The Sorcerer's Apprentice - science and magic

I took in the matinee of the new Nick Cage flick "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" today. While it's lots of fun, it's loaded with the typical magic cliches. Merlin, Morgana, et. al.

However, they try to connect quantum physics with magic in a small way (probably just to hook the SF crowd) by channeling electromagnetic energy through thought to create magic. A bit hokey in itself but I am working to connect these as well in my latest novel. Not by creating magic, but by creating the mystery through quantum mechanics. Taking the science down to the planck scale makes everything at the macro seem like magic.

The trick for me, in a novel not a movie, is that I need a lot more detail. My magician moves stars and across the sky. But I don't call it magic. I'm trying to connect through spirituality and religion.

Maybe by the time I'm done, It'll all be magic.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Stepping off topic today, I was climbing a tree with my seven year old grandson last summer talking about writing a story. I asked what he'd call his story and he said 'The Witches Daughter'.

I love this idea. There are so many angles to what you could do with a concept like this. Imagine the witches daughter going to school, her gingerbread house off the beaten track, an outcast because of her mom. This could be a picture book or a novel.

How about the witches daughter as a teen torn between her mom's life and the village life. Would she protect her mom from the torch wielding mob or join them because of peer pressure.

Imagine the middle aged woman dealing with her young life in therapy after being raised under the shadow of her mother's wicked life.

Of course, there is the version where she is an acolyte into the world of witches, either ala Samantha Stevens or a dark tale of being inducted into the world of evil.

There are so many richly complex notions in this one title that I almost wish I wrote magic tales.