ANDERS MAGE PAGE 2.0

Editor's Note: This was written as homage to Anders Sandberg to recognize him for the many thought-provoking pieces he posted to the Mage mailing list.

The Mad Swede, as he is sometimes known, has become something of a conundrum for online mages. Being something of an adept with worldwide communications networks, he's managed to avoid any physical traces to his location (of course, when questioned on this, he protests that he isn't doing anything, that they just must be making mistakes).

He appears to be a mouthpiece for some greater font of knowledge. This can only be described in vague terms, unfortunately, because his history and continued activities have made solid discussion very sketchy. This has also helped the Swede avoid most detection. He feels anything but. The best term for his writings is "inspired", both in the literary fashion and in the biblical notion. He has theorized truths not dreamed of in the halls of Doissetep. His short essays on the nature of the outer realms has led to entire new conventions of thought in future exploration. There seems to be no limit to his vast mental power.

This causes the most problems of all. Mages cannot agree on whether or not the Swede is even Awakened. His writing would lead one to think him a master teacher in the Order, but none know who he is. He originally posted on the computer nets under many aliases, but his style was too distinctive, and now his fame has made disguise impossible. Various online magi have tried to find him. None will succeed. The Swede himself doesn't know if he is Awakened. He knows that something is wrong, however. The source of this wrongness changes, though, as mutable as the reality around him. He has considered that this might be some acute form of madness, but until something snaps in either direction, he'll continue his fervored writings from his secreted world, and mages will continue their pointless search for his Dark Tower.