I recently detailed the intricacies of the Shadow Ops magic system over at Fantasy Faction. In that post, I hinted that there was more to magic than the basic authorized and Probe school system I laid out in Control Point.

In this article, I’ve decided to gives a glimpse into the more esoteric, one might even say singular, magical categories, arcane arts so rare, so unique, that they can only be channeled by the writing style of a particular person.

 

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Sam Sykes — Author of The Skybound Sea

A special sub-species of Hydromancy. Sykes has the ability to cause any person to find themselves suddenly moving across the surface of the ocean, where they shall remain for at least 150 pages.

 

Mark Lawrence — Author of King of Thorns

Lawrence plies a particular brand of Terramancy, the ability to control poisonous, painfully barbed thorns, that have the side effect of turning whomever they touch into an utter bastard.

 

John Scalzi — Author of Redshirts

Scalzi is the master of a little known school of bear-baiting magic designed to entice jerks into outing themselves with asinine statements under the mistaken belief that the anonymity of the Internet will protect them from ridicule. The magic is particularly powerful when the caster is completely covered in buttercream frosting.

 

Peter V. Brett — Author of The Daylight War

One might call Brett’s magic more of an affliction than a gift. No-Dude-Just-Listen-amancy grants Brett the ability to see the future, combined with the most sober judgment, balanced against the fact that nobody ever fucking listens to him until it’s far far too late.

 

Scott Lynch — Author of The Lies of Locke Lamora

Nevermind the magic. Have you seen this man’s ass? It’s like an upside down heart.

 

Pat Rothfuss — Author of Wise Man’s Fear

Rothfuss’ Beardomancy has granted this Sorcerer the ability to make the members of ZZ Top jealous despite his tender years.

 

Jim Hines — Author of Libriomancer

Hines’ Bendomancy enables this Sorcerer to twist himself into a variety of pretzel-like poses that are, quite frankly, unsuitable for either gender.

 

 Mur Lafferty — Author of The Shambling Guide to New York City

Blarghomancy enables this Sorcerer, when drunk, to yell really really really fucking loud.

 

Joe Abercrombie — Author of Red Country

Abercrombie wields a particularly powerful brand of depressive magic, Despairomancy, which causes its victims to shuffle off to their graves, a muddle of broken dreams, after struggling mightily only to see all hope extinguished at the very last minute.

 

China Mieville  – Author of Railsea

Dude. What-the-fuck-were-you-smoking-when-you-came-up-with-that-a-mancy.

 

George R. R. Martin — Author of Stuff

Martin is possessed of a singular variant of Physiomancy that can cause any single person to split into an army of individuals, each with their own incredibly compelling life story.

 

Douglas Hulick — Author of Among Thieves

Almost-Seven-Feet-a-Mancy. Sure, he’ll get that down for you.

 

Peter Orullian — Author of The Unremembered

This Sorcerer is the master of a unique time-bending sorcery that has somehow managed to keep heavy metal alive for over 20 years.

 

Blake Charlton — Author of Spellbound

I-Do-That-Too-Amancy enables this Sorcerer to rise to the top of every profession in the world, and that’s just nights and weekends.

 

 

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 Giveaway