Eric Lorenzen
I’ve finished writing Camelot of the Roads, book 3 of the Ways of Camelot series, and now it is in editing and cover design. Look forward to it’s release later this year! I hope to finish the final book, Road of Clouds, in time for a 2023 release. The series is very close to completion now.
In the Ways of Camelot fantasy series, numerous magical enchantments are mentioned. Magic in this series is something that is crafted, using elements distilled from magical plants and animals. (Those into the Dark Arts will also distill elements from magical beings that have been killed.)
Magic is a skill that can be taught to almost anyone, as long as they have an ear for hearing the rhythmic sounds of the various elements. However, it is not something that is learned easily. Most magicians go through decades of training before they even reach the journeyman level and most do not attain master magician (wizard) status before old age creeps up on them.
Below, is a list of master magician level enchantments, including brief quotes from the novel(s) they are mentioned in:
1. Dark Passage– creates an area of total darkness
Quote from ROAD OF LEAVES:
Francis went aside and did his mixing in a wooden bowl. The final brew was a dark, bubbling goo that he carefully set to one side. He then retrieved a rope from his saddlebags and tied it around his waist. When ready, he stated that only the pixies should join him. “This magic doesn’t mask sound and we’ll disappear to ourselves as well as becoming invisible to our enemy. Leave your deer here and prepare your bows in advance.”
Thom became suspicious. “Is this like the dark passage we came through earlier?”
Francis grimaced. “It is, though I could never sustain anything as vast as what the sorceress made.”
2. Eagle’s Spying– a way for a magician to see things far away.
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
Thom had never witnessed the creation of an Eagle’s Spying but he knew it was used to see things at a distance. His master had used it to find him a few times when he had been much younger and more prone to scamper off into the wilderness around their cottage.
Cath mixed the magic, attuning it to himself with a drop of blood from a pricked finger. A tiny, purple-glowing sphere rose up from the mixing bowl, like a floating eyeball. It shot away from the galley, heading toward the enemy’s boat. It had a very distinct click to its fast beat and Thom wondered how long it would take before the sorcerers noticed it and reacted. Cath sat down on a crate and just stared at nothing, his vision somehow linked with the enchantment he had just created.
3. Water Fire (unnamed in the novels)- a larger fireball that is capable of burning underwater
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
“Thomas, who is on the other boats?” asked Francis in an urgent whisper. “They start enchantments that are beyond anything I have ever seen or heard. What wizards have been hiding on the other boats?”
Thom finally realized what Francis meant. Apparently, Merlin and Levitanus were crafting some great enchantment because he could hear the elements being stirred and blended. He wasn’t certain of all the sounds, but he recognized five of the magical powders by their distinct rhythms and noted at least three others. Thom had never mixed more than three magical elements together. He couldn’t imagine what it took to craft something so complex.
“They make something with fire and water combined. Who are they?” asked Francis again.
Thom dared not reveal too much. “There are two wizards among us, but I’m forbidden to reveal their names.”
The abbot grunted and Thom realized that he had been listening.
Francis raised an eyebrow at Thom’s refusal. “Well, warn the captain that they are about to release something bright and loud. Most likely some kind of fire that can burn underwater.”
4. Hand of Lightning (unnamed in novels)- An enchantment that allows a magician to throw up to five lightning bolts, one from each extended finger.
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
Gweir quickly crafted an enchantment unlike any Thom had ever seen or heard. He completed his crafting by plunging his hand into the mixing bowl. When he lifted it up, lightning sparked off each fingertip.
5. Wall of Water– an enchantment that sends water shooting into the sky. More accomplished magicians can make the Wall of Water move across a lake or sea.
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
When the Royal Lion sprang around the headland, its hastily patched sail was full of Cath’s magical wind. Before it rose Ector’s Wall of Water, geysering up from the lake and providing the lion’s roar. The boat ran toward Mordred’s galley which sat still in the water, just outside the archway exit.
