The Enchanted Garden of Messer Ansaldo by Marie Spartali Stillman: a magician makes his garden bear fruit and flowers in winter.

A magician, wizard, sorcerer or a person known under one of many other possible terms in fiction is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources.^[1] Magicians are common figures in works of fantasy, such as fantasy literature and role-playing games; they draw on a history of such people in mythology, legends, and folklore (see Magician (paranormal)). Although occasional practitioners of sleight-of-hand appear in modern fantasy, they are usually simulating the magic that others perform -- or sometimes concealing their actual magic. Image File history File links Mergefrom. ... In roleplaying games, a spellcaster is a character able to cast magic spells. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x800, 284 KB) Summary Title: The Enchanted Garden of Messer Ansaldo Artist: Marie Spartali Stillman (1844-1927) Technique: watercolour and bodycolour on paper Size: 72 x 103 cm. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x800, 284 KB) Summary Title: The Enchanted Garden of Messer Ansaldo Artist: Marie Spartali Stillman (1844-1927) Technique: watercolour and bodycolour on paper Size: 72 x 103 cm. ... Marie Spartali Stillman photographed by Julia Margaret Cameron Marie Euphrosyne Spartali, later Stillman, (born 1844-03-10, died 1927-03-06) was a London-born Pre-Raphaelite painter of Greek descent. ... The Enchanted Garden of Messer Ansaldo by Marie Spartali Stillman: a magician makes his garden bear fruit and flowers in winter. ... Magic Circle by John William Waterhouse Magic in fiction is the endowing of fictional characters or objects with magical powers. ... For other uses, see Supernatural (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Occult (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about traditional role-playing games. ... For other uses, see Mythology (disambiguation). ... A legend (Latin, legenda, things to be read) is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... John Dee and Edward Kelley evoking a spirit: Elizabethans who claimed magical knowledge A magician is a person skilled in the mysterious and hidden art of magic, which can be described as either the act of entertaining with tricks that are in apparent violation of natural law, such as those... Sleight-of-hand, also known as legerdemain, is a technique of close-up magic in which small items are concealed in and around the performers hands, sometimes by the use of misdirection, to enhance the illusion being performed. ...

Fantasy magicians have powers arising from their study, possibly based on innate talent, rather than having their magical abilities occur entirely spontaneously, or be granted by another source. (Other fantasy characters can use, or be, magic, but they have not generally acquired their powers by study.) Still, most fantasy wizards are depicted as having a special gift which sets them apart from the vast majority of characters in fantasy worlds who are unable to learn magic. A fantasy world is a type of fictional universe in which magic or other similar powers work. ...

Wizards, magicians, and practitioners of magic by other titles have appeared in myths, folktales and literature throughout recorded history, and fantasy draws on this background. They commonly appear in fantasy as mentors and villains, as they did in older works, and more recently as heroes themselves. Although they are often portrayed as wielding great powers, their role in shaping the fantasy world they inhabit varies; much of fantasy literature writes of medieval worlds with wizards in a fairly limited role as guardians or advisors.

Folklore sources

Pan Twardowski summoning the ghost of Barbara Radziwiłłówna for King Sigismund Augustus, by Wojciech Gerson.

Historically, many writers who have written about fictional magicians, and many readers of such works, have believed that such magic is possible; in William Shakespeare's time, witches like the Weird Sisters in Macbeth and wizards like Prospero in The Tempest were widely considered to be real.^[2] Many figures now understood to be largely fictional, such as Merlin, were considered historical. Many historical figures, such as Virgil and Dr Faustus (Johann Georg Faust), acquired legends of being wizards.^[2] Download high resolution version (564x800, 62 KB)barbara radziwill ghost, painting from 19th century 19th century paiting by Józef Simmler This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (564x800, 62 KB)barbara radziwill ghost, painting from 19th century 19th century paiting by Józef Simmler This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Pan Twardowski (pronounced [pÊŒn tfÊŒrdÉ’fski]) is a Polish folklore character, a sorcerer who entered a pact with the Devil. ... Noble Family RadziwiÅ‚Å‚ Coat of Arms TrÄ…by Parents Jerzy RadziwiÅ‚Å‚ Barbara Kola Consorts Stanislaw GesztoÅ‚d Zygmunt II August Children none Date of Birth December 6, 1523 Place of Birth  ? Date of Death May 8, 1551 Place of Death Kraków Barbara RadziwiÅ‚Å‚ (Lithuanian: Barbora RadvilaitÄ—, Polish: Barbara Radziwi... Reign From April 1, 1548 until July 6, 1572 Coronation On September 15, 1697 in the Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland Royal House Jagiellon Parents Zygmunt I the Old Bona Sforza Consorts Elżbieta Habsburzanka Barbara RadziwiÅ‚Å‚ Katarzyna Austriaczka Barbara Giżycka Children with Barbara Giżycka Barbara Date of... Wojciech Gerson (1831-1901) was a Polish painter and professor. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article is about Shakespeares play. ... For other uses, see The Tempest (disambiguation). ... Merlin dictating his poems, as illustrated in a French book from the 13th century For other uses, see Merlin (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Virgil (disambiguation). ... 17th century German portrait of Faust. ...

ef>John Grant and John Clute, The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, "Faust", p 344 ISBN 0-312-19869-8</ref> Paul Le Page Barnett (1949 - ) is a writer and editor of science fiction, poetry and non-fiction, who usually writes as John Grant or occasionally as Eve Devereux. He has published three original novels, as well as novels in the Judge Dredd and Legends of Lone Wolf series; has edited... John [Frederick] Clute is a Canadian born author and critic who lives in Britain. ... Cover art The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is a reference work on fantasy, edited by John Clute and John Grant. ...

