Generally speaking, any fantasy novel worth its salt has a map.
But maps are more then just “eye candy” to the inquisitive mind; they are employed to enhance the storytelling process, especially so in faraway, lost or fantastic worlds. And given their place in such storytelling, map placement can be a critical consideration when publishing a book. A map at the beginning of a book is a promise made — that the reader is about to be swept into a strange new world — while a map at the end of a book can be a promise kept, like taking inventory of what you’ve been through and what you’ve learned. Some books, like Frog of Arcadia, include maps as they are revealed to their story’s protagonist, allowing the reader to experience the thrill of adventure as though it were unfolding in real time. Other fantasy books, such as Watership Down, include various maps and scatter them throughout the narrative, a technique which suits it’s grand scope narrative.
Prince Augustine’s Royal Cartography, from Frog of Arcadia, as illustrated by Matlock Bobechko. To check out his Substack, where he discusses theology and apologetics, click here.
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A question to subscribers: What are some of your favourite fantasy/adventure book maps? And where were they placed in their respective books?
Links to images are very welcome! And bonus points to anyone who knows the source of the following map:
Thanks for the headline! Personally, I'm a big fan of the historical 17th century maps. They exude adventure. But in terms of just fantasy, you can't go wrong with the classics. Christopher Tolkien, JRR's son, is said to have drawn this standard Middle Earth map used in LOTR. It's beautiful:
Thanks for the headline! Personally, I'm a big fan of the historical 17th century maps. They exude adventure. But in terms of just fantasy, you can't go wrong with the classics. Christopher Tolkien, JRR's son, is said to have drawn this standard Middle Earth map used in LOTR. It's beautiful:
https://i0.wp.com/middle-earth.xenite.org/files/2011/09/Ballantine-Middle-earth-Map-02.jpg?ssl=1