Re:Common tech jobs described as cabals of Mesoamerican wizards
by cglodt on Wednesday August 24, 2022 @03:55AM
(#32576129)
I'm also reminded of Max Gladstone's "Craft Sequence" novels, which have some meso-american themes in a universe where "lawyers ride lightning bolts, souls are currency, and cities are powered by the remains of fallen gods". Highly recommended.
Re:Common tech jobs described as cabals of Mesoamerican wizards
by tazjin on Wednesday August 24, 2022 @06:11AM
(#32577307)
Is it an enjoyable read for tech people? (i.e. no"CSI tech" where suspending disbelief becomes hard)
Re:Common tech jobs described as cabals of Mesoamerican wizards
by mudita on Wednesday August 24, 2022 @07:20AM
(#32577854)
The author has a degree in computer science and worked as a programmer and technical writer before becoming a full-time science fiction author, so yes.
Re:Common tech jobs described as cabals of Mesoamerican wizards
by watersb on Wednesday August 24, 2022 @10:21PM
(#32588644)
IIRC, @cstross (who is on the HN here at times) had his first published work in contributions to the AD&D Monster Manual.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Manual
Legit.
Re:Common tech jobs described as cabals of Mesoamerican wizards
by lburton on Wednesday August 24, 2022 @07:07AM
(#32577750)
Yes, generally not much in the way of CSI tech... just some magic ;) at least as far as I recall.. the first few books had some pretty amusing 90sish IT stuff but that mostly falls away as the universe gets built / the mc does very little IT.
https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2020/10/the-lau...
The central premise is that magic and computation are essentially the same thing, information/entropy exchange that can open channels to other multiverse inhabitants when performed at sufficient scale. As computers have become more powerful and widespread, a secret government agencies have been drafting those who stumble upon particularly dangerous algorithms -- which can invoke bugs and close encounters.
So the central protagonist of an IT guy for the UK secret ministry, "The Laundry". Visual Basic macros are not allowed!