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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.
Featuring authors and cartographers including 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.
Genre: Non-fiction (Reference, Writing & Publishing, Cartography)
Age Suggestion: Written for adults, suitable for any age
Tropes: N/A
Trigger / CW: An Author’s Guide to Setting Design is appropriate for most ages, it does contain references to events that may be off-putting to some readers. This includes some discussion of slavery, colonialism, and other historical events that helped shape our world today. In addition, the section “Civilization” contains brief discussions of some recent and ongoing global conflicts.
Spice Warning: N/A
Author: Adam Bassett
Format: Hardcover (FULL color)
Page Count: ~450
Publication Date: Winter 2026
ISBN: 979-8-9946306-0-0
Series: N/A
Adam Bassett is the author of the Digital Extremities and Copper & Ash series. He’s had other short fiction published in The Book of Spores, Rare, Nature Erupts, and select issues of Worldbuilding Magazine. He also illustrates maps for fantasy and science fiction books, and he’s the author of An Author’s Guide to Setting Design: Worldbuilding & Cartography.
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.
Featuring authors and cartographers including 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.
Genre: Non-fiction (Reference, Writing & Publishing, Cartography)
Age Suggestion: Written for adults, suitable for any age
Tropes: N/A
Trigger / CW: An Author’s Guide to Setting Design is appropriate for most ages, it does contain references to events that may be off-putting to some readers. This includes some discussion of slavery, colonialism, and other historical events that helped shape our world today. In addition, the section “Civilization” contains brief discussions of some recent and ongoing global conflicts.
Spice Warning: N/A
Author: Adam Bassett
Format: Hardcover (FULL color)
Page Count: ~450
Publication Date: Winter 2026
ISBN: 979-8-9946306-0-0
Series: N/A
Adam Bassett is the author of the Digital Extremities and Copper & Ash series. He’s had other short fiction published in The Book of Spores, Rare, Nature Erupts, and select issues of Worldbuilding Magazine. He also illustrates maps for fantasy and science fiction books, and he’s the author of An Author’s Guide to Setting Design: Worldbuilding & Cartography.