The giant Galligantua and the wicked old magician transform the duke's daughter into a white hind by Arthur Rackham; an evil wizard from the fairy tale Jack the Giant Killer.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (656x800, 139 KB) Summary Galligantus - Project Gutenberg eText 17034 The giant Galligantua and the wicked old magician transform the dukes daughter into a white hind. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (656x800, 139 KB) Summary Galligantus - Project Gutenberg eText 17034 The giant Galligantua and the wicked old magician transform the dukes daughter into a white hind. ... An illustration from Alices Adventures in Wonderland Arthur Rackham (September 19, 1867 – September 6, 1939) was a prolific English book illustrator. ... A fairy tale is a story, either told to children or as if told to children, concerning the adventures of mythical characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and others. ... Jack the Giant Killer is a fairy tale. ...

Character function

In medieval chivalric romance, the wizard often appears as a wise old man and acts as a mentor.^[3] Other witches and magicians can appear as villains, as hostile to the hero as ogres and other monsters.^[4] As a literary genre, romance or chivalric romance refers to a style of heroic prose and verse narrative current in Europe from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. ... A wise old man: Philosopher in Meditation by Rembrandt The wise old man (or Senex) is an archetype as described by Carl Jung. ... It has been suggested that Maître à penser be merged into this article or section. ... Bad guy redirects here. ...

Both these roles were taken up into fantasy. Wizards such as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter featured as mentors.^[5] Evil sorcerers, acting as villains, were so crucial to pulp fantasy that the genre that they appeared in was dubbed sword and sorcery.^[6] For other uses, see Gandalf (disambiguation). ... This article is about the novel. ... Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is a fictional character within the Harry Potter series written by British author J. K. Rowling. ... This article is about a fantasy sub-genre. ...

Ursula K. LeGuin, considering the work that was to become A Wizard of Earthsea, noted that wizards were usually elderly or ageless, which she considered proper, but her own work stemmed from the question of how wizards learned their art, and thereby introduced to modern fantasy a new role: the wizard as the hero of the quest.^[7] This theme has been further developed in modern fantasy, often leading to wizards as heroes on their own quests, alongside works where the wizard appears as a mentor figure, or a villain.^[8] A work with a wizard hero may give him a wizard mentor as well, as in Earthsea.^[5] Ursula K. Le Guin at an informal bookstore Q&A session, July 2004 Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (born October 21, 1929), is an American author. ... A Wizard of Earthsea, first published in 1968, is the first of a series of books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and set in her fantasy archipelago of Earthsea. ...

Wizards can act the part of the absent-minded professor, being foolish, prone to misconjuring, and generally less than dangerous; they can also be terrible forces, capable of great magics that work good or evil.^[9] Even comic wizards are often capable of great feats, such as those of Miracle Max in The Princess Bride; although a washed-up wizard fired by the villain, he saves the dead hero.^[10] The absent-minded professor is a stock character of popular fiction usually portrayed as an academic with important information, but whose focus on their learning leads them to ignore their surroundings. ... The Princess Bride is a 1987 film, based on the 1973 novel The Princess Bride by William Goldman, combining comedy, adventure, romance and fantasy. ...

(Their place in world-building revolves about the use of magic in a given setting.) A constructed world or conworld is a fictional world, often created for a novel, video game, or role-playing game, but sometimes for its own sake. ... The Enchanted Garden of Messer Ansaldo by Marie Spartali Stillman: a magician makes his garden bear fruit and flowers in winter. ...

Appearance

Illustration by Arthur Rackham: Wotan visiting Mime

The appearance of wizards in fantasy art, and description in literature, is uniform to a great extent, from the appearance of Gandalf, in The Lord of the Rings to that of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series. The association with age means that wizards, both men and women, are often depicted as old, white-haired, and (for men) with long white beards. It predates the fantasy genre, being derived from the traditional image of wizards, such as Merlin.^[11] Some theorize that this is modeled after the Norse god Odin as he was described in his wanderer guise as being an old man with a long gray beard, baggy robes, a wide-brimmed hat and walking with a staff.^[12]It isn't very well known, but Wizards are supposedly incredibly attracted to salt. Women, especially those termed "enchantresses" are the more likely to appear young, though that is often the effect of magic.^[13] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 382 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (600 × 941 pixel, file size: 141 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Wotan visits Mime and offers him his help. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 382 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (600 × 941 pixel, file size: 141 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Wotan visits Mime and offers him his help. ... An illustration from Alices Adventures in Wonderland Arthur Rackham (September 19, 1867 – September 6, 1939) was a prolific English book illustrator. ... For other meanings of Odin and Wotan see Odin (disambiguation) Odin (Old Norse Óðinn, Swedish Oden) is usually considered the supreme god of Germanic and Norse mythology. ... For other uses, see Gandalf (disambiguation). ... This article is about the novel. ... Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is a fictional character within the Harry Potter series written by British author J. K. Rowling. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ... For other uses, see Beard (disambiguation). ... For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ...

White-haired and -bearded wizard with robes and hat.

