The Atlas of the Land

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The Atlas of the Land
Atlas of the Land.jpg
Author Karen Wynn Fonstad
IllustratorKaren Wynn Fonstad
LanguageEnglish
Series The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
Subject The Land
GenreFantasy, Atlas
Publisher Del Rey Books
Publication date
1985
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint
Pages204
ISBN 0-345-31433-6
OCLC 11915455
813/.54 19
LC Class PS3556.O47 A8 1985

The Atlas of the Land is a 1985 illustrated book by Karen Wynn Fonstad, which provides a cartographer's point of view to the fictional world known as "the Land" from Stephen R. Donaldson's fantasy novel series The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant . [1] [2]

Throughout this book, Fonstad provides detailed cartography along with annotated descriptions for each map. Some of the larger scaled maps also plot out the travels of various characters and their companions throughout the novels. On some of these maps, Fonstad also goes so far as to detail camp sites, length of travel, moon phases, and even Sunbane cycles.

A Notes section categorizes maps by location/topic, and an Index of Place Names is also included. The Selected References section details Donaldson's novels, personal interviews, and several non-fiction books (and the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Department of Geography's cartographic equipment) used to create the tonal line drawn maps (Black, Gray, White, and Rust).

The book also includes detailed drawings of huts, buildings, trees, caves, and ships.

Reception

School Library Journal , in its 1986 book review, says, "Fans--and these books are very popular with teens--will welcome this one." [3]

References

  1. Gerhardt, Lillian N. (1986). "The Atlas of the Land (Book Review): School Library Journal". School Library Journal. 32 (7): 181.
  2. Kevin, Brian (January 13, 2025). "Overlooked No More: Karen Wynn Fonstad, Who Mapped Tolkien's Middle-earth". The New York Times .
  3. Gerhardt, Lillian N. (1986). "The Atlas of the Land (Book Review): School Library Journal". School Library Journal. 32 (7): 181.