Re: Effects of Magic

Catja Pafort <green_knight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
David Friedman wrote:

"To drive the story" is a bit too strong; the same story could
have been told with a different magical system.

For me, that denotes a weak story. I want to read stories where
the world and the story are intertwined. You could not have Miles
outside the Vorkosiverse; change the background and you change
the story.

I think that depends on how broad you categorize David's story. If
it's 'new invention poses dangers' (plus 'some people want power,
some scheming'), then that could not just be almost any setting, but
almost any story.

As soon as you look at the actual new dangerous invention that some
people want to use for their own gain, you'd need a magic system
that allows for this particular invention (including the magic), and
a setting with the right people.

The main installation, a way to draw the small amounts of magic out
of everyone within range to use yourself, needs a world where that's
possible.

I can't help wondering how to insert that into the ME. There are, of
last count (IIRC) four ways to link people, no doubt there are more
ways that just have to be found. But the main problem is that either
the one in control can't add the controlled's magic to their own, or
the other one has to volunteer their control. You can have:

1.) A controls B, or B and C and D and... <infinite> (magic,
actions, everything but thoughts, they're just seen). Amount of
magic not added.

2.) A is linked with B (both can use the combined magic, anything
else has to be volunteered). Amount of magic is more than the sum.

3.) A and B and C and... <infinite> link (sharing magic and
thoughts, a bit like the Borg I recently noticed, with little
individuality retained). Amount of magic is the sum.

4.) A and B and C and ... <infinite> can communicate (only what's
volunteered).

So, while, with 1.), A can grab a million people, he has just a
million times a small amount of magic, and they can do nothing
against a single person with more skill than the strongest of the
controlled. (Like a million small cups, versus a bucket.) Never mind
that A has to keep up control, or at least be awake to step in and
take up control if the controlled folks do something he doesn't
want. (Not that they know whether he's awake when he's out of
sight.)

With 2.), A's partner has the same powers as A - better someone you
know won't abuse it.

With 3.) A is drowned among the many.

And with 4.), magic isn't combined or linked anyway.

In the 7th book, someone found a way to combine the benefits of 2.)
an 3.), but that still doesn't give one the power to grab many
others for himself.

I'd have to work hard to find a way around what seems to be a fixed
trait; that one can't really increase their own magic. (Shown with
other things as well.) Though in that setting basically anything is
possible that someone can think of how to do.

Then you need the people who would use that for themselves without
asking those the magic is taken from, and not care about
consequences for the victims.

You couldn't put that into the S&E, even if I found a way to do it
(sooner or later I will have to find a way to link a lot of people
without them having to keep it active all the time, for the intended
happy end that's not yet written, currently some just voluntarily
add their magic to the defenses).

--
Tina
WIP: <Twofold>: 11566 words
WISuspension: Seasons & Elements trilogy | Magic Earth series
Posted to Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.sf.composition.

.

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