Their clothing is often typical as well. Wizards commonly wear robes and pointed hats. These are often brightly colored and spangled with stars and moons, astrological symbols, or with magical sigils. The coloring may have significance within the wizards' fantasy worlds; in The Lord of the Rings, the wizards have colors assigned to them, indicative of rank. When Gandalf the Grey becomes Gandalf the White, it is a major ascension of status; whereas in the Dragonlance Dungeons and Dragons setting, the wizards show their moral alignment by their robes. When wizards and witches are distinct groups, witches may dress in the same clothing but in black. Terry Pratchett described this common attire as a way of establishing to those they meet that the person is capable of practicing magic.^[14] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 583 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Saluzzo - Castello della Manta, riproduzione di una figura di mago File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 583 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Saluzzo - Castello della Manta, riproduzione di una figura di mago File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file... An astrological chart (or horoscope) _ Y2K Chart — This particular chart is calculated for January 1, 2000 at 12:01:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time in New York City, New York, USA. (Longitude: 074W0023 - Latitude: 40N4251) Astrology (from Greek: αστρολογία = άστρον, astron, star + λόγος, logos, word) is... A fantasy world is a type of fictional universe in which magic or other similar powers work. ... The current edition Dragonlance logo, as seen on all books published in the more recent times. ... In Dungeons & Dragons and some similar role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game. ...

Of late, the dress of wizards has varied; numerous younger wizards in various stories seem to favour wearing modern clothes.^{[citation needed]} Some wizards merely wear whatever the normal populace wear.^{[citation needed]} A notable variant of the generic wizard archetype is that of the Wizard in the Conan the Barbarian film, whose clothes are heavily based on the sea, as he lives there. This article is about the 1982 film. ...

Wizards may also be accompanied by animals, which may act as familiars. “Familiar” redirects here. ...

Wizards may also appear with magical props, such as crystal balls or wands. The Enchanted Garden of Messer Ansaldo by Marie Spartali Stillman: a magician makes his garden bear fruit and flowers in winter. ...

Limits

In any given fantasy magical system, a person must have limits to his magical abilities, or the story has no conflict - problems facing the magician may be too easily solved via arbitrary magic.^[15]

One of the most common techniques is that the person has only a limited amount of magical ability. In The Magic Goes Away, Larry Niven made it a factor of environment: once the mana is exhausted in an area, no one can use magic.^[16] A more common use is that a person can only cast so many spells in a day. This is the most common use in role-playing games, where the rules rigorously define them.^[17] The Warlocks Era (The Magic Goes Away) The fictional setting of Larry Nivens logical (as opposed to high) fantasy series. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Mana is a traditional term that refers to a concept among the speakers of Oceanic languages, including Melanesians, Polynesians, and Micronesians. ... Magic: The Gathering. ...

Magic can also require various sacrifices or the use of certain materials. Blood or life can be required, and even if the magician has no scruples, obtaining the material may be difficult.^[18] Harmless substances can also limit the magician if they are rare, such as gemstones. Many fictional magic-users must speak spells aloud or gesture with their hands in order to cast a spell.

The need for learning may also limit what spells a wizard knows, and can cast. When magic is learned from rare and exotic books, the wizard's ability can be limited, temporarily, by his access to these books. In Earthsea, the changing of names weakens wizards as they travel; they must learn the true names of things in their new location to be powerful again.^[19]

Magic may also be limited, not so much inherently, but by its danger. If a powerful spell can cause equally grave harm if miscast, wizards are likely to be wary of using it.^[20]

Names and terminology

People who work magic are called by many names in works of fantasy, and the terminology differs widely from one fantasy world to another. While derived from real world vocabulary, "wizard", "witch", "warlock", "enchanter/enchantress", "sorcerer/sorceress", "magician", "mage", or "magus" have within a work of fantasy the meaning the writer invests in them.^[21] The term archmage, with "arch" (originating in Greek) indicating "pre-eminent", may be used to indicate a powerful magician, or a leader of magicians.^[2] A fantasy world is a type of fictional universe in which magic or other similar powers work. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Witchcraft. ... Warlocks are, among historic Christian traditions, said to be the male equivalent of witches (usually in the pejorative sense of Europes Middle Ages), and were said to ride pitchforks instead of broomsticks. ... An incantation is the words spoken during a ritual. ... Look up sorcerer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A sorcerer (from Old French sorcier; fem. ... Look up magician in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Mage may refer to: Magician (fantasy), a practitioner of magic Mage: The Ascension, a discontinued role-playing game by White Wolf Studios Mage: The Awakening, a current role-playing game by White Wolf Studios Mage (comics), a superhero comic series by Matt Wagner Magi, a tribe from ancient Media MicroArray... For other uses, see Magi (disambiguation). ... Archmage, archmagi, or archmagus (rarely archimage) is a title used to identify an especially powerful wizard, usually within the context of fantasy fiction. ...

When a writer uses more than one term for reasons other than gender-based titles, except in the rarest of cases, it is to sharply distinguish between two types of magic. The precise nature of what the distinction is differs from writer to writer, and the usage can flip-flop between works. In the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Patricia Wrede depicts wizards who use magic based on their staves, and magicians who practice many kinds of magic, including the wizards'; in the Regency fantasies she and Caroline Stevermer depict magicians as identical to wizards except for being inferior in skill and training. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles is a series of four books by Patricia C. Wrede entitled Dealing with Dragons, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and Talking to Dragons. ... Pat Wrede Patricia Collins Wrede (pronounced REED-ee) is an American fantasy writer, born 1953 in Chicago, Illinois; she is the eldest of five children. ... Pat Wrede Patricia Collins Wrede (pronounced REED-ee) is an American fantasy writer, born 1953 in Chicago, Illinois; she is the eldest of five children. ... Caroline Stevermer (born 1955) is a writer of young adult fantasy novels and shorter works. ...

