Maps of the Imagination: The Writer as Cartographer

"Maps of the Imagination" is a great book for understanding both cartography and plotting novels, as this work masterfully combines both topics to artfully explain how to map out your fiction. I wasn't 100% thrilled with all the literary examples the author chose, but he did a great job dissecting and analysing every sample he used.I definitely had my highlighters out while reading this one and learned a wealth of great information. A word of advice – this book may be intimidating for beginning writers who are also young, as it's written at minimum at a college level, the author assuming you know a great many things about the world, great works of fiction, and history before diving into the pages of "Maps of the imagination." I enjoyed the many references, but I would advise having an encyclopaedia (or your phone 😉) on hand while studying this book.

This book defies genre. It is an examination of the correlation between writers and map-makers. If you love maps, and want to incorporate some of that passion into your writing, this is the book for you. I find myself coming back to it frequently, like a reference book on how to write the sort of story I'd like to read.Especially interesting is the portion of the book devoted to the empty spaces on maps.I can't resist Turchi's wonderful phrases, such as: "...a blank on a map becomes a symbol of rigorous standards; the presence of absences lent authority to all on the map that was unblank."Brilliant.It will take you on a journey. And the book is lovely to look at and hold.

Very interesting book. The author is much more thoughtful than most. I read it when prompted by another book's author, and am very glad I did. My background is engineering, and this gave me a whole new appreciation for the writing process, as well as the possibilities and problems faced by authors. If I had to describe it in one word, that word would be "insightful".

I received my book today, and it was in better shape than described. I am extremely pleased with the book and service. Thanks.

Love having this out on the coffee table picking it up whenever just to get the creative thought process going. After which it seldom stops. Always had a fascination with maps and loved to romanticize travel to exotic or unknown places whether in real life or only imagined.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes to get lost in the thick forest of words, beautifully arranged by the author, to take you through uncharted territories. You'll be introduced to a magic world where maps, stories, life and time are blended into a mind galaxy. Peter Turchi is a gifted writer, full of wit, imagination and knowledge. More than a book, it's a journey into text and its endless possibilities. Don't miss it!

interesting perspective on creativity. gave me some good ideas and approaches to writing.

The writing is lovely and the content is odd and graceful and potent all at the same time. I love also the way this book was made: thick pages, beautiful map illustrations. I find myself going back and back and back to passages I've underlined. I don't read many books about or on writing. This one is pure gift.

Really interesting and insightful take on how we create fictive worlds - does what it says on the cover - analyses the writer as cartographer. Oh, and well written too.

great

It is an interesting read for the writer and potential writer. Without being too scholarly, it explorers the writer's craft and enlightens the reader.

This is a superb and thought provoking book. There is so much in it. It does exactly what the title says. I recommend this book if you are interested in writing, creativity and the way in which the mind works. I found it utterly compelling.

Delightful, sumptious discourse on the nature and meaning of creativity and the heuristic vale of maps.For anyone who reads a lot about creativity this book is a real pleasure, wonderfully crafted and illustrated