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Post by FortySixandTwo on May 29, 2014 23:42:04 GMT -8
What source (any fucking source) do you like the magic/supernatural 'ruleset' the most?
You can go classic with Dracula/Chucky/Brendan Fraiser vs The Rock. But what series did their creation the best?!
My personal choice is Patrick Rothfuss and his Kingkiller Chronicles;
Dude is, at least, trying to look like a less old and less drunk RR Martin.
Very close second is Steven Erikson and his Malazan Book of the Fallen:
Erikson literally has a double PHD in Anthropology and Archaeology; true fucking fact. He is also one of the most prolific writers in the modern fantasy age. He finished the 12 book Malazan saga in under 10 years, and each book clocks in around 1,000 fucking pages. No joke. He has already well into his next trilogy. Take note, RR Martin. Great quality, 10/10 would read again.
Your thoughts? If you post Harry Potter I will respect your opinion (go fuck yourself).
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Post by TSilver on May 30, 2014 1:17:26 GMT -8
I'm not actually sure what question you are asking here, Forty. Are we going for best source of magic in a series?  |
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Post by dclxvi on May 30, 2014 9:40:11 GMT -8
Only Gilliam does magical characters the way I like to see them, whether it be Evil (See avatar) turning people into dogs at a whimsy or Baron Munchausen pulling himself out of the water by his own hair.
Each film exists in its own universe, but in each one, magic seems only limited by the power of the imagination a la the wizard's duel in Sword in the Stone. I like it that way. My first impression of the Harry Potter universe was "well shit, that all seems rigid. Their magic looks like no damn fun".
Also: Adventure time. It's like the opposite theory, the WORLD is limited by the imagination but all the character have very specific abilities and never anything above that. Just a crazy interesting show.
But, if you're looking for a MacGuffin 'source' like a well in which a universe's magic springs from?
The Loc Nar (Heavy Metal). If you watch the end of Time Bandits, it's pretty much what Evil explodes into.
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Post by FortySixandTwo on May 30, 2014 11:20:53 GMT -8
By source I mean media. Not where the magic derives from, just the book/movie whatever that has a magic system in it.
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Post by tarz on May 30, 2014 16:04:33 GMT -8
Easily R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing/Aspect Emperor series. Bachelors in literature, MA in criticism and theory, and a serious knowledge of philosophy. I know I've discussed the series in depth with Mags and Dienekes before. Well worth the read.
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Post by Atron on May 30, 2014 17:25:26 GMT -8
Knee-jerk reaction would have to be Terry Pratchett's magic system where its all absolute chaos barely tamped down into a semi-stable form.
Actual thought-out enjoyed system.. Probably Katharine Kerr's Wyrd/Elemental based magic that has more to do with the mind's control/barter/domination (depending on good/evil mage) of external elemental(Faerie and otherwise) forces.
If Ihad to be a character with magic skill in a book? Most likely Garth Nix's Abhorsen trilogy with its Charter Magic based on runes opposing a fluid chaotic magic of raw creation. Weis and Hickman's magic system in the Death Gate Cycle is another one based on an elemental break down but held in check by a rune-based system.
D&D's schools of magic has always been semi-decent if inconsistent at times. The opposing schools never made much sense to me though.
Edit:
Props for linking Heavy Metal Deci, I've subscribed to the magazine for years.
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Post by dclxvi on Jun 1, 2014 11:48:27 GMT -8
By source I mean media. Not where the magic derives from, just the book/movie whatever that has a magic system in it. In that case, I change my answer to the J. Robert King iterations of Magic: The Gathering Novels. Surprisingly deep for books based on a card game. The Thran, Time Streams, Planeshift. All very good. From a series that isn't usually very good, either. Hard to come up with an answer that people won't expect. BTW those Malazan books... look interesting as hell. I'll definitely make time for that. |
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Post by TSilver on Jun 1, 2014 20:15:48 GMT -8
I sporadically love The Wheel of Time series, and the deep magic systems within. Also, for a modern twist, Jim Butcher's Dresden Files are great. And Shadowrun. <3 Shadowrun. |
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