Within a given work, such distinctions can be important, as the writer defined them. Steve Pemberton's The Times & Life of Lucifer Jones describes the distinction thus: "The difference between a wizard and a sorcerer is comparable to that between, say, a lion and a tiger, but wizards are acutely status-conscious, and to them, it's more like the difference between a lion and a dead kitten." Steve Pemberton Steve Pemberton (b. ...

In role-playing games, the types of practitioners of magic are far more clearly delineated, and named, in order that players and game masters may know the rules by which they are played.^[22] In the original edition of Dungeons and Dragons, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson invented the term "magic-user" as a generic term for a practitioner of magic (in order to avoid cultural connotations of terms such as "wizard" or "warlock"); this lasted until the second edition of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, where it was replaced with "mage" (later to become "wizard"). The exact rules vary from game to game. In Dungeons and Dragons, a wizard or mage is a character class, distinguished by their ability to cast certain kinds of magic and their weak combat skills; subclasses are distinguished by their strength in some areas of magic and their weaknesses in others.^[23] Sorcerers are distinguished from wizards as having an innate gift with magic, as well as possessing dragon blood.^[24] In GURPS, magic is a skill that can be combined with others, such as combat, though in most campaigns, the ability "magery" is required to cast spells.^[25] The original Dungeons & Dragons set Dungeons & Dragons (abbreviated as D&D or DnD) is a fantasy role-playing game (RPG) published by Gary Gygax and David Arneson in January 1974. ... Ernest Gary Gygax, 2004 Ernest Gary Gygax (born July 27, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois) is best known as the author of the well known fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), co-created with Dave Arneson and co-published with Don Kaye in 1974 under the company Tactical Studies... David L. Arneson is an American game designer born in 1955. ... In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, wizard is one of the base character classes. ... The Generic Universal RolePlaying System, commonly known as GURPS, is a role-playing game system designed to adapt to any imaginary gaming environment. ...

Some names, distinctions, or aspects may have more of a negative connotation, than others, depending on the setting and the context. (See also Magic and Magic and religion, for some examples.) Connotation is a subjective cultural and/or emotional coloration in addition to the explicit or denotative meaning of any specific word or phrase in a language, i. ... Not to be confused with Magic (illusion). ... A belief in magic as a means of influencing the world seems to have been common in all cultures. ...

The Sorceress by John William Waterhouse.

Image File history File links John_William_Waterhouse_-_Circe_(The_Sorceress). ... Image File history File links John_William_Waterhouse_-_Circe_(The_Sorceress). ... John William Waterhouse. ...

Gender-based titles

The term "wizard" is more often applied to a male magic-user, as in Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea, just as a "witch" is more often female, as in Andre Norton's Witch World. In Witch World, a man who, anomalously, showed the same abilities as the witches was termed a warlock. The term "warlock" is sometimes used to indicate a male witch in fiction. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Ursula K. Le Guin at an informal bookstore Q&A session, July 2004 Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (born October 21, 1929), is an American author. ... Cover to 1991 Bantam Books paperback edition of A Wizard of Earthsea, illustrated by John Jude Palencar Earthsea is a fictional realm created by Ursula K. Le Guin for her short story The Word of Unbinding, published in 1964, but that became more famous in her novel A Wizard of... Andre Alice Norton (February 17, 1912 – March 17, 2005), science fiction and fantasy author (with some works of historical fiction and contemporary fiction), was born Alice Mary Norton in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. ... The Witch World series by Andre Norton is a long series of fantasies laid in a parallel universe where magic works, and at the beginning at least, is the exclusive property of women. ...

However, either term may be used in a unisex manner, in which case there will be members of both sexes bearing that title. If both terms are used in the same setting, this can indicate a gender-based title for practicers of identical magic, such as in Harry Potter, or it can indicate that the two sexes practice different types of magic, as in Discworld.^[2] This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ... This article is about the novels. ...

While "enchantress" is the feminine of "enchanter", "sorceress" may be the feminine, not only of "sorcerer" but of "wizard" or "magician", which terms have no precise feminine equivalent. Piers Anthony, in the comedic Xanth series, describes "sorceress" as "sexist for magician." Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob (born August 6, 1934 in Oxford, England) is an American writer in the science fiction and fantasy genres, publishing under the name Piers Anthony. ... Xanth is a fantasy world created by author Piers Anthony for a series of novels. ...

Types of magic

While the terms are used loosely, some patterns of naming are more common than others.

Enchanters often practice a type of magic that produces no physical effects on objects or people, but rather deceives the observer or target, creating illusions. Enchantresses, in particular, practice this form of magic, often to seduce.^[13] For instance, the Lady of the Green Kirtle in C.S. Lewis's The Silver Chair has enchanted Prince Rilian into forgetting his father and Narnia; when that enchantment is broken, she attempts further enchantments, with a sweet-smelling smoke and a thrumming musical instrument, to baffle him and his rescuers into forgetting them again.^[26] The Lady of the Green Kirtle, also known as the Queen of Underland, is a character in The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis, appearing as the main villain. ... Clive Staples Lewis (November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis, was an author and scholar. ... The Silver Chair is part of The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven fantasy novels written by C.S. Lewis. ... In C. S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia fictional series, Rilian (2325-?) is the son of King Caspian and the grandson of Ramandu the star. ...

