SPELLWRIGHT’s Beautiful World Map!
Likely any fan of fantasy literature can relate to poring over the maps of foreign worlds, imagination afire with images of what each city or spectacle might look like and what adventures might be had between them. Of particular importance to me were the beautiful illuminated map of Robert Jordan’s world, Robin Hobb’s Six Dutches, Terry Brook’s Four Lands, and Raymond Feist’s Midkemia. Over at Tor.com, Jason Denzel wrote a wonderful blog post with images of fantasy maps.
SPELLWRIGHT is not a continent-sweeping multi-POV travelogue of a fantasy. I doubt the trilogy will ‘visit’ most of the places on the map. I prefer to explore a world by digging deep into one specific place to reveal how it is connected to other aspects of the world. Perhaps that will change as I evolve as a writer. Who’s to say? But regardless, I do spend a lot of time dreaming up the Six Human Kingdoms in great detail. Though I’ve no skill with a pen (handwriting so bad I should be a doctor *wink wink*), I created a very ugly but detailed map. I’m excited to announce that the art development folks at Tor have done a beautiful job transforming my scrawl into intricate cartography that I hope will be every bit worthy of readerly scrutiny and imagination. Click on the map for high-res image.
Comments
5 Responses to “SPELLWRIGHT’s Beautiful World Map!”
GutterBall
1:23 pm Dec-18-2009
Eeee! If you promise not to tell, I’ll admit that I’m a closet map junkie. I loooove maps. One of these days, when I build my own house (yeah, not holding my breath, there), I want to paint at least one whole wall as a big old map, complete with “Here there be monsters” and a stylized sea serpent and everything.
This…is gorgeous!
blakecharlton
12:51 am Dec-19-2009
so glad you like it! if you’re ever out of walls to paint w/ “Here be Dragons” feel free to come over to my apartment
Jeremiah Tolbert
8:27 pm Dec-18-2009
Great work on this map. I’m a total map junkie too.
blakecharlton
12:52 am Dec-19-2009
thank you, sir. feeling like i’m in good company as a junkie then!
Jack Kincaid
5:35 am Jan-21-2010
I love the map, Blake. I’m going to have to draw some maps of my own soon and the result might be iffy. I can relate with a deficiency of drawing to paper and 2D art in general. I figure a person is only allowed to be good at so many things. It’s a law written somewhere.