Simply knowing a word and giving a flick of the wand isn’t sufficient: talent and will and good old fashioned hard work make the difference between poor, good and exceptional magic wielders.įinally, the notion of horcruxes is not only original, but an imaginative way of presenting a powerful villain who is supposedly unbeatable (we’re talking one-hit-kills here, people), yet giving him a weakness. Rather, the words must be learned, (intonation is everything) practised, and mastered before the desired effects are produced. In addition, whilst Rowling’s magic uses ‘magic words’, these aren’t as basic or as simple as mere utterances that conjure spectacular effects. Crafted from only the finest and most magical of materials, the wands hold anything from dragon heartstrings to unicorn hairs at their cores, and are carved from magically complimentary woods such as elm and ash. Furthermore, these wands are magical in their own right. Sure enough, the wizards and witches in Rowling’s world may indeed use wands, but the difference lies in the fact that each wizard or witch is “destined” for a particular wand. Now, I can hear what you’re saying, “But…magic wands!” and possibly even, “Hey! She uses magic words!” and if you’re being extremely pedantic, “Um…magic potions aren’t alternative!”Īll fair observations, however, we did mention a little more examination than surface scrutiny. Rowling’s magical systems in Harry Potter fall undeniably under the ‘alternative’ banner. We’ll jump straight into the deep end and make a gargantuan sploosh by suggesting that J.K. At first glance, some systems might not fit under this heading, however, when scrutinised it becomes clear that whilst some of these systems have elements that adhere to another category of magic, their loyalties lie unswervingly with their alternative comrades. It is under the banner of “alternative magic” that anything not suggested or explored in the previous articles rallies its troops and holds its ground. Real magic and ancient systems of magic are exciting enough, yet nothing can top systems that defy all logic (because magic has elements of logic, honest!), take our imaginations to an all new level, or simply conjure up magic that renders even the most veteran of fantasy readers all atremble with delight.
To read the earlier articles click the links below.įinally we’ve come to the most exciting stop on our magic safari. This is the forth article in our series on Magic in Fantasy.
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