From the introduction: Near the end of the 22nd century, the world changed. Cities died in atomic fire, triggered by fools and arrogant tyrants. Corporations became more powerful than nations, and greedily divided the world up among them. Much of the remaining human race now lives in corporate enclaves, massive walled cities that are sanitized and sterile. Wars are fought between corporations now, and nations are a thing of the past. And magic has returned.