Maps in books (and author worldbuilding skills)

[Richardb]

Believe me, I'm not knocking Martin, or dismissing your thought. I think Martin has ended up with a world that we do fill in a lot of details ourselves, making it very rich. I also think his exceptional characterization gives us some ability to make determinations about culture and peoples. So we do find ourselves with a feeling of a fairly well realized world.
Some authors just 'get there' and others really seem to work at it. Worse yet are those that mistake world building for story telling!

[Ishmayl]

Though I don't particularly like the books or his writing style, Terry Brooks (Shannara stuff) has some really nice maps in his books. Robert Jordan's are neat, too, but with such a large world, I could use smaller detailed maps over large world maps.

[thebax2k]

Although they are children's books, I would nominate the Dinotopia series by James Gurney for being best able to use maps to realize a fantasy world. His maps of the land and waterfall city are a joy to behold--vibrant, colorful and very well executed.

[Richardb]

Though I don't particularly like the books or his writing style, Terry Brooks (Shannara stuff) has some really nice maps in his books. Robert Jordan's are neat, too, but with such a large world, I could use smaller detailed maps over large world maps.

I'll second Terry Brooks. Especially the newer hardbacks with the nice color maps. My only gripe is with one book (don't remember which) where they put fake blood stains on the map. Cheesy. I did that on one of my first maps in the 7th grade... used food coloring. It was cheesy then, and is more so now.

[Venardhi]

Believe me, I'm not knocking Martin, or dismissing your thought. I think Martin has ended up with a world that we do fill in a lot of details ourselves, making it very rich. I also think his exceptional characterization gives us some ability to make determinations about culture and peoples. So we do find ourselves with a feeling of a fairly well realized world.
Some authors just 'get there' and others really seem to work at it. Worse yet are those that mistake world building for story telling!

Martin's maps certainly leave something to be desired. I'm actually considering doing my own version of the map of Westeros at some point. However I feel his world building is amazing for what it says and clever for what it leaves up to the reader. We have Westeros, which has a rich history and well developed culture and then the mysterious free cities that he slowly reveals through Daenerys (and later, Arya). The Dothraki and other cultures across the narrow sea are exotic and yet realistic without seeming to just be a real-world ripoff like Jordan tends towards. I'm a verifiable Martin fanboy though, so don't mind me. =)

[Richardb]

I am a huge Martin fan also. Finest writer in fantasy currently, in my opinion, no question. Maps are week though, you are right.

[NeonKnight]

The best 'book' I can think of, and I am definitely gonna try and find a copy but it is out of print is:


Atlas of Fantasy I Remember this book from Highschool, and it had some mighty fine maps, some from Works of Fiction, some representative of the Real World like a Texan's Map of the US, or things like that.

Again, a really cool atlas.

[pyrandon]

The best 'book' I can think of, and I am definitely gonna try and find a copy but it is out of print is:


Atlas of Fantasy I Remember this book from Highschool, and it had some mighty fine maps, some from Works of Fiction, some representative of the Real World like a Texan's Map of the US, or things like that.

Again, a really cool atlas.

It's awesome you brought this up--I own this book, bought for me when I was in middle school because I loved maps & reading so much. Love it, love it, love it!

[Eilathen]

Hmm..

You have to love the old master Tolkien...both for his map and for the depth of his world.

I also like the maps of Feist. The world is very clichée but then this doesn't bother me that much. I have a clear picture in my mind of Midkemia.

The second best for world-development (after Tolkien) is without question Steven Erkison...so much depth and history for his world...unbelievable...and his cultures and races do make sense...no really (he's an anthropologist and archaeologist, so that explains it, really ^^ ). I like his maps....maybe not the one in Gardens of the moon but the 7 cities continent (from Deadhouse Gates) is quiet nice.

I think Martin is a very good writer ...but his maps and his worldbuilding are really not the things he excels in imho (that is dialogue and characterization).

A newer voice in Fantasy is Scott R. Bakker...don't know if you know his work (Prince of nothing trilogy). He has a nice map which is clearly inspired by Tolkien's map-style (see here: http://www.princeofnothing.com/index...aps&mode=earwa)
His worldbuilding is also quiet good.

[pyrandon]

A newer voice in Fantasy is Scott R. Bakker...don't know if you know his work (Prince of nothing trilogy). He has a nice map which is clearly inspired by Tolkien's map-style (see here: http://www.princeofnothing.com/index...aps&mode=earwa)

Wow--that's an understatement, eh? That map is not only "inspired by" but practically "stylistic plagiarism"! Wowee--even the names! That map certainly would not inspire me to read the books, for it is practically hack, but on your recommendation I will check them out.