[Newworlds]

I had no clue what you were talking about until you wrote this last blurb. In this case Ursala LeQuinn with "A Wizard of Earthsea" is probably my favorite author and book (albeit short) in terms of sound, well developed magic.

Tolkien (imho) blows in this respect as his books have superb historical, descriptive narrative, and lineage information (similar to the bible) but his magic thread is weak in the extreme and follows no set bounderies, rhyme, or reason. Example: in the Hobbit, Gandolf is hiding in a tree lighting pinecones on fire to fend off these wolves like some 2nd class boyscout and later on is casting spells to make demons pause. I mean what the hell, he just jump 50 levels? Where is the Dungeon Master controlling this massive cheater with the 8 pair of 20-sided dice up his sleeve?