Systems of Magic, and a request

[rising_moon]

Recently I've read a few excellent fantasy novels which were written around believable, consistent, and reasonable systems of magic. Believable magic is one of the elements that will sell me on a writer. I've enjoyed The Abhorsen Trilogy, by Garth Nix, and, most recently, The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss.

I've learned that Brandon Sanderson, who wrote this essay on systems of magic, is going to finish Robert Jordan's 12th and final novel of the Wheel of Time series. Depending on my Lady's response to his work, I might take up the first one. :)

Unrelatedly (maybe): can any of you recommend a good history (articles, blogs, anything) of technical approaches to affixing Identity? That is, assuring that individuals are who they say they are? I'm making a study of transaction psychology -- financial services inclined but not fixed -- and would love some background data on approaches to identity assurance. Thanks!

Comments

[hissilliness.livejournal.com]

I started out quite disliking Sanderson's essay. Eventually I had to admit that this is just because I'm an opposing partisan. His taxonomy, on consideration, strikes me as sound, but my tastes run in the other direction. Over-explicated magical systems (like WoT) end up reading to me like RPG sourcebooks with some characters stuck in for color. I'd much rather read something like Susanna Clark, which, over and over, gave me the shivery sense that is so much of what I come to fantasy for.

[shadowswords.livejournal.com]

assuring that individuals are who they say they are

I believe this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Internet,_nobody_knows_you're_a_dog) is the definitive starting point for any such an endeavor. Maybe to the point of cliché by now, but hey, it does have a couple of references that might be useful.

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

The issue breaks into three parts: Identity, Authentication and Authorization.

Generally speaking, people tend to confuse or conflate Identity and Authentication, but that is not necessary. Consider LJ - you might grant some people certain rights to read your blog because of what they write, say or do - but never know their real name and identity. You Authorize them via a Friends list.

Meanwhile, when they log in, they Authenticate their credential to LJ (or, since LJ accepts other ID servers and their authentication, maybe to someone else).

I cannot recall where I first read about these issues, I can do a little digging. For interesting browsing, you might look at some of the articles in Wired (and other places) by Bruce Schneier, CTO of Countepane. You might also ask patsmor or look at the links in her blog. I have not done so, but since she is an expert in Internet Security and Privacy, I am sure she can give you references on the topic. (She is also a close friend of cvirtue as well as myself - and an SCA person of excellent repute and good cooking skills. Amongst many other terrific features.)

[lanome.livejournal.com]

I actually find that it's not the believability of the magic but whether or not it plays a roll as an excuse (i.e. *poof* things suddenly work out because of magic) that sells me on a writer. Magic is nice and all, but if it takes away from character development, I'll take a pass.

[herooftheage.livejournal.com]

I think I fell in love with Barbara Hambly's work early on, when she described what has to be the most sensible way I've ever heard of for killing dragons: poisoned harpoons at the limits of what mechanical advantage can chuck them. None of this wading in with sword or lance nonsense.

[dreda.livejournal.com]

Wait. WAIT. The twelfth one is going to be the last one? Really and for true?!?

ZOMG I can chuck this moldering monkey corpse off my back!!

[kyttle.livejournal.com]

Personally, I find that having consistent limitations to magic is really important to me for a story. I really hate it when magic is so all-powerful that a character should just be able to wave any problem away, but for some inexplicable reason they don't.

[rising-moon.livejournal.com]

(note to self)

Refer to the Media Lab "Amulet" project, i.e. the Wireless Universal Key.

While the professor rummaged in his pockets I hopefully imagined a tidy little lozenge like the old SecureIDs. Seeing the actual artifact, it occurred to me that cultural resistance to inelegant visual/physical design might trump other constraints to a system's adoption. (The Amulet is kinda big. I don't want to wear one around my neck -- which is where my magical mind expects to put an amulet.)