The Importance of Maps?

[Shaun]

Maps aren't exclusive to fantasy, but since they are most common in fantasy this is a discussion of fantasy maps.

Do you think that maps are important in fantasy novels? Do you look at them or ignore them? Why?

[GeorgeMichael]

Maps aren't exclusive to fantasy

Shaun made a truthful quote about Fantasy!!!


I'm kidding Shaun, do not respond to that, that debate is over :)


I do actually look at maps a lot, for example the map for Lord of the Rings is one I find great interest in, I occasionally glance at it when a location pops up in the story so I can see where exactly they are, and how far away from Mordor the are :P

[Andy]

I'm tempted to make a similar pun like George on a different matter of Shaun + fantasy, but not today. :squirrel:

Do you think that maps are important in fantasy novels? Do you look at them or ignore them? Why?
They are definitely important in fantasy novels. Most of them, anyway. Harry Potter was an exception, because in it there wouldn't have been much point. It's set in England, which is already mapped, and since the story usually takes place in Hogwarts, there's not much need for a map. Also the characters can travel anywhere by broomsticks, or in book 7, by apparating, so yeah...no map required.

But in general, I think it's safe to say that any world where it takes a week or more to travel from place to place, should have a map. If the story's all contained in a small village, then showing how the baker is only a block away from little Mike's house won't be very thrilling.

Once you start getting weeks of monotonous traveling, or armies moving across the land, then I'd really appreciate a map. One, it helps me judge just how far the characters are in their quest, and helps me judge just how casual or desperate the situation is getting.

[Imelda]

I don't really care about maps at all. I like looking at them, because I like to know *everything* but if there isn't one it doesn't give me difficulty. Actually, I lie, it has a couple of times, but that was because the author relied on the map--which sucks because I always end up turning to the front-ish page which is just really irritating ...

Maps are soooooo fun to procrastinate on! I love them for that. :D

[Carraka]

I will glance at the map in the beginning when I pick up the book, but I don't even remember names and places from it. I just skip ahead to reading the text, which I think is the most important. When I've finished the book, if I liked it, I'll go back and look at the map. Hopefully it will do more than just "clear things up", because books should be able to stand on their own without maps. Even when I refer back to maps while reading, I never understand what's going on.

Biography time! I used to make maps before I wrote stories, which turned it to be a mistake, because if the forest didn't fit the plot, I would struggle for a few days before realizing the map was useless. (Plus, my drawings sucked.) The best thing about those maps is that I now have a bunch of left-over town names. Ah, such innocent days. Now I don't make maps at all. I figure I should finish my stories before I worry about illustrations.

... wait. I take that back. Ellyrica has a map! I just realized that Ellyria sounds a lot like Ellira. I hope I haven't stolen something from any of you. -stabs subconscious-


Yeah. I drew it by hand, scanned it, then added text. It's for Protector, which is my only longish goodish finished-finished story. It looks better on paper. Trust me.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/edrashtekaresket/EllyriaMap.jpg

[jordanisonfire]

I definately want to make maps for my series. But, the problem is this: I have to draw several worlds in universes! But it'll be fun, 'cos I have like the World where it's set in, then a universe that's full of abundant life and then a demonic universe. If I can't draw them, I'll give a cartographer the "pleasurable" task of drawing them. :D

[Lykaios]

I don't think maps are important for stories, I find that when I read a book that has a map, what I imagine doesn't always seem to fit in with someone else's (the author's) ideas.

However I do love making maps for my own stories, I usually just draw or paint them but recently I have been practicing for when I get Photoshop on Paint.
It takes ages . . .

[Weirdside]

I love maps in fantasy novels. If there wasn't a map in Perdido Street Station, I don't know if I could've kept reading it. If there is a lot of detail in a world, a map is imperative.