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Review:Phantastes Journal Fall 1999

© Debbie Ledesma

Fantasy is the genre of the impossible. Magic is a vital component of Fantasy. Whether spectacular feats of grander or subtle displays of power, magic keeps a tale of Fantasy from being dull and ordinary. It is an important part to any work of Fantasy. The Fall 1999 issue of the on-line Fantasy journal Phantastes Journal covers the topic of magic in several articles. The articles range from insightful to a little confusing.

"Making the Fantastic "Real":An Interview With Rosemary Edghill" by Moira Allen isn't really an interview. It's an article on creating fantasy with tips for writers. Rosemary Edghill talks about how she creates characters out of traditional Fantasy characters like elves. Edghill provides many thoughtful ideas on how fantastic characters can act without having static cultures. In addition, you receive a good grasp on this author's style.

Magic, in fantasy, has rules. That is the topic of the article "Magic and Fantasy" by Christopher Carlyle. The author explores how fantasy writers like Tolkien, Eddings and LeGuin use magic in their novels. Readers will find this an informative article about the importance of magic to a Fantasy novel. Magic should be explained, Carlyle states and cites several competent sources. Magic must have rules to work and make a Fantasy novel enjoyable.

Another article tries to focus on shamanism and the magic inherent in it. "The Magic of the Yaqui Shamans" by Lionel Davoust is a disjointed arcticle about Carlos Castaneda and shamanism. The author loses focus on how shamanism can be used in fantasy. He goes off of a tangent, which turns the article into a lesson in the warrior's way. This article doesn't fit the topic of the journal but might be entertaining for some readers.

Phantastes Journal is a very good Internet source for lovers of Fantasy. The Fall 1999 issue has many articles of interest on the theme of magic. Some of the articles are a little off topic but provide some insights on Fantasy. Other parts of the journal include book and Internet reviews. Check the issue at "http://www.phantastes.com" for some interesting reading.