5 ms·

I often wonder about a fantasy world where magic works like technology in the real world (like there is long arduous research to create new spells, not simply "

I often wonder about a fantasy world where magic works like technology in the real world (like there is long arduous research to create new spells, not simply "being born with magical talent"). Would it become a popular fantasy setting?

whatshisface 5y ago
That's basically how it works in Harry Potter. That's why you have to go to school for magic.
- notanzaiiswear 5y ago
  There is not a lot about discovering new spells, though? Possible exception Snape's remarks in his notebook on potion brewing. And in HP people have the innate talent for magic.
  - whatshisface 5y ago
    People can have more or less talent at technology, although it's usually called "intelligence."
eggsome 5y ago
Wizard's Bane (1989) is a fun take on that.
gerdesj 5y ago
Sir Terry Pratchett often explored something similar to that in his Discworld novels but perhaps in reverse - who knows! "Anthill Inside" 8)
tygrak 5y ago
Pretty much what you are describing about is Ra by qntm [1]. I would definitely recommend it! [1] https://qntm.org/ra https://qntm.org/ra
- TremendousJudge 5y ago
  Was going to recommend this
thaumasiotes 5y ago
The Obsidian Trilogy (Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory) is set in such a world, though it also features "wild magic" (you petition the wild gods for an effect, and you probably get it, but you take on an open-ended obligation to do something for them at a later point) and demonic magic.
- Tom4hawk 5y ago
  > you petition the wild gods for an effect, and you probably get it, but you take on an open-ended obligation to do something for them at a later point) and demonic magic So.. technical debt and "hacks" ?:D
vidarh 5y ago
Recent Dr Strange has him learn how to forge magic items in a somewhat structured way after running into an alien who approaches magic pretty much like technology.
wccrawford 5y ago
I read a litrpg book that the main character got a power that was basically programming. He could modify objects to do certain things based on triggers. It was quite entertaining. But most of what he did was either off-the-cuff, or the book hid the hours and hours of testing and research so that it wouldn't bore the reader. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the name of the book in my reading history.
- notanzaiiswear 5y ago
  Now that you mention it I seem to remember a book where a programmer beams himself into a world where he can then live like a wizard because he can affect it with his programming. Also can't remember the title, but it was a fun read.
  - wccrawford 5y ago
    I found it! Apocalypse: Generic System (Systems of the Apocalypse Book 1) I haven't read the sequel yet, though.
solarmist 5y ago
A comedy series takes this literally. Magic 2.0 by Scott Meyer. On some computers there's a mysterious file that has all of the (world/universe's)? object variables, such as a person/object's location or height, age, etc, and magic is performed by manipulating those via verbal macros. New spells are researched by literally programming and debugging. It's a fun series, but it feels the author's done about as much as he can with it.

whatshisface 5y ago

That's basically how it works in Harry Potter. That's why you have to go to school for magic.

notanzaiiswear 5y ago
There is not a lot about discovering new spells, though? Possible exception Snape's remarks in his notebook on potion brewing. And in HP people have the innate talent for magic.
- whatshisface 5y ago
  People can have more or less talent at technology, although it's usually called "intelligence."

eggsome 5y ago

Wizard's Bane (1989) is a fun take on that.

gerdesj 5y ago

Sir Terry Pratchett often explored something similar to that in his Discworld novels but perhaps in reverse - who knows! "Anthill Inside" 8)

tygrak 5y ago

Pretty much what you are describing about is Ra by qntm [1]. I would definitely recommend it! [1] https://qntm.org/ra https://qntm.org/ra

TremendousJudge 5y ago
Was going to recommend this

thaumasiotes 5y ago

The Obsidian Trilogy (Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory) is set in such a world, though it also features "wild magic" (you petition the wild gods for an effect, and you probably get it, but you take on an open-ended obligation to do something for them at a later point) and demonic magic.

Tom4hawk 5y ago
> you petition the wild gods for an effect, and you probably get it, but you take on an open-ended obligation to do something for them at a later point) and demonic magic So.. technical debt and "hacks" ?:D

vidarh 5y ago

Recent Dr Strange has him learn how to forge magic items in a somewhat structured way after running into an alien who approaches magic pretty much like technology.

wccrawford 5y ago

I read a litrpg book that the main character got a power that was basically programming. He could modify objects to do certain things based on triggers. It was quite entertaining. But most of what he did was either off-the-cuff, or the book hid the hours and hours of testing and research so that it wouldn't bore the reader. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the name of the book in my reading history.

notanzaiiswear 5y ago
Now that you mention it I seem to remember a book where a programmer beams himself into a world where he can then live like a wizard because he can affect it with his programming. Also can't remember the title, but it was a fun read.
- wccrawford 5y ago
  I found it! Apocalypse: Generic System (Systems of the Apocalypse Book 1) I haven't read the sequel yet, though.

solarmist 5y ago

A comedy series takes this literally. Magic 2.0 by Scott Meyer. On some computers there's a mysterious file that has all of the (world/universe's)? object variables, such as a person/object's location or height, age, etc, and magic is performed by manipulating those via verbal macros. New spells are researched by literally programming and debugging. It's a fun series, but it feels the author's done about as much as he can with it.