How to deal with Fantasy

[Bohemian]

Hey,
How should I as an author deal with magic in a fantasy story?I mean if it's fictional and treated lightly is that o.k? Well, I'm an aspiring writer so please share some comments.

Thanks,
Bohemian

 

[Buskanaka]

well I personally have no problem with 'magic' in fantasy stories, I just think it's a literary device to make the story more interesting and get characters to do cool things they wouldn't be able to do normally

 

[Bohemian]

Yeah, I agree totally, but I know some people who at any mention of magic automatically think it's occult satanic stuff.

 

[Buskanaka]

well they dont have to read it then do they? They can just miss out on some great stories! i dont tend to use much magic when I write, and i dont use characters such as witches/wizards etc, I like to use it in the environment and magical objects, kinda like how in the matrix they use the fact that its not the 'real world' to do cool/unusual stuff. If you make up a fictional world with different natural laws i dont consider that occultish, unless you're blatantly blaspheming or promoting anti-God ideas

 

[Blessed-one]

If you make up a fictional world with different natural laws i dont consider that occultish, unless you're blatantly blaspheming or promoting anti-God ideas

spot on.

 

[Bohemian]

I never thoguht of it that way. Cool.

 

[Bohemian]

Wow! 37 views and only 4 different posts! I guess this wasn't as big an issue as I thought! Please, share your opinions, this CAN be an interesting subject!

 

[Blessed-one]

lol, for those who posted and checked again, i think that counted towards the view counts.

 

[Grimr]

My advise is just write your fantasy and fill it with as much magic as you wish and don't worry about what people say if they don't like it they don't have to read it now do they? Take a look at Tolkien's works he had magic in it yet he merged the magic with Christian virtues the great battle of good and evil like the war with God and the Devil The orcs and Nazgul the Demons. Gandalf, the Miar, and the Vallar the Angels. Sauron and Morgoth the Devil, and Ivulltar God. Tolkien used all of that to create his fantasy. So just use your beliefs and judgment to make your fantasy story

 

[Bohemian]

Thanks for the advice, all!

 

[yakkmeister]

A note:
I read this somewhere:
"Any technology distinguishable from magic, is not sufficiently advanced"

The trick for a christian writer when dealing with magic to to correctly identify the context it will be placed in.

If the reader is to revile the magic user -it can be as occultic as you please.
If it is to be a universal constant or feature of that world's phisics - Not a problem but avoid the occultic links wherever possible.
If the magic user is to be revered - make sure the occultic ties are as severed as practical.

Why?
As christian writers are we not responsible for the images that we propagate?
What we serve up for people to consume is our business; we are accountable for it.

My point?
You are accountable for what you produce.
Show wisdom and judgement and be responsible about what images you will allow in your works.

 

[Samueel]

You are accountable for what you produce.
Show wisdom and judgement and be responsible about what images you will allow in your works.

Exactly Right!

As believers and followers of Christ (most of us anyway) we must always determine to convey our writings in such a way that when some one reads it they will know it has spiritual allegory wrapped up in it, or spiritual truths. Fantasy is a great thing (I'm in the middle of righting a fantasy series right now), but fantasy-like many other things-should be used by us (at least when WE ARE the ones writing it) to promote GODLY values. Never (in my opinion) should we incorporate magic or divination, sorcerors or wizards into our writing unless it will somehow help the reader to further understand the ways of Christ, or at least teach them godly things and qualities.
On that point I must say (though it may make me unpopular ) that I do not like the HARRY POTTER series. I base my opinion upon several things, one of the most prominent being the fact that the invisible line that seperates the EVIL and "GOOD" characters and the things they do is virtually non exsistant.
Harry and co. are continually breaking rules and-instead of being justly punished-are in the end rewarded because it all turns out OK...But I believe that when we read a book we should be able to tell which characters are good by the WORDS they speak and the THINGS THEY DO!
Harry, Hagrid, Ron-use course and suggestive language at times, as do the other "evil" characters.
When I read the books I cannot find any real things that seperate the two groups, which is very dissapointing.