Overhead, the sky was beginning to darken in the east as sunset arrived. Ector’s water wall stayed ahead of them, its top edge feathering back from the speed at which it moved.
6. White Sun (unnamed in novels)- a bright light that can illuminate a wide area
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
A great white light bloomed in the sky high above the hedge wall, a light so bright that it caused shadows. And then another enchantment was released and everyone heard a booming voice.
“Dalrake! I am here and I challenge you now. Come and fight me, you betrayer of our brethren. You call yourself the Great Sorcerer; let us see how great you are. Cease your hiding and slinking from me.”
It was Merlin. He had finally arrived.
7. Rushing Waters (unnamed in novels)- an enchantment that will dam a river or stream and then suddenly release a flood of great force.
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
Finally, he heard something- a new rhythm of magic forming. An enchantment was being crafted, but Thomas didn’t recognize it. The fog shredded, wisps caught in a sudden wind. The stiff breeze made Thom swallow nervously, for he remembered the disturbing winds of the Road of Leaves. But he heard nothing wrong with the Road of Waters’ magic.
“Hurry!” ordered Merlin, finally looking back at the others. “Cross the bridge and get up that stairway.”
He didn’t wait to see if anyone complied, but strode quickly off the bridge and to the wooden stairs that he hadindicated. Levitanus gave Thomas a commanding wave and hurried to follow. Vivien lifted her long dress and scurried over the bridge.
Thom chased after them, rushing onto the bridge. As he crossed over the canal, he looked up its length. The wind now blew so hard that his eyes watered. He noticed that the water seemed lower but he could hear a rumble a few blocks away- heard it with both his ears and his inner ear. He slowed as he tried to understand what was happening.
“Keep running!” yelled Francis.
Thom realized that the three monastics were charging past him.
“Run or drown,” shouted Francis, again urging him onward.
Thom ran, although he still didn’t understand what was happening. The four of them made it over the bridge and onto the stairway just as that rumbling turned into a roar. Astonished, Thom looked down the stairway, over the monks’ heads, to see the bridge now gone and a wall of water charging down the canal.”
8. Shield of Power (unnamed in novels)- a magical dome or covering that protects those under it from physical objects and most types of attacks.
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
The great sorcerer crafted an opaque shield around himself and Mordred. Arthur, splayed at his son’s feet, was also inside.
Click a book cover to learn more about the Ways of Camelot fantasy series.
For 2015, we are updating the covers for my YA Arthurian fantasy series, the WAYS OF CAMELOT. Below you can see the former covers and the newest versions. Updated versions will go live on the e-books today. Print book updates will occur shortly. By the way, Book 3 of the series will be coming out in early 2015.
ROAD OF LEAVES (Book 1)
ROAD OF WATERS (Book 2)
In the Ways of Camelot fantasy series, numerous magical enchantments are mentioned. Magic in this series is something that is crafted, using elements distilled from magical plants and animals. (Those into the Dark Arts will also distill elements from magical beings that have been killed.)
Magic is a skill that can be taught to almost anyone, as long as they have an ear for hearing the rhythmic sounds of the various elements. However, it is not something that is learned easily. Most magicians go through decades of training before they even reach the journeyman level and most do not attain master magician (wizard) status before old age creeps up on them.
Below, is a list of journeyman level enchantments, including brief quotes from the novel(s) they are mentioned in:
1. Twist of Air– a whirlwind that the magician can guide. Much stronger than a Teasing of Air.
Quotes from ROAD OF LEAVES:
Francis didn’t look pleased at the idea, but he motioned for Thom to pull out his magician’s box. “Then I’ll need your powders, both magical and mundane, for I have none.”
So Thomas supplied the elements while Francis crafted the enchantment. The monk waited a bit to start, letting evening settle in. When it was about an hour before the nightly winds would stir, he judged it time and began mixing, adding his own spittle to attune the magic to himself. Thom watched and listened, for this was the best way to learn a new enchantment.
