The Atlas of Middle-earth
by Karen Wynn Fonstad · first published 1981
50% recommend50% neutral
Find your way through every part of Tolkien's great creation from Middle-Earth to the undying lands of the west. Completely revised, Karen Wynn Fonstad's The Atlas of Middle-Earth is an indispensable volume that will enchant all Tolkien fans. Here is the essential guide to the geography of Middle-Earth from its founding in the Elder Days through the Third Age, re-creating the journeys of Bilbo, Frodo, and the Fellowship of the Ring. Authentic and updated -- nearly one third of the maps are new with a fully revised text -- it illuminates the enchanted world created in The Silmarillion, The Hobb
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Very nice. I have a book of maps for his world on a bookshelf here which I got when I was young (The Atlas of Middle-Earth - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlas_of_Middle-earth). I enjoyed reading that a lot, and it was nice to see that most parts of it are well thought through and internally consistent (there's one piece…
on “Show HN: A cartographer's attempt to realistically map Tolkien's world” ↗Atlas of Middle-earth is a truly monumental feat. I think the article writer misses how much of it is really about The Silmarillion, rather than about Lord of the Rings. Tolkien put a lot of work into First Age geography,…
on “The Wisconsin cartographer who mapped Tolkien's fantasy world” ↗> I have a book of maps for his world on a bookshelf here which I got when I was young (The Atlas of Middle-Earth) This atlas is fantastic. An absolute must-have. There is a new edition in French with redrawn maps that are great. I did not triple-check everything but as far as I can see they are just like the old…
on “Show HN: A cartographer's attempt to realistically map Tolkien's world” ↗I highly recommend the Atlas of Middle-Earth.
on “Christopher Tolkien has died” ↗…of the 3 picture illustration you're referring to) is not the road which is shown in the "close-up" (lower center picture) of Bree which goes "To Deadman Dike". The illustrations are taken from "The Atlas of Middle-Earth" and the road which goes diagnoally north-west from the prancing pony towards the greenway (Old North Road) is described as follows in "The Atlas of Middle-Earth" (pg. 124; At the Prancing Pony): > A…
on “How Many Hobbits? A Demographic Analysis of Middle Earth” ↗Hm, interesting. I guess I need to dig out my old copy of The Atlas of Middle-Earth from wherever it is hiding...
on “How Many Hobbits? A Demographic Analysis of Middle Earth” ↗I'm a huge fan of Tolkien, and I had never heard of her. How bizarre. I wonder if she is mostly well known in America or whether I simply managed to miss her work. I am very tempted to get "The Atlas of Middle-earth" now though.
on “Karen Wynn Fonstad, Who Mapped Tolkien's Middle-Earth” ↗Do I love maps because of the fantasy books I read as a kid? Did I love (and still love) the fantasy books because I love maps? I may never know. I've heard of the Atlas of Middle Earth but never knew this amazing story behind it. Thanks for posting it, bookofjoe! Also, really cool to know she did D&D maps too. Maps are just rad
on “The Wisconsin cartographer who mapped Tolkien's fantasy world” ↗