Karen Azinger's Blog: The Silk & Steel Saga - Posts Tagged "geography"

"Maps are a military art form," thus says Kath of Castlegard in The Silk & Steel Saga. The tradition that epic fantasy should have maps started with JRR Tolkien. His map of Middle Earth is laden with secretive forests, intimidating volcanoes, dividing mountain ranges, and lush grasslands all embellished with beautiful script and scrolled dragons. Echoing old world maps where sea serpents frolic in unexplored seas, Tolkien's Middle Earth combines beauty and mystery laden with meaning. For The Silk & Steel Saga I wanted to do no less. As an amateur artist, art matters to me. When I first sketched the Dragon Spine Mountains, I made the mountain chain descend into the sea, forming islands in the shape of a dragon's head. This distinctive feature makes no difference to the story or my characters, but it makes my map of Erdhe both beautiful and unique. My readers recognize Erdhe in a single glance. But function is also built into the map. Hidden by mountain ranges, intimidating forests, and great distance, unique cultures flourish in the lands of Erdhe. These hidden peoples add spice and depth to the saga. Geography also matters a great deal in warfare. Famous generals like Caesar, Boudicca and Napoleon exploited geography to win brilliant victories. Authors need to be aware that boring geography yields boring battles. The Dragon Spine Mountains and the Snowmelt River both provide geography that matters in war. But in the far north, I did something that I believe is fairly unique. Kath first discovers it in The Skeleton King. " The trail curved out onto a rocky promontory, offering the first unfettered view of the north. Kath pulled the stallion to a halt. A sea of grass stretched to the horizon, golden grains rippling in the wind. Untamed by trails or roads, the vast steppes of the north almost seemed benign. Duncan joined her on the overlook, the wind tugging at his dark hair. “Don’t let the grasslands fool you. It looks peaceful enough, but it’s really a trap.” Kath studied the north, judging the vast grassland with military eyes. “No trees, no high ground, no chance for stealth or strategy.” She nodded, seeing the trap beneath the stark beauty. “It’s like a great greensward, a moat of grass. Naked and exposed, numbers and speed are the only advantages. And the Mordant always has the numbers.” Kath is struck by the chilling realization that the Mordant deliberately placed his citadel in the steppes, creating a vast killing field where strategy is negated by geography and might matters more than wits. In the far north, the map heralds the evil brilliance of the Mordant. Maps are an important part of world building. Make yours beautiful and laden with meaning. You can find the maps of Erdhe at my author website. http://www.karenlazinger.com/