Francis’ last step was smearing some of the potion on his lips and hands so that he could direct the brewing breeze. A miniature whirlwind rose from the mixing bowl. The monk directed its shape with his hands and then blew it into motion, sending it up the Road and around the corner.
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
Desperate, Thom started mixing a response. The first thing that came to mind was a Twist of Air, an enchantment that he had never tried himself but had learned from Francis. He filled his bowl with the powders of Snow Hummingbird feathers, Saber Leaf Dandelion seeds, and Midnight Petrel wings. To that he added the mundane elements of water and his own spittle to attune the magic to his bidding.
Following the example of Francis, his last step was to smear some of the potion on his lips and hands so that he could guide the brewing breeze. A small whirlwind rose from the mixing bowl, one far smaller than the windstorm that had just struck them. He directed the swirling air with his hands and then blew it into motion, sending it to intercept the fireball that was already racing in his direction.
2. Cloud of Mist– a fog or dewy mist that can be used for concealment
Quote from ROAD OF LEAVES:
He handed over all that he had of four specific powders, curious about the monk’s choice. These were precious elements that he had taken from the sorceress’ stash at Wizard Cruthen’s urging, but he had never worked with any of them. He only knew of their potency and value from his master. Thom was almost tempted to linger and watch how Francis would use such elements for magic. However, he had his own magic to craft.
They were to leave Francis to do his enchantment from here while they moved farther down the canyon. The monk stood over the small pool of water, mixing elements in a bowl and then stirring them into the pool. Soon a mist appeared, slowly swirling over the water and then streaming off to follow the water over a small fall and on down the slope.
3. Fireball– a burning sphere that can be thrown great distances by a magician.
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
She (Vivien) stirred together powders of Phoenix tongue, crushed Azure Fireflies, and Crested Black Eagle feathers, along with Spotted Pine oil. She added the mundane elements of oak pollen, black powder, and lamp oil. When she added her spittle, she lifted the mixing bowl close to her face in an almost dainty move, so unlike Thom’s usual loud spitting.
He watched and listened as she mixed, for it was a new enchantment to him though it nagged at his memory somehow. She then coated her dampened hands with a powdering of white sand, almost like a baker coats his hands with flour to keep the dough from sticking to his fingers. It was not until she scooped her hands into the resulting goop and starting forming a glowing ball that he realized what it was. A fireball.
4. Glowing Man (unnamed in the novel)- an enchantment that coats a person and causes them to glow brightly. Used to highlight a speaker or to intimidate an enemy.
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
Six glowing men appeared in the opening. Thom couldn’t recognize them from so far away, but he was still certain at least one of them was Merlin.
Centaurs rushed through the shattered gate, swerving around the shining wizards and galloping after the enemy.
5. Tarn’s Call– Amplifies a voice or sound so that it can be heard from far away.
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
Levitanus now concentrated on the journeymen with him. “Vivien, does your magician’s box contain the elements needed to craft a Tarn’s Call?”
She nodded, swinging her knapsack off her shoulders.
“Wait to open the vials until I order it, for I want to limit the revealing of our position to the shortest time possible,” warned Levitanus. “Thomas, get your mixing bowl ready, along with the necessary mundane elements. You are to stir the powders quickly but thoroughly. Pause only long enough for me to add my spittle. The magic must be attuned to me, for I will have to be the one to sound the horn.”
Levitanus held the horn in his left hand as he leaned heavily on the staff in his right. He needed them to be his hands for the mixing.
Vivien quickly retrieved the appropriate elements, handing them to Thom. He mixed them as quickly as he could, adding the mundane elements as directed since this was a new enchantment to him. He was very aware of the noise the elements made.
He held it up for his master to spit into it, then finished the blending. When the mixing was done, Levitanus let his makeshift staff fall and dipped his hand into the watery paste. He smeared the enchantment on his lips and the horn’s end.
The wizard paused a moment to gather his breath and then sounded the centaur horn. Its voice was greatly enhanced, echoing in the inner ear as well. He blew a series of short and long blasts in some code known to the horse-men.
