ok i like it so far very official sounding.

:-) That’s the idea. I want it to sound more like a textbook about magic, instead of like a fictional, sensational piece.

I want this to be believable enough that, should an impressionable teenager pick it up at their local half-price book store, with no knowledge of the history of the book, they might buy into its history and put some kind of faith in it.

You know, like all the books on wicca.

Ah, sorry, that’s bound to offend someone on this site. It was tongue-in-cheek, I promise! I used to be wiccan myself.

Anyway, I want it to be a definitive source on magic in my fantasy setting, and I want it to be clear enough that others can use it as a guide for magic in their own fantasy stories as well.

This is more enjoyable than that revised history index you were gonna’ do.lol.
So far I have a take on the 10 commandments.Works well for your 10.
I can’t remember the fasting days of moses.
All believable if the collective conscious mind has a little of the bible stashed away. Possibly no sence in what I said as I need sleeeeeep. but roundabout way of good story line old chum.

Anytime you see _TBC at the bottom, there’s more to come. Keep your eyes peeled for Pt. 4.

I noticed a little bit of a biblical feel myself, though it wasn’t outright intended. As I move along, you’ll begin to get a better picture of how this world works.

Interesting… IMO it’s almost too dull textbook sounding to keep my attention. But the idea is great, waiting for more. :)

Yes, but that’s the point I think. The stories will be more enjoyable, but the theory is a textbook.

Didn’t quite dig the feel of this bit. I know you were going for ‘official’, but it wound up ‘rushed’ or too quick for. Probably works for the context, and I’m just partial to storytelling.

I was thinking TBC was the author…swift. Who IS writing this? Do we get to know or is it to remain ambiguous?

I’m not sure, it’s possible that the author becomes a story later.

And as for the “rushed” feel of this piece… I agree, it is quite rushed. There is a lot of history and many, many stories contained in such a condensed work.

I admit, this “theory of magic” ficly is more of a cursory outline to a much, much longer and more in-depth piece I intend on writing.

What I want to do for now is throw down the basic outline, a swift sketch of my thoughts.

Once I have those in place, I’ll begin filling it in with more detail, and I’ll start writing stories based on some of the history of this magical world.

Consider this my first attempt at world-building.

I’m with THX, in that I get less drawn in by theory than by stories … so I’m looking forward to the stories!
You must have a copy of Sir James Frazer’s The Golden Bough at home somewhere as reference, though… surely? No magick-textbook-compiler worth his salt would be seen without it…

I guess I’m not worth my salt, then. I’ve never heard of this book, but I’d love to read it!

As it stands, this magic-textbook is being compiled purely from imagination, scientific theory, and dreams.

Found The Golden Bough at Manybooks.net.

I’ll be putting it on my Sony Reader.

Silly boy – I would’ve posted it to you! (I’ve never heard of a Sony Reader…)