ɪn ɐn ˈɛseɪ ɛntˈaɪɾəld "ʃˈɪftɪŋ ɡɹˈaʊnd: sˌʌbdʒɪktˈɪvᵻɾiz ɪn tʃˈɛɹɪz slˈɑːvɪk fˈæntəsi tɹˈɪlədʒi", ˌækədˈɛmɪk dʒˈænɪs ˈɛm. bˈɑːɡstæd sˈɛz ðə ɹˈʌʃən sˈɪɹiz dᵻskɹˈaɪb θɹˈiː lˈɛvəlz ʌv mˈædʒɪk:
In an essay entitled "Shifting Ground: Subjectivities in Cherryh's Slavic Fantasy Trilogy", academic Janice M. Bogstad says the Russian Series describe three levels of magic: