WyrdMystic
Inkling
“What is a fantasy map but a space beyond which There Be Dragons?” — Terry Pratchett
This is a post inspired by something else in another thread, but I wanted to explore deeper.
Fantasy Maps are pretty much expected, but are they expected solely because everyone includes them? To me they are not a selling point, and like many people flick past a prologue I will flip past a map. In fact, when looking for Indie works I get really annoyed by the free sample getting taken up by lots of additional waffle at the front of the book to the point where I look elsewhere. When looking at mainstream works I don't notice the map beyond the point where I go, "Oh. A map."....next page.
Maps of Middle Earth are artistic and well made. Discworld wasn't mapped until 10 years after the Colour of Magic.
Maps are a nice to have for people who like maps, but to you — do they clarify the world you are visiting or do they stymie your imagination? Or, do you pay no heed?
This is a post inspired by something else in another thread, but I wanted to explore deeper.
Fantasy Maps are pretty much expected, but are they expected solely because everyone includes them? To me they are not a selling point, and like many people flick past a prologue I will flip past a map. In fact, when looking for Indie works I get really annoyed by the free sample getting taken up by lots of additional waffle at the front of the book to the point where I look elsewhere. When looking at mainstream works I don't notice the map beyond the point where I go, "Oh. A map."....next page.
Maps of Middle Earth are artistic and well made. Discworld wasn't mapped until 10 years after the Colour of Magic.
Maps are a nice to have for people who like maps, but to you — do they clarify the world you are visiting or do they stymie your imagination? Or, do you pay no heed?