Technomancy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term technomancy refers to an imaginary or fictional category of magical abilities that affect technology, or to magical powers that are gained through the use of technology.
It is a portmanteau of technology and -mancy, an etymologically dubious suffix that is used in magical sciences to refer to specific types of fortune telling known as divination (-mancy is derived from the Greek manteia meaning divination).
An early appearance of the term can be found in Steve Martindale's 1990 short story "Technomancy" in the magazine Aboriginal Science Fiction.[1]
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[edit] Theme
Technomancy is a common theme in certain subgenres of both science fiction and modern-day fantasy fiction, particularly fiction that crosses the sci-fi and fantasy genres, as well as role playing games that take place in similar settings. Strictly speaking, though, it belongs fully to the realm of fantasy since it can be magic that is used on technology that presently exists. It most commonly appears in science fantasy. The term technomancy has been gaining usage on webcomics on the internet, although it is used in a vague sense
It is also distinct from what is sometimes called "magitech" (technology that uses magic, as used by D.O.L.L.Y in the comic the Wotch.) Alchemy considers magic and science to be two parts of one force. Technomancy has magic affecting science, but not working in the same process.
[edit] Examples
In the role-playing game Revelation, technomancy is a power that is available to characters. Specific uses of this power include causing devices to malfunction and traveling to a cyber world.
In the Urban Arcana campaign setting of the d20 Modern role-playing game, there are two character classes that use technomancy, Techno Mage and Shadowjack.
In the 4th edition of Shadowrun the technomancer is a type of character available, who controls the Matrix (the Internet of that game) without technology but by his mind.
In an episode of the TV series Angel, a character used magic symbols on himself that caused him to be undetected by magic or physical security measures.
In the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there are cyberpagans who use the Internet as a place to gather and from which to cast their spells. Willow has been seen to use magic on her computer to help her access information more quickly.
Kelly McCullough's popular books, Webmage and Cybermancy deal with ancient Greek deities and their descendants who have moved magic into the modern world through the creation of the so-called "mWeb"
In the successful video game title Mass Effect many characters gain magical powers through technology.
[edit] Non mystical Technomancy
In some settings technomancy may be totally scientific in nature in accordance with Arthur C Clarke's third law[2] of prediction:
| “ | Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. | ” |
An example of users of this type of technomancy are the Technomages of the Babylon 5 universe.[3]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- irreality.net - one of the biggest source of information about technomancy in the internet.
- blog.ciemnosc.com - 'Technomancer' - blog of polish chaos magicians (in English)
