Yesterday, I posted a review of Anne Marie Lutz's new fantasy novel, Color Mage. Today, Anne Marie writes about different forms of magic in fantasy.
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Denise, thanks for inviting me to do this post! October is
the perfect time to blog about magic.
October is the best month of the year. The weather is
incredible, but things are changing. I'm always reminded of time passing, and
it almost seems as if doors are open that are not usually there. So it's a good
time to think of other worlds, other realities, and magic.
Fantasy fiction is almost defined by magic. There are
fantasies without magic, but they are rare. I thought I'd try to categorize
some of the kinds of fantasy magic for this post.
Individual ability. We are all very familiar with
this. From Harry Potter to the Black Magician books by Trudi Canavan to even my
own novel – fantasy abounds with the idea of a person who finds he or she can
do things most of humanity cannot. Sometimes the talent comes fully developed;
sometimes it needs to be honed through further study. Either way, the novel
frequently explores the coming of age of the new magician, or conflict in the
society these people are part of.
Magical objects. The healing elixir of the Narnia
books. The Arthurian sword in the stone. The One Ring of Lord of the Rings.
More recently, Harry Potter's invisibility cloak or the mirrors in Jonathan
Strange and Mr Norrell. By acquiring such a magical object, the protagonist –
or her enemy – can gain great power. Sometimes the object is so powerful that
using it carries great risks.
Magical creatures. In this type of magic,
otherworldly creatures exist. They may be able to use magical spells or not,
but they are themselves not of our reality. This includes everything from
vampires and werewolves from modern
urban fantasy, to the elves of Tolkien, the monsters of ancient legends and the
dragons of Robin Hobb.
Place magic. The magic is a characteristic of a
specific place – even another world that people from our reality can step into,
and they have to deal with the laws or realities of the magical place. Narnia
is such a place. So is Fionavar, from the novels by Guy Gavriel Kay. The
concept exists even in legends of elves living under enchanted hills, where
time passes differently than it does in the outside world. There is enchantment
as well as danger in such places.
Gods. Magic exists, but is unique to the gods. The
origin of this is in our own ancient myths. Every culture has them. In modern
fantasy, some novels – such as Jennifer Fallon's Demon Child trilogy – have
gods that really exist and influence their worlds.
Thanks, Anne Marie, for sharing your insight with us today! Here is a little information on Anne Marie and Color Mage.
Anne Marie Lutz
Bio: Anne Marie Lutz has always loved reading and writing,
especially in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. She holds a Bachelor
of Arts in Journalism degree and an MBA, both from the Ohio State University.
She has worked as an office manager, an operations analyst and more recently at
home raising her children. Anne Marie was raised in the Youngstown area, and
now lives in Central Ohio. She belongs to the North Columbus Fantasy/Sci Fi
Writers' Group. Color Mage is her first novel.
Book Blurb: Color
Mage- by Anne Marie Lutz
Lord Callo, bastard son of the King's sister, leaves his
holdings in the midst of the contempt of his friends. He joins Healer Kirian as
she flees for her life from the anger of a Collared Lord. Together they journey
to Ha'las -- an enemy island ruled by the feared and despised psychic mages
known as ku'an.
There, Callo learns of his true heritage -- and finds that
great power is his birthright. All he has to do is sacrifice everything he has
ever stood for.
Can he keep Kirian safe in a land where women are kept
hidden and restricted? Can he even protect her from his own dangerous magery?
And why are the Kings of two nations seeking him to further their own political
ends?
Publisher: Loconeal Publishing, LLC (September 11, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0985081783
ISBN-13: 978-0985081782
Halloween Giveaway Links
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