Why is magic off-putting for some readers? What's wrong with magic?

What makes some readers have a strong aversion to magic?

Why is magic off-putting for some readers?

What's wrong with magic?

We yearn to trust in something that's exhilarating, fantastic, and astonishing. This is the way humans anticipate things. With our evolving worldview, we humans always aim to achieve what has been deemed impossible, or we attempt to reach limits that are considered out of our scope, or we want to conceive of something that's unimaginable. This fuels our drive and determination for creation and development.

Consequently, fantasy authors resort to dazzling promises, offering dreamlike objects and fantastical powers, and these authors conjure elements from nothingness to create demigods who come equipped with remarkable, possibly ludicrous, and almost always miraculous capabilities.

And let’s be clear, science has taught us that nothing is really impossible: “Any science or technology which is sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from magic,” said novelist Arthur C. Clarke. This “law” states that once magic is reliably demonstrated, it transforms into science. And that, I think, is why some level-headed readers turn away from fantasy writing and magical systems yet the same readers enjoy Sci-Fi literature.

What's wrong with magic?

Firstly, it likely stems from these reader's self-perception as rationalists who reject emotionally driven or unsubstantiated beliefs. These readers have probably decided not to rely on gossip for their worldview. Wise readers recognise (just as we instinctively feel) that concrete proof for the existence of what we consider “magic” is scarce to non-existent.

Magical occurrences are frequently relayed via what are called “friend of a friend” (FOAF) accounts, a phenomenon noted in social science. This means genuine first-hand experiences of magic are rare, and verifiable witnesses are seldom produced, to any testable provide testimony. Because the story’s re-teller is not privy to the witness’s identity; the narrative becomes little more than hearsay.

Secondly, peer review has never been applied to magical spells or enchantments. Without arbitration, how can we trust something that's untested, unverified, and unproven?

Next, consider what I describe as the 'upsy-turvy puzzle'. The 'upsy-turvy' puzzle is this: isn’t it frustrating that no scientific discovery, even one that's been widely disproven, has ever been superseded by a more persuasive magical theory? Yet, the upsy-turvy upshot is often the case; that a shaky magical theory can (and often does) become superseded by a provable scientific theory!

For example, magical concepts that were later shown to have scientific explanations include (but are not limited to) stones falling from space [physicist Ernst Chladni proved that meteorites came from space in 1794]; humans could create force fields [this became verifiable in 1995 with the invention of the “plasma window”]; invisibility can be controlled [research continues on MetaMaterials but, basically, scientists can make objects disappear, with the first advances in this field having been made in 2006]; and that objects and perhaps even organic matter can be teleported [entanglement of large molecules has been possible since 2002.]

And what about controlling gravity to move things around? Or manipulating organic cells, so wounds will fix faster? Research is being done right now on both those areas of 'magic.' Yet, it's also true that we can’t just “wish” a spacecraft into orbit or fabric a talisman that provides a wearer with instant immunization... not yet anyway!

To wrap things up, we must also consider the constant equilibrium of universal forces. Our natural universe maintains a balance that relies on essential forces such as gravity, the strong and weak forces, and electromagnetism. While there might be universal forces that remain unknown to science at this point, their quantity is probably limited. Therefore, it’s safe to claim that Cartesian concepts of causation are necessary to shift or confound the universe’s balance. What I’m suggesting here is that the universe’s delicate equilibrium would be upset if a Superman could travel back in time or a monster could materialize from thin air.

If readers don't like magical systems and magical concepts, how should a fantasy author proceed with writing fiction? The challenge for fantasy writers is to determine how to integrate magic into narratives, so even the most cynical readers will deem the magic to be “acceptable.”

Here are some tips:

• Discuss emotions. Magic can be found within emotions. Emotions are invisible to us. Emotions are beyond evaluation. And emotions show up in distinctly different ways, with each person experiencing them uniquely. Yet, emotions are integral to human existence, and they represent a form of magic that's accessible to everyone. Fantasy authors should tell stories that convey emotions effectively.

• Describe the process of storytelling. Words hold a special kind of enchantment. Reflect on the magic of words. As a writer, you’re transferring a “thought” from one character to another through telepathy and through runes, which are essentially ink marks or digital dots. How is this feat achieved? How does your story materialize into the mind of your recipient? Fantasy authors should write about this everyday magic.

• Write about maths. Numbers are magic. Numbers don’t really exist. Numbers are just convenient concepts, whether written down or contemplated. Fantasy authors should examine and discuss the magic of numbers.

• Write about the lure and enchantment of money. Money is magic for the same reason that numbers are magic. Actually, money doesn’t exist. Money is merely a useful concept, representable as a number in a spreadsheet or in the mind of the user. Yet money has a magical power over humans. Why? Write about the supernatural lure of money.

• Write about humans. Humans are magical beings. A fantasy author doesn’t need unicorns or werewolves to add magic to their story. We ‘ordinary’ humans are magical creatures in our own right! Our emergence is sudden, and our eventual fate will be nothingness in the void of space. Yet we are made of stardust and the atoms that produced us will be eternally present across infinity. Isn’t that magical enough? We seem so ordinary, yet our humanness cannot be explained, even by cutting-edge science. Indeed, we humans encompass almost everything that’s impossible and fantastical. And that’s genuine magic, isn’t it?

© Neil Mach January 2026

Neil Mach is a prolific English author known for his clean urban fantasy fiction (like his popular 'Moondog' series) and his historical fiction works. Neil is also a well-known public speaker, and a creativity advisor. Neil has a background as a rock journalist. He frequently shares his expertise on writing and the music business, particularly rock music history, and has written over 20 books, and he often addresses writing workshops. Since its launch in 2019, his extremely popular Myth & Magic podcast has provided enthusiasts of fantasy literature and fantasy art with over 125 hours of audio enjoyment.