Parallels in other's fiction to that of JKR.

[John]

No: HPFGUIDX 192430



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Robert A. Rosenberg" <rarpsl at ...> wrote:
>

> 
> I would like to correct a misconception in this discussion. The 
> People are NOT magical but just normal (as in SciFi terms) 
> psionic/psychic power possessors. While you can use Clarke's Law to 
> define the use of Psionic Power as magic, with the People they are 
> just using an inherent ability as opposed to the Potter Wizards who 
> while they have the ability to do magic must learn spells to 
> direct/use that ability.
>
Hi Robert.
Thank you for your contributions to this thread. 
Regarding Robbie, yes, spot on, you obviously know your robots sir. :o)

On the second point, well yes and no, I see the difference between psi powers and magical ones as being largely a matter of semantics. For instance the ability to read minds is both classifiable as psi (telepathy) or magic (Jo's Legilimancy). Same thing, just using different words. :o)

In both magic and psi being able to cause objects to fly is called levitation, the use of a 'spell' such as Wingardium Leviosa might in fact not be needed. Silent wordless magic is possible to witches and wizards in Jo's 'world' and such 'spells may simply act as a focus for intent, wands to act as physical directors of that impulse and the actual ability be down to a 'psi' power. Hard to tell which (or witch) from 't'other really. :o) 

Then again were Psi operators like The Rowan, in another famous and wonderful series of sci fi tales actually using magical powers by sending cargo items and passenger pods between the stars by linking their innate abilities called Psi to the power of machines? Semantics I think and in any case Zenna Henderson's creation of The People is a magnificent one, and should not be allowed to sink into obscurity.

'Yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice'. For me The People are magic users, albeit their magic is innate and requires no teaching.

Many Blessings.
John, (Oriondruid).