map

Wheel of Time Map

I fell into fantasy novels in my teens. Besides good stories, I was attracted to the elaborate maps found on the inside covers. They detailed the terrain, the cities, and they also showed the big picture. I loved to flip back to the maps as I progressed through the chapters and trace the characters’ paths. If I have a giant library one day, I’ll cover one of the walls with my favorite maps from fantasy novels—and I know just which ones I include.

The above image is the map of the land in Wheel of Time. It was never named so back in the days when I was a serious fan on forums, it was usually referred to as Randland. I have a special attachment to this series because it was the first fantasy series I read.

See four more wonderful maps after the break.

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Star Wars galaxy map

You’d think that with the plethora of awesome stuff that exists for Star Wars there would be an official book of maps – I’d hand over money in a heartbeat for it. Until we get such a book, I’ll gladly take fan made creations. This map by Reddit user DrPoole is gorgeous; it not only includes a vast swathe of the galaxy, it shows the routes traveled in the films. The map is also available without those markings.

Be sure to click the map to enlarge!

(Reddit via Bonniegrrl)

Maps are an easy path to the heart for several geeks I know, but I haven’t seen enough of them that pertain to the Star Wars universe. Artist Andrew DeGraff created a series of them, but instead of showing you the galaxy, they take you on the path of the films in the original trilogy.

For example, in the above map for A New Hope you go from Tatooine to Alderaan to Yavin. It’s very Family Circus and very cool. I wish I could buy a set for my walls.

Check out the maps for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi after the break.

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This Lego map of Hyrule from original Legend of Zelda was created by madoruk for BrickCon 2012. Each stud on the map represents one 16 x 16 section of pixels in the game with the full map measuring 256 x 88 studs. This would be absolutely perfect hanging on the wall in a game room, don’t you think?

Click on the image for a higher res version.

(via Geekologie)

Westeros and the surrounding lands are huge and richly developed. George R. R. Martin excels at world-building and nothing will make you appreciate that more than looking at the sheer amount of land A Song of Ice and Fire covers. There are the maps in the book of course, but thankfully The Lands of Ice and Fire official map collection is almost here.

The book will be out on October 30th, and it’s full of detailed maps including versions that show various character movements throughout the world – that’s something I’ve always wanted to see. Here’s a hint of what the collection offers:

The centerpiece of this gorgeous collection is guaranteed to be a must-have for any fan: the complete map of the known world, joining the lands of the Seven Kingdoms and the lands across the Narrow Sea for the first time in series history. But this is just one of many unique maps that aren’t available anywhere else. There is an alternate version that tracks the movements of the series’ protagonists throughout their vast world, along with more detailed versions of the western, middle, and eastern thirds of the world; a full map of Westeros, combining North and South; one of the Dothraki Sea and the Red Wastes; and the Braavos city map. And here, too, are fan favorites detailing everything from urban sprawl to untamed wilds: maps of King’s Landing; The Wall and Beyond the Wall; the Free Cities; and Slaver’s Bay, Valyria, and Sothyros.

Check out a sampling of locations after the break.

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When you’re tired of playing World of Warcraft why not change it up and play in Azeroth inside Minecraft? It doesn’t sound like I’m making sense, but it’s a thing.

Reddit user ramsesa created a full scale reproduction of the WoW environment for fun. He used custom software, and the entire map clocks in at a whopping 24GB. It’s a huge install, but apparently you can customize and change it to your liking. It’s impressive.

See more sections of the giant map after the break.

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Every office or den is improved by hanging maps on the wall. It’s a fact. A map of Westeros and the lands across the narrow sea is the best choice! This 24″ x 36″ map lays out the vast locations of A Song of Ice and Fire in beautiful detail. It’s perfect to have a huge copy of the map on hand while you read the books or watch Game of Thrones so you can follow the battles and the mostly-good-but-not-always segues on the television show.

Product Page ($7.99)

I wouldn’t call the lands where A Song of Ice and Fire take place peaceful or charming, but these maps make them look inviting. Kitkat Pecson’s take on Westeros and Essos reminds me of the Disney ride “it’s a small world.” The bright colors and whimsical illustrations certainly don’t make these lands look like places where horrible things happen on a regular basis. There are a few errors in the geography, but I’ll look over them because overall, this map makes me want to visit the Seven Kingdoms.

See each half of the map closer after the break. Prints are also available.

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Gotham isn’t so much a setting as it is another character in Batman’s world. For those who have wondered exactly where the twists and turns of Gotham’s streets lead, Brandon T. Snider has included a map in his new book, The Dark Knight Manual. Since this is a tie-in to the movie, his version is the one that you’ll be seeing on the big screen now that it’s finally in theaters. I imagine this hanging on some intrepid Gotham citizen’s wall with little pushpins marking out reported Batman sightings.

See the full-size map after the jump (Click on the image to see it full-size)…

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If you’ve ever wanted to live inside the game Legend of Zelda, you’re going to need this wall mural. This huge poster is 8′ by 3′! I know! It’s printed on a durable fabric and will look awesome in your living room, office, or just about anywhere. The actual map is affordable, too. You’ll definitely have to get creative with the hardware needed to keep it on the wall, but I’m sure it’s worth the time and money. I’d love to have this sort of mural for Middle Earth.

See another image after the break.

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