Elantris: [Spoilers] Better use of maps?

[Mel]

The map at the beginning of the book is pretty straightforward, giving the general locations of where most of the action occurs. I am left wondering though, if it would have been better to also include maps of the rest of the continent, to get a better sense of placement for Teod and Fjordell.

The map I really wanted to see was of Elantris itself, especially with the importance it attains later in the book. It just seems like it should have been included.

[terpkristin]

Maps I always find seem to be largely a personal preference thing. I didn't even realize there was a map at the beginning until reading this, nor did I feel like I needed a map. But I know others felt like you.

In what way would the map have been helpful for you?

[Mel]

I just like to associate what I'm reading with something a little more tangible, I find that it helps me to remember plot points better.


(view spoiler)[
In the case of the map of Elantris itself, I would have definitely enjoyed referring back to it the moment Raoden realizes Elantris itself is a huge Aon, the book has plenty of clues to it, but the map really would have blown my mind. (hide spoiler)]

[terpkristin]

You can use the spoiler tag. <.spoiler.>spoilery content here<./spoiler.>

Just remove the "."

[Mel]

Thanks.

[Boots]

The maps in his more recent books seem to be a lot more detailed. I'm wondering if it's because Elantris was one of his first books and he didn't have a good map maker yet. I would consider the maps for The Alloy of Law to be highly detailed and he even mentions in the acknowledgments that it's the same guys who did them for The Way of Kings. So maybe all of his future novels will have nice maps. (view spoiler)[Another possibility could be that including a map would be a spoiler for some people. (hide spoiler)]

[Mel]

I started on The Way of Kings, and the maps there seem much more extensive, though I won't be sure until I finish it.

(view spoiler)[ I don't know that I personally would have been that observant, though I wouldn't be surprised if some people saw the connection pretty fast. The fact that we don't see a drawing of the Aons leads me to think that even with a detailed map of Elantris, the similarities wouldn't be apparent until late in the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Mike]

Given that (almost) the entire story takes place in one place, it doesn't seem to matter to me. There was no point I wanted to see a map until the spoiler part, and at that point the map provided was perfect.

[Charles]

There's more on the geography of Elantris on Brandon Sanderson's site here. It's also an interesting peek behind the curtains at how these maps are created.

[Mike]

I don't think it's that obvious just by looking. (view spoiler)[(If it were that obvious, the plot would rely on the characters being exceptionally oblivious right? The characters have certainly seen many maps of their country and many Aons without making the connection.) (hide spoiler)]

[Mel]

(view spoiler)[
I don't really think a map would have been all that obvious, not even on a movie setting. As I understand it, even seeing a map of the city, the relevant parts would have been the north and east walls and the fountain in the middle of Elantris. Of course enough hints are dropped throughout the book (The walls and fountain being mostly useless is the biggest I remember ). Any resemblance would have been lost in the rest of the city itself.

(hide spoiler)]