Sorcerer is more frequently used when the magician in question is evil. This may derive from its use in sword and sorcery, where the hero would be the sword-wielder, leaving the sorcery for his opponent.^[27] This article is about a fantasy sub-genre. ...

Witch also carries evil connotations. Indeed, L. Frank Baum, having named Glinda the "Good Witch of the South" in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, merely titled her "Glinda the Good" in The Marvelous Land of Oz and referred to her there and in all books after as a sorceress rather than a witch, apparently to avoid the term that was more regarded as evil.^[28] Lyman Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author, actor, and independent filmmaker best known as the creator, along with illustrator W. W. Denslow, of one of the most popular books in American childrens literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, better known today as simply... Glinda depicted on the cover of Glinda of Oz Glinda (or Glinda the Good Witch) is a fictional character in the Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. ... The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) is a childrens book written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow. ... The Marvelous Land of Oz, commonly shortened to The Land of Oz, published in 1904, is the second of L. Frank Baums books set in the Land of Oz, and the sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. ...

Hedge wizard or hedge witch is a widely used contemptuous term for a magician whose magic is unable to win him enough of a living to keep him from poverty or even vagrancy. Herb witch is less contemptuous, and generally indicates skill with plants (whether magically making them grow or using them magically), but generally also indicates a low level of education, and possibly skill. Such characters are often taught informally, by another hedge wizard, rather than receive a formal apprenticeship or education at a school.^[29] Rincewind, from the Discworld series, is a famous example of a hedge wizard. ...

Terms derived from more specific magics, such as voodoo, alchemy, or necromancy, generally remain closer to their real-world inspirations. Fantasy necromancers often work magic that has something to do with death, although the exact connections vary widely from work to work. Voodoo is a religious tradition originating in West Africa, which became prominent in the New World due to the importation of African slaves. ... For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ... This article is about the general subject of necromancy. ... For other uses, see Death (disambiguation). ...

In certain Asian fantasies, the practice of wuxia is used to achieve super-human feats, as in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.^[30] Such martial artists attain these abilities through practice as much as, if not more than, studying to gain knowledge, making them in some respects like magicians, and in others not. Wǔxiá (traditional Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: , Mandarin IPA: , Cantonese Pinyin: mou5 hap6), literally meaning martial (arts) heroes, is a distinct quasi-fantasy sub-genre of the martial arts genre in literature, television and cinema. ... For other uses, see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (disambiguation). ...

Traits of magicians

A common motif in fictional magic is that the ability to use it is innate and often rare.^[31] In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, it was limited to non-humans — even Aragorn, whose hands heal, has some elven blood — but in many writers, it is reserved to a select group of humans, as in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, Katherine Kurtz's Deryni novels, or Randall Garrett's Lord Darcy universe. This is often a secretive or persecuted group. In these settings, non-magician characters, no matter how learned, cannot actually cast spells. In such instances, magic could be inherited, or perhaps it is a random ability appearing in some children, or the result of some other unique effect or situation. Inherited powers may be a simple genetic trait -- for Katherine Kurtz's Deryni, a sex-linked trait -- or appear apparently at random in lines that have the blood, as in Patricia A. McKillip's The Riddle Master Trilogy, where the shapeshifting Earthmasters attempt to get their blood into royal houses, but fail because although one succeeds in getting the king's wife pregnant, the child's descendants rarely have the powers. Tolkien redirects here. ... A map of the Northwestern part of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda. ... Aragorn II is a fictional character from J. R. R Tolkiens Middle-earth legendarium. ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens legendarium, an Elf is an individual member of one of the races that inhabit the lands of Arda. ... Joanne Jo Murray, née Rowling OBE[1] (born 31 July 1965),[2] who writes under the pen name J. K. Rowling,[3] is a British writer and author of the Harry Potter fantasy series. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ... Katherine (Irene) Kurtz (born 1944) is the author of numerous fantasy novels, especially the Deryni novels. ... The Deryni novels are a series of historical fantasy books written by American-born author Katherine Kurtz. ... Randall Garrett (December 16, 1927 - December 31, 1987) was an American science fiction and fantasy author. ... Lord Darcy is a detective in an alternate history, created by Randall Garrett. ... Patricia A. McKillip (February 29, 1948—) is an American author of fantasy and science fiction novels. ... For other uses, see Shapeshifting (disambiguation). ...

In worlds where Alchemy exists as a form of working magic, Alchemists are more likely than most magicians to have their powers be the result of study. For them, and most other practitioners of magic that is not innate, the study is long and hard. This can produce a lack of magicians even in worlds where anyone could in theory learn the art. For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ...

Magical practitioners on the Disc (of the Discworld series) are rare, and often innate (with exceptions - the eighth son of an eighth son must become a wizard, even if the son is a daughter), and do require some form of training (again, with exceptions - see Sourcery). Also, magical practitioners on the Disc treat the use of magic not unlike the use of nuclear weaponry; it is acceptable for people to know that you possess such powers, but everyone will be in trouble if it is utilised. This article is about the novels. ... Sourcery is the fifth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, published in 1988. ...

Education

"The Alchemist" by William Fettes Douglas: studying for arcane knowledge.

