One of the least plausible aspects of fantasy as a genre is that sorcerers NEVER seem to get bogged down in creating a new spell then spend the next three or four months muttering "I hate this, it's rubbish" under their breath.
Charlie, we've been doing "programming==magic" SF now for 40 years, since Chalker's "Changewinds" and Rick Cook's "Wiz" novels.
Usually with a theme that nobody-programmer becomes Great Wizard in the D&D universe.
We desperately need an update with the magical equivalents of tech monopolies with abused staff vs open-source hackers, the programming of today.
We need that "Glass Onion" story where the 'super-powerful' boss wizard is actually dumb and dependent on staff.
@RoyBrander You're not familiar with my writing, are you? (Specifically the Laundryverse …)
Edited 1y ago
Ah, Charlie, I keep you in very good company up on the shelf. And after this many hundred bucks in hardbacks, I figure I've earned the right to kid you a bit.
Actually, let me take this opportunity to have a few other Stross fans read down to the bottom of that "library" page on my web site, where I explain all those expensive hardbacks for a civil-service retiree:
"Readers may note that I took it seriously when economists say that every purchase is a communication back to the producer that they should do more of that. My favourites, I buy in hardback, early. "
Say, for instance, "Season of Skulls"...I'll start a new shelf.