I've thought of another one; systematic magic that is treated "as if it were science" by people who really don't know what real science is like, particularly when you can almost hear the dice rolling in the background for how much damage the fireballs do.
I have no objection to magic-as-utility if it's treated that way consistently (viz. Walter Jon Williams' very good Metropolitan and the truly excellent sequel City on Fire, and iirc there's an Ian McLeod that does this rather well too), but magic that feels like being on the cutting edge of real science, basically I have given up on finding and am pottering about with writing it myself.
no subject
I have no objection to magic-as-utility if it's treated that way consistently (viz. Walter Jon Williams' very good Metropolitan and the truly excellent sequel City on Fire, and iirc there's an Ian McLeod that does this rather well too), but magic that feels like being on the cutting edge of real science, basically I have given up on finding and am pottering about with writing it myself.