A common trait of magicians is that, no matter how spontaneously their abilities manifest, they must learn to use them. Occasionally these terms are used for people with innate abilities, but the typical magician is surrounded by books in his tower owing to his studies. Fictionally, it provides a way for the writer to ensure that his wizard characters can not do everything, thus eliminating conflict from the story.^[32] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (583x753, 124 KB) Title: The alchemist Painter: Sir William Fettes Douglas (1822 - 1891) Year: ? File links The following pages link to this file: Alchemy ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (583x753, 124 KB) Title: The alchemist Painter: Sir William Fettes Douglas (1822 - 1891) Year: ? File links The following pages link to this file: Alchemy ...

When the magician is not the main character, this may not be visible, but magician protagonists including Ursula K. LeGuin's Ged in A Wizard of Earthsea and Harry Potter have gone to wizardry schools. Others have taken on the roles of apprentices, such as Haku in the movie Spirited Away. In the movie Willow, Willow receives a magical wand but has great difficulty learning to use it; only with the tutoring of Fin Raziel is he able to master magic. Harry Potter, like many young wizards in his universe, accidentally casts spells before he is taught to do it properly.^[33] Ursula K. Le Guin at an informal bookstore Q&A session, July 2004 Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (born October 21, 1929), is an American author. ... A Wizard of Earthsea, first published in 1968, is the first of a series of books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and set in her fantasy archipelago of Earthsea. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ... Spirited Away , lit. ... Willow is a 1988 fantasy film directed by Ron Howard, based on a story by George Lucas. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ...

Another means of learning can be books; weighty, ancient tomes, often called grimoires, which may have magical properties of their own.^[34] Conan the Barbarian's sorcerer foes often gained powers from such books, whose strangeness was often underscored by their strange bindings. In worlds where wizardry is not an innate trait, the scarcity of these strange books may be a factor; in Poul Anderson's A Midsummer Tempest, Prince Rupert seeks out the books of the magician Prospero to learn magic. The same occurs in the Dungeons and Dragons-based novel series Dragonlance Chronicles, wherein Raistlin Majere seeks out the books of the sorcerer Fistandantilus. This design for an amulet comes from the Black Pullet grimoire. ... This article is about the fictional character. ... Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926–July 31, 2001) was an American science fiction author of the genres Golden Age. ... A Midsummer Tempest is an alternate history fantasy novel by Poul Anderson. ... Prospero and Miranda by William Maw Egley Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Prospero Prospero is the protagonist in The Tempest, a play by William Shakespeare. ... Raistlin Majere (326 - 356 AC) is a fictional character from the Dragonlance series of books. ...

It may be impossible, in a given work, to determine whether a given practice of magic is innate, because the length of time needed for the study, the scarcity of the books or teachers, or the preciousness of the materials required mean that most characters are necessarily excluded. In some fictional worlds, such as David Eddings' The Belgariad, magic is inherently dangerous, and many of those who develop the talent for magic destroy themselves in learning how to use it, thus limiting their numbers even further. David Eddings (born July 7, 1931) is an American author who has written several best-selling series of epic fantasy novels. ... The Belgariad is a five-book fantasy epic written by David Eddings. ...

Magical materials

"The Crystal Ball" by John William Waterhouse: using material for magical purposes; besides the crystal, a book and a wand.

Historically, many magicians have required rare and precious materials for their spells. Crystal balls, rare herbs (often picked by prescribed rituals), and chemicals such as mercury are common. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (540x836, 83 KB) John William Waterhouse - The Crystal Ball (1902, oil on canvas) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Scrying Magic (fantasy) Magician (fantasy) ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (540x836, 83 KB) John William Waterhouse - The Crystal Ball (1902, oil on canvas) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Scrying Magic (fantasy) Magician (fantasy) ... John William Waterhouse. ... This article is about the fortune telling object; for other uses, see Crystal ball (disambiguation). ...

This is less common in fantasy. Many magicians require no material at all;^[35] those that do may require only simple and easily obtained materials. Role-playing games are more likely to require such material for at least some spells, to prevent characters from casting them too easily.

One factor in this development has been that wizards in fantasy more frequently go on quests; the wizard who is merely consulted in his tower may be surrounded by useful equipment and substances, even in a fantasy work, but the questing wizard must carry what he needs. Wizards who remain in one place, such as those a hero consults, often own many magical items. One who lives in a cottage may have it filled with drying herbs for their magical properties, fantasy herbs being particularly noted for their healing powers;^[36] richer ones may own more valuable materials, such as crystal balls for scrying purposes.^[37]

Wands and staffs are a common piece of property, long used in tales involving wizards.^[38] The first magical wand featured in the Odyssey: that of Circe, who used it to transform Odysseus's men into animals. Italian fairy tales put them into the hands of the powerful fairies by the late Middle Ages.^[39] These were transmitted to modern fantasy. Gandalf refused to surrender his staff in The Lord of the Rings, and breaking Saruman's staff broke his power. Magical wands are used from Andre Norton's Witch World to Harry Potter. One element of this is the need to limit a wizard, so that opposition to him (necessary for a story) is feasible; if the wizard loses his staff or wand (or other magic item on which he is dependent), he is weakened if not magically helpless.^[32] In the Harry Potter setting, a wizard can only perform weaker magic without a wand and only a few can control their wandless magic.^[40] This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... For other uses of the word staff, see staff. ... This article is about Homers epic poem. ... Circe, a painting by John William Waterhouse. ... A fairy tale is a story, either told to children or as if told to children, concerning the adventures of mythical characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and others. ... For other uses, see Gandalf (disambiguation). ... This article is about the novel. ... Saruman is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth legendarium. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ...