Thom guessed that the clarion call would have been heard by anyone on the island who knew how to listen with their inner ear. The sorcerers would know where to look now.
The sorcerer crafted a simple Teasing of Air and gave the other craft a push. The burning galley floated down the canal and seemed to linger for a breath, but then the Road of Waters caught it and whipped it away.
Click a book cover to learn more about the Ways of Camelot fantasy series.
In the Ways of Camelot fantasy series, numerous magical enchantments are mentioned. Magic in this series is something that is crafted, using elements distilled from magical plants and animals. (Those into the Dark Arts will also distill elements from magical beings that have been killed.)
Magic is a skill that can be taught to almost anyone, as long as they have an ear for hearing the rhythmic sounds of the various elements. However, it is not something that is learned easily. Most magicians go through decades of training before they even reach the journeyman level and most do not attain master magician (wizard) status before old age creeps up on them.
Below, is a list of apprentice-level enchantments, including brief quotes from the novel(s) they are mentioned in:
1. Whisper of Warning– Sets a magical boundary that, when violated, will warn the magician. Advantage is that it is a weak enchantment often unnoticed by other magicians.
Quotes from ROAD OF LEAVES:
He took some dried and pulverized ear of a Bearded Night Hare to recreate the impressive hearing of those extraordinary rabbits. He also took some powdered tongue of Western Tufted Martlet, for that magical bird was well known to whistle in warning whenever an intruder entered its territory. The final element was crushed leaves of a Whispering Elm to give the magic a softer sound. Next, he took out some of the mundane elements he needed to add to the mix: lodestone shavings, powdered glass, and a tad amount of silver dust.
* * *
Thom mixed it all in the wooden bowl and then spat into it numerous times, tuning the magic to himself. A magician always added something of himself when crafting an enchantment, using spit or tears or sweat or even urine. He once read of using blood, but his master had told him blood was a dangerous thing to work with.
He then added water until the mixture reached a soupy consistency. His inner ear picked up the change in sounds as the different elements intermingled. He was crafting an enchantment known as the Whisper of Warning. He listened to his work as it came together, making sure all remained in careful rhythm. Although he had crafted this particular magic often enough, it being one of the few enchantments taught an apprentice, he still wanted to make sure he designed the magic correctly.
When satisfied with the concoction, he dabbed some on his ears and then took the bowl in hand and walked a small circle around his blanket, dribbling the mixture on the grass. He listened to make sure the magic’s rhythm didn’t alter or weaken as he set it in place. Once the circle was completed, it gave off a beat so faint that most magicians wouldn’t even hear it. Should anyone or anything pass through the circle, Thom would awaken.
2. Wizard Light– Provides a sphere of light that can be sent to hover over a distant object. More accomplished magicians can handle multiple lights at the same time, sending them in different directions.
Quotes from ROAD OF WATERS:
He opened his magician’s box and quickly pulled out the vials he needed: powdered Azure Fireflies, powdered Meadow Dragon wings, and dried and crushed Glow Berries.
* * *
Thom snatched vials of powdered Azure Fireflies, powdered Meadow Dragon wings, and dried and crushed Glow Berries. He quickly mixed the elements and added his spit. He formed small balls of the resulting paste, balls that started glowing as he worked them. They were Wizard Lights, which would provide a soft light but no heat. Touch them and your finger might tingle, but they certainly caused no harm.
3. Fire Starter– A spark or small flames, used to light campfires, lamps, or other combustible objects
Quote from ROAD OF LEAVES:
He hastily pulled out his magician’s box and pulled out three elements and then shut and shoved the box back into his knapsack. Not worrying about the waste, he dumped the contents into his palm, mixing it with his other hand. His hand tingled and warmed as the elements mixed into the Fire Starter enchantment. Before it could do more than blister his hand, he flung the powdered mix at the small fire burning around the fallen torch. The fire surged in size, green grass shriveling and then bursting into flames.
