technomagic

Technomagic is a narrative concept in fantasy and science fiction where technology is portrayed as, or indistinguishable from, magic. It describes systems in which devices, algorithms, and infrastructures function as sources of supernatural power or are interpreted by characters as miraculous due to their perceived invulnerability to ordinary rules of nature. It is not a scientific field, but a world-building or storytelling device.

The term is used across media and genres to bridge realism and wonder. It can explain advanced technologies in settings with low scientific literacy or suspend disbelief by presenting machines as capable of feats that resemble magic, such as teleportation, mind control, or impossible healing, while maintaining internal consistency within the world.

In games and literature, technomagic often appears as a loose trope rather than a strict system. It can coexist with traditional magic, creating a spectrum between science and sorcery. In role-playing games, technomagic may be implemented as a discipline, a tech-based magic school, or a narrative justification for powerful artifacts.

Critics note that the term may obscure real-world ethical questions about technology, and that calling advanced tech magical can blur explanations. Proponents argue it helps explore themes of power, control, and the unknown, and provides a flexible framework for imagining futures where science and magic converge.