Use of magic

Larry Niven once urged, in a twist on Clarke's third law, that "any sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology", and many other writers have observed that functional magic could replace technology in many situations. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Arthur C. Clarke formulated the following three laws of prediction: When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. ...

Nevertheless, many magicians live in pseudo-medieval setting in which their magic is not put to practical use in society; they may serve as mentors (especially if they are wise old men), or act as quest companions, or even go on a quest themselves,^[2] but their magic does not build roads or buildings, or provide immunizations, or construct indoor plumbing or printing presses, or any of the other functions served by machinery; their worlds remain at a medieval level of technology.^[41] In many, perhaps most, high fantasy works, this is treated as an intrinsic feature of the world, requiring no explanation. A wise old man: Philosopher in Meditation by Rembrandt The wise old man (or Senex) is an archetype as described by Carl Jung. ... This article is about the word, for other meanings see Quest (disambiguation) A quest is a journey towards a goal with great meaning and is used in mythology and literature as a plot device. ... High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction that is set in invented or parallel worlds. ...

Sometimes this is justified by the use of magic bringing about worse things than it can alleviate, and the need of wizards to learn restraint.^[42] In Barbara Hambley's Windrose Chronicles, the wizards are precisely pledged not to interfere because of the terrible damage they can do. In Terry Pratchett's Discworld, the importance of wizards is that they do not do magic. This may be direct effect, or the danger of a miscast spell wreaking terrible harm.^[43] Barbara Hambly (born August 28, 1951) is an award winning and prolific American novelist and screenwriter within the genres of fantasy, science fiction and historical fiction. ... Terence David John Pratchett, OBE (born 28 April 1948) is a British fantasy and science fiction author, best known for his Discworld series. ... This article is about the novels. ... The wizards are major characters in Terry Pratchetts Discworld series. ...

In other works, developing magic is difficult. In Rick Cook's Wizardry series, the extreme danger of missteps with magic and the difficulty of analyzing the magic has stymied magic, and left humanity at the mercy of the dangerous elves, until a wizard summons a computer programmer from a parallel world -- ours -- to apply the skills he learned here to magic. Rick Cook (1944) is a light fantasy author from the United States, best known for his Wizardry series of books. ... Rick Cook (1944) is a light fantasy author from the United States, best known for his Wizardry series of books. ... Parallel universe or alternate reality in science fiction and fantasy is a self-contained separate reality coexisting with our own. ...

At other times, a parallel development of magic does occur. This is commonest in alternate history genre. Patricia Wrede's Regency fantasies include a Royal Society of Wizards, and a technological level equivalent to the actual Regency; Randall Garrett's Lord Darcy series, Robert A. Heinlein's Magic, Incorporated, and Poul Anderson's Operation Chaos all depicted modern societies with magic equivalent to twentieth-century technology. In Harry Potter, the wizards have magic equivalent or superior to Muggle technology; sometimes they duplicate it, as in the train that brings students to Hogwarts. Alternate history (fiction) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Pat Wrede Patricia Collins Wrede (pronounced REED-ee) is an American fantasy writer, born 1953 in Chicago, Illinois; she is the eldest of five children. ... Randall Garrett (December 16, 1927 - December 31, 1987) was an American science fiction and fantasy author. ... Lord Darcy is a detective in an alternate history, created by Randall Garrett. ... Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926–July 31, 2001) was an American science fiction author of the genres Golden Age. ... For the CIA intelligence project, see Operation CHAOS. Operation Chaos is a 1971 science fiction/fantasy fixup novel by Poul Anderson. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ...

In the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Eberron, masses of relatively weak wizards mass-produce spells and magical items for public consumption. This article is about the role-playing game. ... The Eberron logo Eberron is a campaign setting created by author and game designer Keith Baker for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. ...

The power ascribed to wizards often affects their role in society. In practical terms, their powers may give them authority in the social structure; wizards may advise kings, such as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, or Belgarath and Polgara the Sorceress in David Eddings's The Belgariad, or even be rulers themselves as in E.R. Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros where both the heroes and the villains, although kings and lords, supplement their physical power with magical knowledge, or Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy, where magicians are the governing class.^[2] On the other hand, magicians often live like hermits, isolated in their towers and often in the wilderness, bringing no change to society. In some works, such as many of Barbara Hambly's, wizards are despised and outcast specially because of their knowledge and powers.^[44] For other uses, see Gandalf (disambiguation). ... This article is about the novel. ... Belgarath is a fictional character in the David Eddings book series The Belgariad followed by The Malloreon. ... Polgara the Sorceress is a fictional character in the David Eddings book series The Belgariad and The Malloreon. ... David Eddings (born July 7, 1931) is an American author who has written several best-selling series of epic fantasy novels. ... The Belgariad is a five-book fantasy epic written by David Eddings. ... Eric Rucker Eddison (November 24, 1882 - August 18, 1945) was an English civil servant and author. ... The Worm Ouroboros (1922) is a heroic high fantasy novel by Eric Rucker Eddison. ... Jonathan Stroud Jonathan Anthony Stroud (27 October 1970, Bedford, England) is an author of fantasy books, mainly for children and youths. ... The Bartimaeus Trilogy is a fantasy series by Jonathan Stroud and was published as a series of three novels between 2003 and 2006. ... For other uses, see Hermit (disambiguation). ... Barbara Hambly (born August 28, 1951) is an award winning and prolific American novelist and screenwriter within the genres of fantasy, science fiction and historical fiction. ...

