Rock & Roll: "Smoke was coming out of the stricken piano. The Librarian's hands were walking through the keys like Casanunda in a nunnery."

Martial arts: "Do not act incautiously when confronting little bald wrinkly smiling men!"

Wisdom: ""Master, what is the difference between a humanistic, monastic system of belief in which wisdom is sought by means of an apparently nonsensical system of questions and answers, and a lot of mystic gibberish made up on the spur of the moment?" Wen considered this for some time, and at last said: "A fish!" And Clodpool went away, satisfied."

Police: "FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC"

[phantom power]

14. Hmm. You aren't the first person to recommend them, but maybe the most convincing.

:thumbsup:

[Swede]

11. The Riftwar saga by Feist the magic is ongoing and taught.

Great series IMHO.

[bluedigger]

13. Harry Turtledove's Darkness series.

WW II analogy, with mages using magic (naturally) in an escalating global conflict.