4. Teasing of Air– a small windstorm that a magician can guide somewhat, much like an enhanced exhaling of air.
Quote from ROAD OF LEAVES:
If done right, the Teasing of Air would be able to send the smoke at the riders, but Thom was uncertain he remembered the whole enchantment. Fumbling in the dark, he opened his magician’s box and selected the elements by their sound. Having no time to dig a mixing bowl from his pack, he cupped his left hand and poured the elements into it, stirring the powder with his right index finger and adding his spit to attune the magic… Thom touched some of the moist powders to his lips and then threw the rest at the smoke. He made a sweeping motion with his arm and blew toward the charging knights. Surprisingly a wind stirred, sweeping up the smoke and enveloping the knights in its billows.
Quote from ROAD OF WATERS:
The sorcerer crafted a simple Teasing of Air and gave the other craft a push. The burning galley floated down the canal and seemed to linger for a breath, but then the Road of Waters caught it and whipped it away.
Click a book cover to learn more about the Ways of Camelot fantasy series.
For those who have not yet started my WAYS OF CAMELOT series, now is a good time to start. This weekend (Oct 17-19, 2014) Book 1 will be free on Amazon as an e-book. ROAD OF LEAVES is an Arthurian fantasy for young adults and adults. This is a great chance to try out this series.
Check it out over at Amazon:
Magic, Mayhem, and Mystery
There are no simple roads to Camelot. Thomas is a 27-year-old magician’s apprentice who must travel to the Camelot guild house for his master. He takes the Road of Leaves, an enchanted tree-lined way that shifts every night as the winds move its leafy route. He joins a walking party that includes a monk, merchants, a troubadour, and an old woman.
Thom expects a pleasant hike along the Road that was crafted by the great wizard Merlin. Instead, he staggers into murder, magical warfare, and romance. While trying to make his way to Arthur’s capital, Thom fights natural forces, a sorceress, and a pair of ornery goats.
Not only must Thom struggle to use magic he barely understands, but he also has to face an enchantment that is far beyond his comprehension. An enchantment that fights back, for the Road of Leaves will defend itself.
ROAD OF LEAVES, an historic fantasy by Eric Lorenzen.
Want to learn more about it first? Click here to read an excerpt.
This Amazon sale is from October 17-19, 2014, so be sure to download your free copy this weekend.
As always, thanks for reading,
Eric
Hello Friends,
I just wanted to share that my latest novel, ROAD OF LEAVES, has gone on sale at Amazon for only 99 cents for the next five days. This price is for the e-book version.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GY8CPNM
If you don’t have a Kindle e-reader or Fire tablet, then you can get the free Kindle app and read the book on your smart phone or computer. Thanks for letting me share. See your phone’s app store or go to the links at Amazon for the free app.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sv_kinh_1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771
Today I thought I would share a short section from my latest fantasy novel, Road of Leaves. This snippet comes from the middle of the book, providing a humorous side story. Our main character, Thomas the magician’s apprentice, has just survived a harrowing journey through the first leg of the Road of Leaves. Thom and Francis, a monk from his traveling party, are trying to relax for the night on the Travelers’ Field, when another of their party shows up.
* * *
Thom looked to where the monk pointed and saw Geoffrey trudging onto the traveler’s field, appearing dejected. The youth looked around the meadow, spotted them, and headed their way.
“He’s coming to us,” said Thom with a slight frown. He had no desire to put up with that silly rooster.
“We’re the easiest to spot, being away from the crowd. You should have hid among all the others if you didn’t want to be noticed,” said Francis cheerfully. “Just be glad it’s not Iago coming over to sneer and insult.”
The noble’s son walked near but then stopped, apparently unsure if he would be welcomed.
“Lord Geoffrey, this is our camp,” said Francis. “If you come as companion and fellow camper, then welcome. You may come and join us. If you are looking for servants to order around, then find some other group because we are freemen.”
