Tags
A.J. O'Conell, Bookriot, books, fantasy, Hunger Games, Joe Abercrombie, maps, N.K. Jemisin, Suzanne Collins, The Fifth Season
When working on Pearseus, I decided to include a map. In fact, I ended up drawing at least three versions, then buying Cartographer and doing another three versions there. Then, I realized a lot of people hate maps in books. A recent post by A.J. O’Conell of Bookriot explains why.
I Hate Maps
When epic fantasy N.K. Jemisin released her latest novel, The Fifth Season, she posted the – admittedly beautiful – map from her novel on her blog. What’s unusual about this is that Jemisin is one of a handful of authors who have been vocal about their distaste for maps in high fantasy.
So, why aren’t some fantasy authors fans of maps? Three reasons are usually cited:
- Maps on the fly-leaf are cliché; every author from J.R.R. Tolkien to George R. R. Martin seems to have one.
- Sometimes being able to see every major location in a world spoils a story for a reader: if the map shows five cities, and the characters are going off on a quest, chances are that they’ll hit all five cities.
- Some authors complain that it takes away from the story they’re trying to tell: Terry Goodkind has said he considers maps a distraction from the story.
Joe Abercrombie wrote about this in 2007, saying that maps weren’t suitable for his character-driven fiction:
I want a reader to be nailed to the text, chewing their fingernails to find out what happens next,” he wrote, “not constantly flipping back to the fly-leaf to check just how far north exactly Carleon is from Uffrith, or whatever.
That was then
Still, N.K. Jemisin included one for The Fifth Season. As she put it, while the previous series might not have called for one, this particular book centers on a continent where the geography is almost literally a character. In her post, Jemisin said she needed a map to write this book.
And Abercrombie included not one, but five maps in The Heroes, some of which depicted the same valley during a battle, showing the movement of troops on each day.
Abercrombie’s inclusion of five maps is just one of the tricks authors use to avoid using a map in a cliché way. There are at least twothree others.
I Have a Trick Up My Sleeve
To avoid spoilers, sometimes a map is deliberately vague or doesn’t match the book. Jemisin’s map of the Stillness falls into this category; not all of the towns, roads and stations she mentions in the book are on the map.
Another trick is to release an unofficial map. Before the Hunger Games movies, fans of the books were so hungry for maps of Panem that they were making them themselves. Suzanne Collins never released an official map but she allegedly worked with Lionsgate when they released their official map for this summer’s The Hunger Games Exhibition in NYC.
Last, you can do what Jemisin did and release the map through your blog. This has the added benefit of drawing readers to your blog, where you can introduce them to the rest of your work. They may even start following you there or subscribe to your newsletter, especially if you promise them limited-edition goodies like more maps.
So, how do you feel about maps? Do you appreciate them, as a reader? As an author, do you use them in your books?
Jack Eason said:
It all depends on the way a map is drawn and the amount of detail Nicholas. Tolkiens maps were not exactly clear. Whereas the one drawn for my fantasy anthology Goblin Tales was.Take a look for yourself. Unlike some authors, I believe it adds a welcome element. 😉
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thanks for that, Jack 🙂
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Jack Eason said:
Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
Nicholas on maps.
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Rainne said:
I like maps in books. I think it adds to the story as I can see where everything is in relation to everything else. 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thanks for that! It seems to be the consensus that maps are a welcome addition 🙂
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Mick Canning said:
I like the idea of releasing it through your blog, to draw more readers there.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Good point. It does attract a certain kind of audience, and hopefully that will drive sales, too 🙂
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franhunne4u said:
I think to release it through the blog draws people away from the text even more than if you’d include it in the book. I prefer maps in the book. At least a rough outline. People might not know where exactly Gambun is in Africa (I’d have to look that up, I admit here) – but they know where Africa is. I suppose it is the same for fantasy worlds – people in that world might not know the whereabouts of every town but they know at least in which direction to find the neighboured countries and where to look for a certain region of their own country. The reader should have that much information, too!
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Mick Canning said:
That’s a possibility, of course.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
That’s a good point, actually. Thanks 🙂
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Sue Bridgwater said:
I’m with Bilbo, I love maps. I’m fortunate that my co-author Alistair Mcgechie is excellent at creating them.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Yes, you are! I do it with Cartographer, which is a fine tool, but I wish I had something with more of a… personal touch 🙂
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Don Massenzio said:
Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
Here is a great post that discusses the use of maps in the fantasy genre
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Zen A. said:
I don’t feel strongly about maps either way. Actually, for the most part, when I’m reading a book, I tend to ignore maps unless I hit a point where I get confused about locations or something.
They’re still nice to have though! And I might consider getting one for a new plot that’s been brewing in my mind lately.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Ah, a more balanced view. Thanks for that 🙂
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hilarycustancegreen said:
My experience has been that readers (i.e.. pre-publication readers) ask for maps. I write contemporary fiction not fantasy, but my last novel took place all over Slovenia and the map was certainly welcomed by readers.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
That’s interesting! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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The Story Reading Ape said:
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
Another side of the issue of maps, compared to http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2016/03/18/why-not-draw-a-map-of-an-imaginary-world/
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Silver Threading said:
Reblogged this on Silver Threading and commented:
Wonderful food for thought about including a map to go with your fantasy novel… ❤
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jan said:
I like maps in books, particularly sci-fi!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
True – most of us focus on maps in fantasy, but there’s also SF. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
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noelleg44 said:
I enjoy maps,especially if they are a a beauty to the eye. But you’re right – they often require too much detail, so maybe none is better – and leave the place to the imagination as a character!.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Hey, I’m not picking sides 😀
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LRWLee said:
I personally love maps. I still remember my 5th grade social studies map unit, so my love of maps didn’t start recently. That said, my persona opinion is that as a reader, I want to be able to clarify locations if the story doesn’t quite do it for me. And what better to give a world substance than a map. I included a map in the front of each of my Andy Smithson series’ novels and don’t regret it one bit. Give the readers a map!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – absolutely 😀
That does seem to be the consensus, doesn’t it? So far, only one reader has said they don’t care for maps 🙂
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wscottling said:
I’ve found maps in fantasy novels to be useful, especially since I have something of a learning disorder that makes me not remember things (like unfamiliar names of people and places), so having a reference point can be more helpful than scanning the first three chapters again.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I wonder if I have that same disorder, actually. I need to read a name half a dozen times before it sticks to me. Even then, I usually remember it as “the name that starts with a T” – that’s why I avoid having my character names start with the same letter. Indeed, that’s why I avoid using names at all. They’re usually described through a title (the Captain) or a relation (the father). And Runaway Smile has no names whatsoever – just the boy, the dog, the mother etc.
