For those of you unaccustomed to my Giant YouTube channel, you're in for fourteen minutes of pure delight. At first I talk about fantasy generally, then I talk about the use of magic specifically. This is the first of a series.
As someone who found a path to my faith through Dungeons and Dragons, I can happily agree with the points you've raised. I look forward to future installments!
Joffre, thanks for broaching the topic. I've found the following article to be helpful in making a distinction between "magic" (expressing "will") and "enchantment" (expressing "wonder"). Incidentally, it's about Tolkien.
I agree in general with your points, though I feel Harry Potter has a lot more depth and wonder than you give it credit for. Have you read the full series? Yes, there's some silliness and some high school drama, but part of that is due to the intended audience (the books start as middle-grade fiction and gradually move to YA in sync with the characters and, by extension, the reader).
Unrelated: You mention Rowling, Tolkien, and Lewis -- what other fantasy books/authors would you recommend? I have always favored scifi and could use some more Wonderment in my life.
Arthur C. Clarke's Three Laws of impossibility 1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong. 2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible. 3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
As someone who found a path to my faith through Dungeons and Dragons, I can happily agree with the points you've raised. I look forward to future installments!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
DeleteJoffre, thanks for broaching the topic. I've found the following article to be helpful in making a distinction between "magic" (expressing "will") and "enchantment" (expressing "wonder"). Incidentally, it's about Tolkien.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.patrickcurry.co.uk/papers/Iron-Cage-Iron-Crown.pdf
Do you have the power to cast Wonderment?
DeleteMost males do, in fact.
DeleteI agree in general with your points, though I feel Harry Potter has a lot more depth and wonder than you give it credit for. Have you read the full series? Yes, there's some silliness and some high school drama, but part of that is due to the intended audience (the books start as middle-grade fiction and gradually move to YA in sync with the characters and, by extension, the reader).
ReplyDeleteUnrelated: You mention Rowling, Tolkien, and Lewis -- what other fantasy books/authors would you recommend? I have always favored scifi and could use some more Wonderment in my life.
Arthur C. Clarke's Three Laws of impossibility
ReplyDelete1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
There it is. Thank you!
Delete