“I am simply looking for a place to sleep,” replied Geoffrey, raising both hands in protest. “Have I ever tried ordering either of you? I do not expect to be waited on. I just don’t want to be alone.”
The monk strode over and put a welcoming arm over the youth’s shoulder. “Then join us, my son. Set your saddlebags down and find some soft grass to cushion your blanket. You will have a more comfortable bed than most in that overcrowded inn, though maybe not as fine a dinner.”
Geoffrey dropped his bags and all three settled in to eat a cold meal, sharing what they had. Afterward, an awkward silence settled on them until Francis made a suggestion. “Why don’t the two of you go visit the pixie gathering? Tonight promises to be a boisterous one with such a large crowd of travelers. I will stay and watch our camp.”
Thom wasn’t certain he wanted to go carousing with a noble.
However, before he could demur, Geoffrey spoke up. “That is a wonderful idea. Always before, I have traveled by the Road of Waters to Camelot but this time I wanted to see a Pixie Eve. The other boys speak of it so highly. Let us go, Thomas.”
“Have fun,” said Francis. “I will enjoy some quiet for my prayers. But be wary of the Pix Ale, for its potent enough to make a bear drunk, let alone young fellows like the two of you.”
Geoffrey headed off, now excited, motioning for Thom to join him. The apprentice felt he had no choice but to go along.
“Oh, and one more thing, Thomas,” said Francis as the two left. “Pixies are drawn to music and to magic, so if you don’t want them pressing in on you, avoid crafting any enchantments.”
“No matter how hard anyone begs, they’ll get no magic out of me tonight,” said Thom. His ability to hear magical elements still had not returned, but he didn’t want to say so in front of the nobleman.
Francis gave him a frowning nod, apparently understanding what he meant.
* * *
The walk helped to clear Thom’s head, the dizziness fading. However, he was still deaf to magic. He tried his best to ignore that loss, concentrating on the darkened village they were passing through.
Sometime during their walk over to the Pixvale green, Geoffrey started treating Thom like a fellow squire. He shared his excitement of intermingling with pixies and experiencing their native customs. “I heard from David that a pixie girl’s kiss is as soft as a puppy’s fur but will set your lips to burning.”
“Don’t try stealing any kisses,” urged Thom, imagining the young noble angering the whole assembly. “We are in their land now and not your father’s.”
Geoffrey giggled nervously. “I would not be so bold a thief even at my father’s court. Do not worry, Thomas. I will not molest any pixie’s lips, though I will certainly not refuse any kiss offered.” Again he giggled with excitement.
Thom heard more outrageous stories about the powers and proclivities of pixies, all sworn true by various squires of the court and not one of them believable. As Geoffrey bantered, Thom listened without much comment. By the time they reached the commons, Thom was convinced that the Goat Woman was not disguised as the young noble, for he doubted anyone could keep up such an act.
On the community green, the pixies had already started their evening competitions. Thom heard music, singing, and laughter. Tall torches stood everywhere, giving the area an abundance of light. He saw pixie men sitting in a circle for some sort of drinking game. Apparently humans were welcome, for three men sat among them, towering over the smaller folk. A pair of pixies marched around the outside of the circle carrying a large pitcher and, whenever the singing stopped, they grabbed the nearest sitter and pulled his head back, pouring a dark, foamy beverage into his mouth.
“Look! A Draught Circle. Jacob claims to have won at that last year, winning a keg and a pixie’s kiss.”
Thom sensed that the squires of the royal court spent as much time dreaming about cuddling a girl as they did dreaming about becoming a knight. He had no such luxury. He was still just an apprentice and of no interest to any woman looking for romance. Following a few more years of total poverty, he had another decade as a journeyman. The only women trying to kiss him wanted something, be it money or a potion to curse their enemy. When they learned he had neither to give, they quickly lost interest.
As they stepped onto the grasses, Thom noticed a line of canopies where the visiting nobles congregated. “Do you want to go over there, my lord?”
