Item — HN Reader

In any vaguely medieval setting, a tower is a conspicuously high-status abode, with both "loner" and "don't mess with" vibes. Whether looking down at us from a window, or up at the stars from the parapet, the Wiz is both physically and metaphorically above us mere peasants.

And, when story-telling, a wizard's tower is a very cheap bit of the narrative. The audience visualizing a mere house might need mention of the size, materials, style, color, etc. - not so the tower.

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And it references the "ivory tower" of academia, the pursuit of "higher learning". In the age of skyscrapers we don't appreciate the inherent power/awe that tall structures likely had on people. It symbolically indicates power from ability, technology, competence, engineering, and use of resources.

Actually, skyscrapers ARE the modern equivalent. The "wizards of finance" and the like inhabit them, exerting power with the magic spells of technology, finance, bribery, influence, and organization. Corporations seek them for the same reasons that fantasy wizards, kings, and churches used to.

And duh, Tolkien. It's the title of the second book.

The United States recently elected a leader that lives in $100M gilded 3 story penthouse atop a skyscraper in downtown Manhattan. This leader made amongst the most enemies of any living person I can name and was ostracised from popular society upon exiting the presidency. One of the ways he pitched himself as a worthy leader was boasting of all the Resplendent Wizard Towers across the world with his name on them.

Here is an article where both a CNN columnist and one of Trumps former underlings warn of his dark magic: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/09/opinions/trump-lindsay-graham...

Ehhh, Trump got popular in part because he says what he thinks and doesn't want to make friends with the then establishment. Making enemies is expected.

When you say ostracized, do you mean removed from Twitter?