Building Worlds
July 25, 2008 10:13 AM Subscribe
Fantasy cartography collects scans of maps and charts from video games, comics, and novels. Take a look at the doll-house like maps of the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building from various comics (a Trophy Room and a "TV Sending Room"!), the Legend of Zelda's Hyrule, Asimov's Foundation galaxy, lots of Lovecraft locations, the lands of the Princess Bride, the Discworld, and lots of Star Trek maps and ship schematics. Also, some thoughts on how "serious fiction" writers often start with maps, from Joyce's use of the ordinance maps of Dublin to Pychon's use of aerial photographs. More fantasy maps (many in German) are available from the Fantasy Atlas. Also, from my previous post on the subject of maps of fantasy worlds, see the extensive listings in the Dictionary of Imaginary Places.
Ok, I know that there are a few people who aren't even sure that Rhode Island really exists, but this sort of made me laugh.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:28 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:28 AM on July 25, 2008
Wow -- what a really annoying interface. At least, on the Asimov and Star Trek links... didn't bother to check the others because I was too enraged.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 10:37 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 10:37 AM on July 25, 2008
Looks like Thai, DU.
posted by hifiparasol at 10:39 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by hifiparasol at 10:39 AM on July 25, 2008
You guys know that if you click on a map, it expands, and if you click again, it opens the image directly, right? If you do that, you can see that the Discworld map in question is from this site.
posted by blahblahblah at 11:09 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by blahblahblah at 11:09 AM on July 25, 2008
That particular map happens to have a URL written on it. But in general, these appear to be "borrowed" without attribution.
posted by DU at 11:11 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by DU at 11:11 AM on July 25, 2008
Don't forget Westeros, the Nine Free Cities, the Summer Isles and so on
posted by poppo at 11:14 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by poppo at 11:14 AM on July 25, 2008
That particular map happens to have a URL written on it. But in general, these appear to be "borrowed" without attribution.
Yes. It would be good if they listed sources (many are obvious, but some are not), it would make the site even more interesting and certainly useful. However, as for "borrowed," while you are correct in that they are not properly attributed, I am not sure that this is a particularly egregious form of "borrowing", especially given the narrow range of subjects posted, and the wide distribution of sources used.
Anyway, where else are you going to find scanned maps of Mongo and Bored of the Rings together?
posted by blahblahblah at 11:19 AM on July 25, 2008
Yes. It would be good if they listed sources (many are obvious, but some are not), it would make the site even more interesting and certainly useful. However, as for "borrowed," while you are correct in that they are not properly attributed, I am not sure that this is a particularly egregious form of "borrowing", especially given the narrow range of subjects posted, and the wide distribution of sources used.
Anyway, where else are you going to find scanned maps of Mongo and Bored of the Rings together?
posted by blahblahblah at 11:19 AM on July 25, 2008
The resolution on the pictures is way, way too small.. I mean, what's the point of a map if you can't read it?
Also, on a very quick zip-through... there are at least 8 or 9 different versions of Hyrule in Nintendo canon. Would have helped if they would label them on this site..
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 11:26 AM on July 25, 2008
Also, on a very quick zip-through... there are at least 8 or 9 different versions of Hyrule in Nintendo canon. Would have helped if they would label them on this site..
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 11:26 AM on July 25, 2008
Ah, I didn't see the URL. My mistake.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:37 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:37 AM on July 25, 2008
The Princess Bride map (both scannings) is bound in the paperback edition of the book.
posted by fantabulous timewaster at 11:50 AM on July 25, 2008
posted by fantabulous timewaster at 11:50 AM on July 25, 2008
I think this is pretty awesome.
CitrusFreak12: I was kind of hoping to find a map of Quahog when you mentioned Little Rhody. *sigh* Someone should make one.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:32 PM on July 25, 2008
CitrusFreak12: I was kind of hoping to find a map of Quahog when you mentioned Little Rhody. *sigh* Someone should make one.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:32 PM on July 25, 2008
Also, previously on Metafilter: Awesome Zork map and huge pixel art/screenshot maps of classic video games.
Also#2: NES maps.
posted by straight at 3:10 PM on July 25, 2008
Also#2: NES maps.
posted by straight at 3:10 PM on July 25, 2008
Faint of Butt: My guess is, that's a Discworld MUD-map.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 12:52 AM on July 26, 2008
posted by aeschenkarnos at 12:52 AM on July 26, 2008
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Actually, wait a minute. Where are these maps coming from? No attributions?
posted by DU at 10:21 AM on July 25, 2008