Wen Spencer's Tinker books have something kind of like that, in that as Tinker learns more about magic, the things she makes/invents get more sophisticated.

And in Tanya Huff's The Silvering, the main character didn't do well at the magic university (magic being understood, teachable and highly desirable) but figures out how to use her supposedly minor abilities to achieve remarkable effects (she never does get the hang of healing, though).

I feel like that kind of happens in Rivers of London but maybe only for Peter, or for the Folly - definitely doesn't apply to the non-humans although social change is reflected in their magic so maybe. Hm.

I feel like most of the magic systems I can think of are more in the "we used to have more/better magic" vein rather than things are improving.

My personal preference is for systems where no one really understands how magic works and thhere may be big improvements as somebody figures something out but I am not htinking of good examples right now. Will ponder some more.

There's Ponder Stibbons research in the Discworld, of course.

I tweeted this question but asking here also: are there any stories in which magic exists sort of like technology does IRL and becomes obsolescent due to new and better magic, social changes, etc?

Barbara Hambly has a duology where men's magic stops working and women start having the ability, which seriously begins to shake up the society.

Dana, which one is that? I thought I'd read about all of hers.

Sisters of the Raven/Circle of the Moon.

Actually, I'm pretty sure I read the first one ... but it was a while ago. I mostly remember the Darweth books and the Silicon Mage ones.

askye, have you tried Martha Wells' The Murderbot Diaries? I ask because the first four are on sale in hardback and a set is on its way to my house.

My first Cherryh was the Faded Sun trilogy; Cyteen messed with my head, and when I found out exactly how long it was going to take me to run out of books in her Foreigner series I might have shrieked with joy.

• looks at very full bookcase, makes despairing noise* You know, I could have put a bookcase where that bar cabinet is.

I have the most recent Foreigner book just recently added to my TBR. I thought she was done with that ages ago and discovered that, no, I had just missed A WHOLE LOT a few years ago so catching up was fun but apparently I still can't quite keep on top of it. I like that universe so so much

The rest of her work, honestly, there's so much of it I get overwhelmed thinking about branching out. I made some inroads into Alliance-Union, I think.

looks at very full bookcase, makes despairing noise*

We just bought 3 new bookcases AND have boxed up 11 boxes of books to go.

Thanks all for the recs...other than Discworld these are new to me.