It is for those very reasons that I like LOTR so much (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! )

MY $0.2

Samuel

 

[Night]

I have also wondered about this issue many times also. Here's a few thoughts. Simply put, magic is sin. Still, Christian writers like Tolkien used "magic". If I remember correctly, Tolkien said that the magic of the elves wasn't "magic" as we would think it was, rather it was a sub-creative power, "Art". The magic of Melkor and Sauron was used to manipulate or twist things from their orignal design. I guess the most important thing to remember is, since the scope of things possible is only limited by the author's vision, that magic in a fantasy world is different than the occult, and that the difference should be made clear (maybe give "magic" a different name, use different words for God's power and the devil's power). I'm wondering if all "magic" is evil, since it takes the sense of wonder away that we should only have towards God. But then, if there is a "magic" that gives us a sense of wonder towards God...would that really be "magic"? ~<>~ If I've confused you more than helped you, tell me and I'll try to explain better...

 

[Bohemian]

guh?

 

[tradingmysorrows]

It's interesting to read all of this. I'm a Christian writer myself, and I bouncy back and forth, between mystery, suspense modern day, and the fantasy like, similar to Lord of the Rings (which is the most awesome story by the way. ^_~). However it is hard to understand the uses of magic and how it plays within the story line. I think what Night was trying to say, was that Tolken did not use magic like how we view it nowadays. Now we think of magic as witches standing around a fire saying magical words and casting spells. But Tolken did not use that kind of magic. Instead the magic that he use is actually traits of modern day time, such as art, manipulation, fear, and etc. Night made a very good example of the elves. Most fantasy stories have elves as magical creatures that use spells and sorcery. But Tolken instead had their magic be the arts. He made them masters of anything creative, and he made them so good at it, that they seem to create it by magic.

I don't know if that will help anyone, but I just thought that I'd put in my own advice.

As a Christian it is hard to make that boundary in your writing of what you will and will not do. Although one of the best things that I think that we have at our disposal is imagery (i.e. Pilgrim's Progress). It is an excellent way to bring across the values, and massage of the Bible, while the unsuspecting victim (i.e.un believer ^_~) doesn't have a clue as to what their reading other then it's got some truth to it. Little do they know that the truth is the Bible. What great way of ministry is there for a writer then to be able to explain to someone the greater meaning behind our gift. That it comes from the Lord above, and then be able to further explain how God can help them.

I love it! God is so cool! He invented writing after all, so you know that He's totally creative like us!

 

[Vulgivagus hagiographus]

This is a bit of an old thread, but I couldn't help but put in my thoughts. My personal way of dealing with magic is to say that it all comes from a source. The baddies magic is ultimately sourced in the and his s, while the good guys use the power of God. I like to make the bad magic users have to do certain things that are remenicent of today's s, such as chanting, cooking up some sort of potion, etc. That makes the point that the sorts of "magic" on our world are of an evil source. My good magic users will just pray for God's power. I don't think that's wrong at all. After all, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you can throw a mountain into the sea, and wouldn't that seem a bit "magical" to you? I've just got people with faith!

 

[Creationist2004]

I like to write fantasy stories as well.
They help me to relax and are fun to write. I love using my imagination.

When writing about magic, i never use witches, wizards or sorcerors etc.
I like to use the Zelda side of magic.
Like the fairies healing Link and magic light arrows for example.

Another example is a Fantasy book i read called Deltora quest.
The heroes have to go on a quest to collect all 7 gems of the belt of Deltora. Each of the gems has a different power or "magic"
E.g. the ruby pales when danger threatens it's wearer, and another stone, clears and sharpens the mind, and yet another one heals poisoning.

This is the kind of magic that i use in my stories because it is not against God in anyway. I just stay clear of black magic and sorcerors like i said.

My advice would be, to use the Holy Spirit and your conscience as a guide.
If they go against a certain area, then don't include it in the story. Otherwise, it's okay.