My favorite fantasy map of all time, from Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, partakes of these conventions. South lie the warm climes of the brown and black people, East the deserts and cities of pseudo-Arabs and overcivilized yellow people. The quasi-anthropological conventions tied up in the generic fantasy map fascinate me: North are frosty crags of the pseudo-Vikings. Prefacing a novel with a map is saying “An immersive made world is among my highest priorities here.” The map gives readers a panoramic view of the novel’s world – often a wider view than what is available to the characters – before zooming in on the local and personal details that are the building blocks of early chapters. My genre of choice (as both reader and writer) is secondary world fantasy, so maps hold a very special place in my heart.Ĭoming before the text of the novel as they often do, fantasy maps help to set a reader’s expectations. His novel, Throne of the Crescent Moon, is forthcoming from DAW Books. His short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and podcasts. He has been a finalist for the Nebula Award for Best Short Story and the Campbell Award for Best New SF/F Writer.

Even in Harry Potter, the Marauder’s Map was a fun, brilliant little thing. In Hal Duncan’s Vellum, the map is never shown, but it takes such center stage that he might as well have drawn it. John Harrison’s Viriconium lends itself to the idea of maps as artifacts and voices in the story, not just static additions. The map commissioned by Peter Orullian is absolutely lovely.

Their style is also beautiful, and I wish more maps would be made with an eye for mood and aesthetic. Enough detail to follow the characters, enough blanks for a young, bored mind to populate with all sorts of wonders and evils. Maps can be ubiquitous in fantasy, but it’s nice to see them actually be useful.īut I have to be honest: the maps for Tolkien’s works are my favorites, ever. Going for a straight-forward map, Michael Stackpole’s map for The DragonCrown Cycle is perfect: it gives me a quick reference for the dozens of warring territories and political alliances. Maps are as indulgent and delicious as the stories themselves, if done right. That would be like choosing a favorite pet, or a favorite tea, or a favorite hill. When not pouring over maps, Jaym is a freelance publicist for SFWA and other clients, and editor. More than one Christmas has been met by a map under the tree, and AAA contemplated charging for maps due to her grandfather’s collecting habits. Jaym Gates comes be her map-lust honestly: her family is composed of teachers, surveyors and engineers.

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