From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1999 08:40:11 -0600

Both Ruth and Cassie has asked for clarification on the term
"arbitrary magic" and I'm sure there are at least a few hundred more of us out there who have the same question.

Roger, I think you may have been the first to use the term "arbitrary magic" and perhaps you'll be willing to say exactly what you mean by the term. I can make an educated guess, based on my knowledge of English, but I confess that I am not a fantasy reader myself, so am wondering if this term is a special buzz word used by readers and critics of fantasy literature? If so, is the reading considered less satisfying or is the writing deemed less skillful when the magic is arbitrary? Perhaps some of the fantasy buffs in our group will clue us in.

If not, Roger, please let us know what you mean. As Cassie has put it: "Do you mean that it is arbitrary whether or not magic is used in the book (i.e. that it would be just as good without it?) or that the magic seems to follow no rules and is used at the whim of the plot?"




Kathleen T. Horning (horning at education.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center University of Wisconsin-School of Education 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 North Park St. Madison, WI 53706 608&3930 FAX: 608&2I33
Received on Tue 09 Nov 1999 08:40:11 AM CST