Comments on: Magic and Deus ex Machina http://foxywriter.com/2008/04/29/magic-and-deus-ex-machina/ A Weblog on Writing and Fantasy Literature. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:42:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Hoshichan http://foxywriter.com/2008/04/29/magic-and-deus-ex-machina/#comment-665 Hoshichan Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:54:35 +0000 http://foxywriter.com/?p=219#comment-665 Right, exactly. To have her just live anyway, gadzooks, smacks of a Twilight Zone (or badly-written) ending. Anything like this should be foreshadowed, set up well and handled delicately. Right, exactly. To have her just live anyway, gadzooks, smacks of a Twilight Zone (or badly-written) ending. Anything like this should be foreshadowed, set up well and handled delicately.

]]> By: Lenneth http://foxywriter.com/2008/04/29/magic-and-deus-ex-machina/#comment-664 Lenneth Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:45:41 +0000 http://foxywriter.com/?p=219#comment-664 Well, you see "Deep Magic" in Narnia, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, I believe (though I can't think of a specific example in the latter at the mo.) I don't think you could just say, "Wow! She lived anyway!" You'd have to foreshadow, and set up some means by which it seems plausible (ie, in our world, the existence of a transcendent God who can involve Himself in the affairs of humans). Well, you see “Deep Magic” in Narnia, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, I believe (though I can’t think of a specific example in the latter at the mo.) I don’t think you could just say, “Wow! She lived anyway!” You’d have to foreshadow, and set up some means by which it seems plausible (ie, in our world, the existence of a transcendent God who can involve Himself in the affairs of humans).

]]> By: Hoshichan http://foxywriter.com/2008/04/29/magic-and-deus-ex-machina/#comment-663 Hoshichan Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:36:40 +0000 http://foxywriter.com/?p=219#comment-663 Yes, you would definitely have to lay things out beforehand, but I don't see that doing any harm regardless. I guess I envision something like this (oy, with the gruesome OSC examples that come to mind, already) -- magic user performs spell that requires her life in exchange, knowing the cost. User, in a highly dramatic scene, does her business but is not quite killed; her life is spared, miraculously. "There is a Deeper Magic..." etc. Yes, you would definitely have to lay things out beforehand, but I don’t see that doing any harm regardless.

I guess I envision something like this (oy, with the gruesome OSC examples that come to mind, already) — magic user performs spell that requires her life in exchange, knowing the cost. User, in a highly dramatic scene, does her business but is not quite killed; her life is spared, miraculously. “There is a Deeper Magic…” etc.

]]> By: Lenneth http://foxywriter.com/2008/04/29/magic-and-deus-ex-machina/#comment-662 Lenneth Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:29:54 +0000 http://foxywriter.com/?p=219#comment-662 So one would have to have all their magical laws laid out rather precisely, wouldn't they? Interesting. I have done a fair bit of work on my magic system, but pinning down "what can't magic do?" has been a tough one for me. I think as I write in that setting it'll come clear. So one would have to have all their magical laws laid out rather precisely, wouldn’t they? Interesting.

I have done a fair bit of work on my magic system, but pinning down “what can’t magic do?” has been a tough one for me. I think as I write in that setting it’ll come clear.

]]> By: Hoshichan http://foxywriter.com/2008/04/29/magic-and-deus-ex-machina/#comment-661 Hoshichan Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:21:33 +0000 http://foxywriter.com/?p=219#comment-661 Fantastic to hear you've written an ending to <i>Faradris</i>! I'm very excited for you. :D I think miracles and magic can co-exist, although I admit I wouldn't have too many of the former mixed in with the latter. According to my desktop dictionary thing, a miracle is defined as: <blockquote>a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency</blockquote> I would say that something unexplainable by natural, scientific or <i>magical</i> laws would qualify as a miracle, so I wouldn't say one precludes the other, no. Just my thoughts. Fantastic to hear you’ve written an ending to Faradris! I’m very excited for you. :D

I think miracles and magic can co-exist, although I admit I wouldn’t have too many of the former mixed in with the latter. According to my desktop dictionary thing, a miracle is defined as:

a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency

I would say that something unexplainable by natural, scientific or magical laws would qualify as a miracle, so I wouldn’t say one precludes the other, no.

Just my thoughts.

]]> By: Johan http://foxywriter.com/2008/04/29/magic-and-deus-ex-machina/#comment-660 Johan Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:13:15 +0000 http://foxywriter.com/?p=219#comment-660 <blockquote>I think characters who keep trudging on when hope is lost, relying on others and on a Power outside their own, expresses a far deeper truth than, "Believe in yourself! You can do it!"</blockquote> The same goes for people in real-life. Living in an area where so many people are trying to justify life, the universe and everything while believing in nothing at all, I see so much "The power is inside me!" type thought just walking two blocks downtown.

I think characters who keep trudging on when hope is lost, relying on others and on a Power outside their own, expresses a far deeper truth than, “Believe in yourself! You can do it!”

The same goes for people in real-life. Living in an area where so many people are trying to justify life, the universe and everything while believing in nothing at all, I see so much “The power is inside me!” type thought just walking two blocks downtown.

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