“Me? Not likely,” said Geoffrey, frowning. “I would be spending the whole night running errands and fetching drinks. I might be a squire at Camelot, but here I would be just another lad to order around. Besides, some of them are the louts I was traveling with when my horse faltered. They denied me aid when I needed it, so I have no desire to be in their company. I am a gentleman, but they might provoke me to call them out for their boorishness.”
Thom doubted that a mere squire could demand a fight from his betters, but he was no expert on noble customs. Frankly, he gave Geoffrey’s words little hearing, for he was distracted by one of those walking among the canopies. She moved gracefully through the crowd, carrying a full flask of wine but spilling not a drop. She took it to a middle-aged woman reclining on a campaign chair under the middlemost tent. The maid poured into a waiting cup, expertly anticipating her mistress’ tendency to jerk the target as she watched the festivities. When done, the maid stepped back out of the way to await her next order.
Thom remembered her face, her smile, her vibrant personality.
Adele.
(Buy your own copy of Road of Leaves and enjoy the whole tale)
Thanks for reading.
In fantasy, the author takes the audience into a strange and often dangerous land. We want to see that land, to smell it, to feel its wind and temperature shifts. There are so many strange and unbelievable things in this wild country, that we often need a sense of “place” so that we can better follow the story. Maps help tether us to this new land. Maps help us to understand a very foreign place- a land where magic lurks.
Personally, I love having a map whenever I enter a new fantasy land because it helps me visualize where the characters are and the places they are traveling through. Here are a few of my personal preferences in fantasy maps (and a few pet peeves):
1. Clarity- I detest blurry or tiny maps crammed onto a page. Even if I could locate that magnifying glass that’s around the house somewhere, I still won’t be able to find anything on that smug the publisher threw into the front of the book. I know its usually better in the hardcover edition, but really? Does it have to be that bad for the paperback?
2. Applicability- Does the map have anything to do with the story? Are the important locations even shown? No, I don’t mean the major cities or highest mountains. If half the book is spent in a particular town, then you need to put it on the map. Please.
3. Beauty- I love it when a map is a piece of art as well as informative.
4. Sense of Wonder- Can you taste the magic in the map? Does the map add to the fantasy? I have always felt that the Middle Earth maps do that; I can sense how wild and dangerous the lands are, just by studying the maps. The mountains soar high, while the forests brood.
5. Mysterious– Are there other places hinted at on the map? Lands beyond its boundaries or areas that are murky on purpose? I like a map that implies an even-greater world beyond its borders.
6. Believable– I want a map that either follows the laws of nature or has a good reason for breaking them. Do you have a desert next to a rainforest? Well then, I expect the author to have a good story to explain why the rain never makes it to the sand. Do you have radical changes in topography? Then the story should reflect how that influences the weather and temperature and commerce. Do the distances between places match up to what the story implies? There are a few authors out there who should enroll in a basic course on Physical Geography (or at least the artist who drew the map needs that class).
7. Details– I want some intriguing details in a map. I love Ursula LeGuin’s Earthsea map, with all of its tiny islands and their quirky names. The novels and the map work together, creating a richer experience for the reader. I wanted to go sailing around those islands myself, after reading the books and seeing the map.
What about my worlds? I have two fantasy series, one with maps and one without. The Cirian War Saga novels actually have two maps each. One it the map of Na Ciria and the other is a more local area (the Border Realm for the series’ first book: FALLEN KING).
My map-making skills are modest, but I hope that the Na Ciria maps help readers to better visualize this wild and beautiful country, with its rushing rivers and majestic mountains.
For my other series, the Ways of Camelot novels, I chose not to include any maps since the Arthurian legends are so full of contradictory locations and place names. I had no desire to wade into the middle of any of that. Instead, my stories center around a nondescript magician named Thomas and his journeys through the magical routes that lead into and out of Camelot. The first book in that series, ROAD OF LEAVES, stays mainly on that enchanted way and the Road cannot be mapped since it shifts every night.
Eric Lorenzen