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wscottling said:
There are several that can cause the brain to misfire when it comes to names and faces… my brand off weirdness is called Dyscalculia… it’s like Dyslexia but with numbers.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thanks for that, I’ll look it up!
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V said:
I’ve always loved maps. As a reader, I pour over them and refer back to them. They make even more real the place where I’ll be spending the next few days of my life. As an author, I can’t do without them. I even map out different scenes so I can more vividly picture who is where in a room or other setting.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I love the thought of mentally mapping out a room or an entire scene! Usually, the borders of my scenes are quite blurry, but there’s something to be said for a more concrete setting.
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shelleywilson72 said:
I’m a map fan! I drew a rough version for the fantasy series I wrote but it wasn’t printed – I used it purely for personal use. However, I do love looking at the maps in the books I read. Interesting note, as I was reading this post on my computer my son walked in and said ‘oh, cool map!’ Clearly teenagers are map fans too!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Yay for cool teenagers 😀
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olganm said:
I don’t think there’s any harm in it. I wonder how well they’d work in electronic books (I can’t recall having read one with a map in it). If it isn’t there you can’t check even if you’d like to, whilst if it is there you can always ignore it…
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
You’re right, it’s not the same on an ebook. First of all, they often come out smaller for some reason, and you need to click to enlarge.
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Helen Jones said:
I like the idea of maps but don’t necessarily feel they add to the story by having them in the book. That being said, I am working on a map for my own books – I don’t know if I’ll ever share it, but if I do most likely it will be via my blog, rather than in the book itself.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I’d think this post – and the accompanying comments – would have convinced you to include it in the book 😀
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Helen Jones said:
That’s very true 🙂 If I can get it to a point I’m happy with, I might do just that.
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macjam47 said:
I love maps in books! I will study them and find, for me, they add to the story. I am a very visual person and a map enhances the story to the extent that I become one with the character when I can visually trace their moves. That being said, I don’t keep flipping back to the map, but having looked at it, I have the spatial connection.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Same here. I’ll often refer to it in the end, though.
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Fiona Tarr said:
I write historical heroic fantasy and I have considered maps, but as I write about past events where the topography is already know, it probably isn’t necessary.
I have read loads of fantasy books that have maps included and have to admit they have only ever received a very casual glance from me personally.
However, I am sure to some people they are quite important as everyone imagines the story differently and some people probably need or like help with visualisation. If it fits, go with it. If it detracts, leave it out.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
One of the perks of writing historical fantasy 🙂
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Bookwraiths said:
Count me on the map side. There really is nothing more annoying than an author dropping names of cities and countries all over a narrative without me (the reader) having any idea where the hell any of these places are. Sure, I want to be nailed to the text, but I’d rather flip to the fly-leaf to understand where everything is than spend my precious time drawing my own map as I go.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
That’s an interesting point. I wonder if you’re a visual type.
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Jaq said:
As a lifelong Fantasy reader, I largely ignore maps. I’ll glance at one if it’s there, but the significance of places is lost on me if I haven’t started reading yet and breaking the narrative to go back and look is like reading footnotes; a distraction.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I love having the reader perspective. Thanks for that 🙂
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theowllady said:
Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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aurorajeanalexander said:
Reblogged this on Writer's Treasure Chest and commented:
Nicholas Rossis latest blog post debates about maps on fantasy. A very informative and interesting – and of course useful post for new upcoming fantasy writers. Thank you Nicholas!
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kcg1974 said:
I’m sorry, Nicholas. I don’t have the right brain for maps, literally! Or, perhaps I’m just too impatient to follow them. No wonder I’m forever lost! This one is beautiful by the way.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thanks! Impatient, huh? I glance at a map when I start reading, then usually only check it out again at the end.
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kcg1974 said:
Ha, that’s me too, after I go round and round gating lost!
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jennnanigans said:
As a reader, I only want a map if the world is SO huge and there’s a lot of plot-driven stuff concerning the map. Tolkien, GRRM, the Pern books – those worlds are sprawling and people move around a lot. I don’t need a map for the Discworld because locations aren’t that important, and in a lot of the books all the story takes place in one centralized location, like Lancre or Ankh-Morpork. On the other hand, sometimes a personalized map keeps me interested in a book that’s otherwise not that great – for example, that famous ‘dotted line’ with some X’s like ‘Here is where the landslide happened’ or something overlaid OVER the map will keep me reading if I am otherwise not interested.
I don’t include maps in my books, but I make very detailed ones for my own reference. That has helped me with story points more times than I can count. It’s also a nice way to take a break from the writing and productively brainstorm in another way.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
That’s true. Also, I suppose there’s a difference between “I need a map” and “I’d like a map” 🙂
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jennnanigans said:
Totally – if your story involves a lot of travel you can either spend paragraphs and possibly pages describing where things are, or just save the thousand words with a picture. 😀
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