A magician, which may also be known as sorcerer/sorceress, is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources. Magicians are common figures in works of fantasy; they draw on a history of such people in mythology, legends, fiction, and folklore
Wizards, both men and women, are often depicted as old, white-haired, and (for men) with long white beards. Their clothing is often typical as well. Wizards commonly wear robes or cloaks and pointed hats. These are often brightly colored and spangled with stars and moons, astrological symbols, or with magical sigils. The term "wizard" is more often applied to a male magic-user, just as a "witch" is more often female. 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
Types of magic
Enchanters/Enchantresses
Enchanters often practice a type of magic that produces no physical effects on objects or people, but rather deceives the observer or target by creating and using illusions. Enchantresses, in particular, practice this form of magic, often to seduce
Sorcerer
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
Witch
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
Hedge wizard/witch
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
Other
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
In certain Asian fantasies, the practice of wuxia is used to achieve superhuman feats, as in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. 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
Traits
A common motif in fictional magic is that the ability to use it is innate and often rare. Magicians are often a secretive or persecuted group. In these settings, non-magician characters, no matter how learned, cannot cast spells. In such instances, magic is either inherited, is a random ability appearing in some people, or is the result of some other unique effect or situation. Inherited powers may be a simple genetic trait or appear at random in various bloodlines
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
A common trait of magicians is that, no matter how spontaneously their abilities manifest, they must learn to use them. Occasionally this is reserved 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
Magic/Magic materials
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. Sometimes they are in hiding, with normal people having no idea about them, because the wizards and witches feel that if they revealed themselves, regular people would persecute them, a justified fear, or they would want them to fix all of their problems instead of doing it themselves. At other times, developing magic is difficult or a parallel development of magic occurs. 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 or even be rulers themselves. 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. This is less common in fantasy, though. Many magicians require no materials at all; those that do may require only simple and easily obtained materials
Wizards, both men and women, are often depicted as old, white-haired, and (for men) with long white beards. Their clothing is often typical as well. Wizards commonly wear robes or cloaks and pointed hats. These are often brightly colored and spangled with stars and moons, astrological symbols, or with magical sigils. The term "wizard" is more often applied to a male magic-user, just as a "witch" is more often female. 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
Types of magic
Enchanters/Enchantresses
Enchanters often practice a type of magic that produces no physical effects on objects or people, but rather deceives the observer or target by creating and using illusions. Enchantresses, in particular, practice this form of magic, often to seduce
Sorcerer
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
Witch
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
Hedge wizard/witch
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
Other
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
In certain Asian fantasies, the practice of wuxia is used to achieve superhuman feats, as in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. 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
Traits
A common motif in fictional magic is that the ability to use it is innate and often rare. Magicians are often a secretive or persecuted group. In these settings, non-magician characters, no matter how learned, cannot cast spells. In such instances, magic is either inherited, is a random ability appearing in some people, or is the result of some other unique effect or situation. Inherited powers may be a simple genetic trait or appear at random in various bloodlines
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
A common trait of magicians is that, no matter how spontaneously their abilities manifest, they must learn to use them. Occasionally this is reserved 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
Magic/Magic materials
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. Sometimes they are in hiding, with normal people having no idea about them, because the wizards and witches feel that if they revealed themselves, regular people would persecute them, a justified fear, or they would want them to fix all of their problems instead of doing it themselves. At other times, developing magic is difficult or a parallel development of magic occurs. 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 or even be rulers themselves. 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. This is less common in fantasy, though. Many magicians require no materials at all; those that do may require only simple and easily obtained materials