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An Author's Guide to Setting Design: Worldbuilding & Cartography
Hardcover
Publisher: Adam Bassett
Published: Nov 24 2026
Pages: 438
Weight: 2.11
Height: 1.31 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
A map at the beginning of a book is a sure sign of adventure, discovery, and a story to get lost in. This reference book helps you bring fictional settings to life, whether you're trying to improve your story's worldbuilding or illustrating a map for it.
To do this, we must ask how the story affects the map. What cultures, magic, advanced technology, or alien life might play a role in shaping the world? The story and map should be intricately connected.
This reference book includes over 100 illustrated examples of maps both real and fictional. It is a love letter to science fiction & fantasy, and a guidebook for authors who seek to immerse readers in their own worlds.
This book was made possible in part thanks to my fellow authors and cartographers who lent me their time and thoughts: Aaron Koelker, Adrian M. Gibson, Aiden Chan, A.J. Calvin, Amber Toro, Ben Galley, B.H. Pierce, Blake Penn, Cartographybird, Daniël Hasenbos, Darby Harn, Dave Lawson, Dewi Hargreaves, Eliza Leone, Emory Glass, Isaac Stewart, Jack Shepherd, Janice E. Sheen, J.L. Odom, Kate Korsak, Kiersten Michele, K.M. Alexander, Konstance, Lamia N. Bayen, Michael R. Fletcher, MistyBeee, Natalie Wright, N.J. Alexander, Philip Chase, P.L. Stuart, Raven Penn, Rob J. Hayes, Robyn Dabney, Salinee Goldenberg, S.J. Lee, Steven Raaymakers, Ryan Cahill, Taylor Frymier, Timothy Hickson, Tori Tecken, and Z.S. Diamanti. Also, Jack Shepherd and Marta Riva for their interior illustrations; and thanks to Simons & Glade Book Design, who did the print books' interior design.
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