Maps And eReaders

“I wisely started with a map.” – J.R.R. Tolkien.

Clearly ebook publishers ascribe to a different way of thinking. Does Amazon.com hate fantasy readers? Does Barnes & Noble? Kobo? Apple? I’m reasonably certain the answer is, again, no. But sometimes I do wonder. I would imagine fans of historical fiction and non-fiction history occasionally feel the same as well. Why? BECAUSE EREADERS AND MAPS DON’T MIX!

Pardon the shouting. I’m annoyed, so I shout. Just imagine what happens when I get angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry…

I digress.

With absolutely no numbers to back up this statement, I would imagine that sci-fi/fantasy readers are one of the larger demographics utilizing ereaders to consume their literature of choice. Generally a forward-thinking group, we fans of speculative fiction love technology, the Internet, and hoarding. Personal digital libraries scratch all three itches. To be fair, we also love oversized, leather-bound, slipcased editions you could use to inflict blunt force trauma, but changing one’s mind is a lady’s prerogative, no?

Focusing specifically on the fantasy genre, maps are often integral parts of the story being told. Certainly there are authors—Joe Abercrombie comes to mind—that eschew conventional wisdom and don’t believe that fantasy novels must be accompanied with maps. But the vast majority of authors provide a lay of the land, both literally and figuratively. And while flipping to a map while holding a paperback or hardcover in your grubby little mitts is easy, digitally flipping (forgive the pun) is anything but. But shouldn’t it be?

My Kindle does pretty much everything but tuck me in at night. It reads to me. It suggests new books. It tells me what words mean, and can make those words magically change size and shape. But it simply doesn’t offer an easy, one-keystroke way to “jump to page xii.” My original Nook was the same way. And the Kindle and Nook apps on the iPad are no different. (Author’s Note: I’ve never downloaded a book for use with iBooks. I understand that there “enhanced” books that may seamlessly integrate maps and other ephemera. But please understand that I don’t consider the iPad an eReader. At all.)

If you’re anything like me, you’ve forgotten how far Pax Tharkas is from Solace, whether the Mander actually runs through Whiteharbor, or where Mirkwood is relative to Mordor. Luckily, the authors of those works—or their confederates—graciously provided maps of Krynn, Westeros and Middle Earth for we readers to reference as we’re reading–detailed, professional maps that provide context, scale and scope relative to the story being told. These maps are included in digital editions of the book, yet their inclusion often feels like an afterthought (despite the fact that they are part of the book). They are usually improperly scaled, oft-times difficult to read and generally sub-par when compared to the printed page.

One would think, with the technology available, that eReaders and maps would be the best of friends. Bread and salt. Meat and mead. Even the most basic Kindle or Nook can zoom text and there is an innate ability to move around in a page. Why can’t that technology be applied to maps? Zooming and panning are pretty basic functions. And as far as accessing maps, should I have to do anything more than 1) hit a dedicated key that jumps me back to a specific page, or 2) have a “Go To Map” menu option? I really don’t think I’m asking for much.

While it seems like minutiae, I’ve had more than one friend—and avid fantasy and/or history reader—tell me that they simply cannot make the switch to digital because they can’t stand the inability to quickly reference a map. And then in the next sentence they complain about how aggravating it is to tote a 7-book series on vacation. In this age of as-you-like-it consumption, I think it is incumbent upon the publishers of ebooks to maximize the technology available.

Authors need to carry this torch for their readership. Every author has a certain degree of control over how their books are presented—trade dress, format, paper, art, etc. And every author receives pre-publications galleys for proofreading and final markup purposes. Shouldn’t the same quality controls be extended to ebooks? For better or for worse (depending on how you feel about them), ebooks are here to stay. If I were a published author, I would want to ensure that all my readers were offered the same basic experience, regardless of what format of book they prefer. And if a map were included with the prose, I’d argue that the map is part of the story and should be accorded the same degree of care. The same could be said for spot illustrations and illuminations. Whole, parts, macro, micro, forest, trees—you get the point.

A map alone a story does not make, otherwise I’d have a favorite cartographer. I am not one of those fantasy fans that absolutely must have a map to enjoy a story. But I strongly believe that a map included in a printed work is the product of the same creativity, inspiration and hard work that fueled the prose on which it elaborates. To treat any type of supplemental material as “less than” simply because of a difference in format debases the work as a whole. And while this little rant probably wouldn’t even rate a boilerplate acknowledgement from a publishing house or ebook retailer, perhaps it will generate a little conversation on the topic. A little…digital stimulation, as it was.

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