In the magic-noir world of the Dresden Files, although wizards generally keep a low profile, there is no specific prohibition against interacting openly with non-magical humanity. The protagonist of the series, Harry Dresden, openly advertises in the Yellow Pages under the heading "Wizard", as well as maintaining a business office. His main source of income in the series is derived from acting as a "special consultant" to the Chicago Police Department in cases involving the supernatural. Dresden primarily uses his magic to make a living finding lost items and people, performing exorcisms, and providing protection against the supernatural to ordinary humanity.^[45] This article is about the books. ... Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is the main character of Jim Butchers contemporary fantasy series, The Dresden Files and a television series of the same name based on the novels. ...

Wizards, magicians, and others specific to a work

• Wizard (Middle-earth)
• Magic in Earthsea
• Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
  • Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)
  • Beguiler (Dungeons & Dragons)
  • Shadowcaster (Dungeons & Dragons)
• Warlock (Dungeons & Dragons)
• Wizard (The Sword of Truth)
• Wizards (Discworld)
• Wizards (The Dresden Files)
• Wizarding world -- Harry Potter

In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Wizards of Middle-earth are a small group of beings outwardly resembling Men but possessing much greater physical and mental power. ... Cover to 1991 Bantam Books paperback edition of A Wizard of Earthsea, illustrated by John Jude Palencar Earthsea is a fictional realm created by Ursula K. Le Guin for her short story The Word of Unbinding, published in 1964, but that became more famous in her novel A Wizard of... In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, wizard is one of the base character classes. ... In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the sorcerer is one of the base character classes. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In 3. ... The warlock is one of the non-core character classes in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. ... On the cover of Stone of Tears, Richard is seen holding, presumably, the Sword of Truth. ... The wizards are major characters in Terry Pratchetts Discworld series. ... This article is about the books. ... Hogwarts, a wizarding school. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ...

See also

• List of magicians in fantasy

Famous magicians in fantasy fiction include the following: // Merlin, from the British mythology surrounding King Arthur, is an example of a well-known wizard. ...

Notes and references

Patricia A. McKillip (February 29, 1948—) is an American author of fantasy and science fiction novels. ... Paul Le Page Barnett (1949 - ) is a writer and editor of science fiction, poetry and non-fiction, who usually writes as John Grant or occasionally as Eve Devereux. He has published three original novels, as well as novels in the Judge Dredd and Legends of Lone Wolf series; has edited... John [Frederick] Clute is a Canadian born author and critic who lives in Britain. ... Cover art The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is a reference work on fantasy, edited by John Clute and John Grant. ... Herman Northrop Frye, CC, MA, D.Litt. ... Northrop Fryes Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays (Princeton University Press, 1957) attempts to formulate an overall view of the scope, theory, principles, and techniques of literary criticism derived exclusively from literature. ... Herman Northrop Frye, CC, MA, D.Litt. ... Northrop Fryes Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays (Princeton University Press, 1957) attempts to formulate an overall view of the scope, theory, principles, and techniques of literary criticism derived exclusively from literature. ... Paul Le Page Barnett (1949 - ) is a writer and editor of science fiction, poetry and non-fiction, who usually writes as John Grant or occasionally as Eve Devereux. He has published three original novels, as well as novels in the Judge Dredd and Legends of Lone Wolf series; has edited... John [Frederick] Clute is a Canadian born author and critic who lives in Britain. ... Cover art The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is a reference work on fantasy, edited by John Clute and John Grant. ... Paul Le Page Barnett (1949 - ) is a writer and editor of science fiction, poetry and non-fiction, who usually writes as John Grant or occasionally as Eve Devereux. He has published three original novels, as well as novels in the Judge Dredd and Legends of Lone Wolf series; has edited... John [Frederick] Clute is a Canadian born author and critic who lives in Britain. ... Cover art The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is a reference work on fantasy, edited by John Clute and John Grant. ... Paul Le Page Barnett (1949 - ) is a writer and editor of science fiction, poetry and non-fiction, who usually writes as John Grant or occasionally as Eve Devereux. He has published three original novels, as well as novels in the Judge Dredd and Legends of Lone Wolf series; has edited... John [Frederick] Clute is a Canadian born author and critic who lives in Britain. ... Cover art The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is a reference work on fantasy, edited by John Clute and John Grant. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... Paul Le Page Barnett (1949 - ) is a writer and editor of science fiction, poetry and non-fiction, who usually writes as John Grant or occasionally as Eve Devereux. He has published three original novels, as well as novels in the Judge Dredd and Legends of Lone Wolf series; has edited... John [Frederick] Clute is a Canadian born author and critic who lives in Britain. ... Cover art The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is a reference work on fantasy, edited by John Clute and John Grant. ... Herman Northrop Frye, CC, MA, D.Litt. ... Northrop Fryes Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays (Princeton University Press, 1957) attempts to formulate an overall view of the scope, theory, principles, and techniques of literary criticism derived exclusively from literature. ... Glen David Brin, Ph. ...

Bibliography

• Philip Martin, ed., The Writer's Guide to Fantasy Literature: From Dragon's Lair to Hero's Quest, ISBN 0-87116-195-8
• Patricia C. Wrede, "Magic and Magicians", Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions