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I don't think Harry Potter belongs on this list because the magic system in that world is not rigidly defined. Basically anything can happen at any time, there's no limitations on the powers of the Characters. As long as the kid knows the spell he or she can cast it all day.

This doesn't mean I am not a fan I love Harry Potter!

How can any list of books dealing in any fashion with magic be considered complete without reference to Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" series? Harry is a wizard and his employment of his magical skills (and the moral dilemmas it sometimes imposes) is core to the stories.

Of course Harry Potter's magic system is the most interesting. How do you cast a spell? you wave a wand and say a single word and that's it! So intriguing! so mysterious! so complicated and original! And of course, the word you mutter must be in the correct accent! Not Leviosa, leviosa!

Eric wrote: "I don't think Harry Potter belongs on this list because the magic system in that world is not rigidly defined. Basically anything can happen at any time there's no limitations on the powers of the..."

Agreed.

The Dream Merchant

I think Harry Potter doing so well is a function of reader inexperience and the popularity of the series. To those of us who have been reading fantasy for years, Harry Potter is fun but nothing that special.

bartimaeus trilogy is certainly must be added to this list! it's magic system is so interesting, like summoning things, a pact, etc..

One can add books on the right of the page.

Didit wrote: "bartimaeus trilogy is certainly must be added to this list! it's magic system is so interesting, like summoning things, a pact, etc.."

I quite agree. I loved that series.

This list is FAILing it's job of rating books on interesting-ness of the magic system.

It's successfully rating books on popularity with readers, by which books they've actually read and are familiar with.

Harry Potter books are great, and they're fun. Yet there is absolutely nothing interesting (nor original) about the magic system. Magic exists, and works in a way convenient to the story and the writer. The effects of the magic might be interesting, but the books shouldn't really be considered in a "Most Interesting Magical System" category.

mercury wrote: "This list is FAILing it's job of rating books on interesting-ness of the magic system.

It's successfully rating books on popularity with readers, by which books they've actually read and are fami..."

I was thinking the same thing... after looking at the list, it looks like a popularity contest. I suppose some people are rather limited in the reading they have done. I can't even remember all the books I've read. I actually added some books i don't even like to the list ;) I was thinking along the lines of original, well developed, unique, well explained, and interesting systems. I am refraining from voting on books already listed that I LOVE, because I don't think they really qualify for this list. Oh well...

Nate wrote: "mercury wrote: "This list is FAILing it's job of rating books on interesting-ness of the magic system.

It's successfully rating books on popularity with readers, by which books they've actually r..."

I made the list and sorry but I don't see a way to kick books off!

Oh, I see Twilight on this list, just like all the other lists. Good God, they're way too obsessed with it. =)

I agree with those above. Harry Potter doesn't really have a place on the list, nor do any of the chronicle of Narnia books, I am fans of both, though =)

After reading the comments above, I’d like to share my personal thoughts: Harry Potter series have the most interesting magical system, thus I’ve voted for them.

Some claims that Harry, as the boy who survived, can do any kind of magic, simply by pronouncing the required magical words in the correct tone and accent. It’s absolutely wrong. In order to do "magic", firstly you have to possess the magical power and ability. You may learn spells by reading spell books, but in order to cast one, you have to learn how to do so, and train yourself. For example; in “The Deathly Hallows”, Hagrid desperately tries to repair his motorbike up in the air, he screams “Reparo” the magical word to repair stuff, as you might recall, in the very correct accent, yet it does not work successfully. Why not? Hagrid has magical powers, as we witness in the first book, but he is incapable of casting certain kinds of spells.

If you’re not satisfied with this particular example, here’s another one for you: The Patronus Charm! It’s not all about swinging your wand and yelling “Expecto Patronum”. After learning the basics, you have to imagine your happiest moments to form a patronus, which is not an easy task, since many students seem amazed by the fact that Harry manages to produce it.

Another intriguing fact about the magical word of Harry Potter is that there are certain rules about “creating” things. For instance; you cannot create food out of thin air, as Hermione explains to Ron in “The Deathly Hallows”. There’s in indeed a limitation.

If you examine the books -quite carefully for once- you as well, will definitely come up with other facts, that may serve to prove the point.

This is the most foolish statement I've ever read. Remember that you're bla bla bla-ing about a perfect stranger online. You have no idea about me at all. Of course I've read novels and short stories, with plots, evolving around magical worlds.

The question is have you ever read Harry Potter? When it comes to that, you're randomly guessing without reasoning.

You've read only two plays, which are “the most popular” ones, by Shakespeare, and now you think you know it all, eh? How ridiculously sweet!

I understand that you don't have "anything" to say about HP world, you obviously have a very limited knowledge -probably based on the “popular” film adaptations- and you're not capable of criticizing my comment on the magical system of HP, therefore I have already successfully pointed out that you're randomly guessing.

One must have the capacity and a higher taste in art, in order to appreciate it. We cannot expect an illiterate man to realize the beauty of The Mona Lisa.

You're the one, who clearly insulted each and every one, who like the pure escapist HP series, by claiming that they're for "unthinking masses". Actually, generalisation is for "unthinking" and lazy beings. Hope you remember it, the next time.

Blutiful wrote: "Oh, I see Twilight on this list, just like all the other lists. Good God, they're way too obsessed with it. =)"

Agreed. How's Twilight even on this list? There is no magic in that book. Just weird vampire powers (still not magic).

I usually vote for the most original.The Golden Compass doesn't use too much magic and the world uses it in conjunction with primal technology. I also voted for A Wizard of Earthsea and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell because of the difficulty and gravity of their "magic".

Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, Twilight, and many of the other books here, while excellent reads, do not have a structured magic system. In many of the worlds listed, the magic is free and without clear rules, serving whatever purpose the author desires. Of the books that I have read, only Eragon has an actual, defined, system of magic with rules that can never be broken.