Phil and the Death Machine - Marshal College, #1

Decidedly adult retro Urban Fantasy from a Hugo nominated author. Kingshampton University was founded in the Middle Ages.  It was intended to be a recruiting ground for 'special advisors' for the British monarchy.  Nowadays, though, in more enlightened times, the masters of its various colleges do so hate to use the word 'magic'... Phil Wolseley-Jones is starting his first year of Applied Parapsychology at Kingshampton.
 His interests lie in drink, sex and the avoidance of any sort of work.  It's becoming depressingly possible, though, that his college years might have gainful employment at the end of them. This is because Phil has talents that are in demand.  The only students recruited for Applied Parapsych are those who can see things ordinary mortals can't.  But the catch is, the things they can see can see them back...