On Mon, 8 Mar 2004, Bryan Newell wrote: > There are really two maps here: > > 1. The map I felt the text supported at its most literal interpretation. > > 2. The map I "saw" in my head after studying the 500 or so text reference I > pulled out of the novels concerning geography. My preference would be to see a map that is consistent with the plot of the Texts rather than one that slavishly adheres to Paarfi's sense of distances as conveyed to us by some unknown set of agencies. On the other hand a coherent set of distances from a given Text (using a particular unit) is harder to wave away than I'd like. > 1. The Empire is too narrow east to west. I was arguing more from an American, countries-are-horizontal perspective than anything else. The only strong evidence I can muster off-hand is the shape of the Overcast - Vlad in _Issola_ says one can see the sun in the East and "a few places in the far West" . That would suggest to me that the West is in fact far from the center (Adrilahnka/Dzur Mountain, from Vlad's viewpoint?) and that the Empire is horizontal (and not I suppose subject to much wind). > Redface is described as being East of Dragaera City, and apparently almost > directly east, as Khaavren and crew debate whether they should go north > around Suntra or south around Suntra, which implies that Suntra is > immediately between DC and RF. I don't agree with this. Suntra might be more or less inhospitable in one direction or other, the road system might be better along the longer path, the scenery might be superior one way but the interesting battlefields the other... > However, Redface is 1500 miles from Dzur Mountain (POTD pg 300). Again, > draw the circle, if I put it east of DC, it has to be WAY east of DC. I think it has to be NE of DC. > It's entirely possible that the Eastern mountains are shaped like a huge > bow, with the tips far to the west from the Eastmost extermity, but I > couldn't find any text that supported this, and moreover the map in > Brokedown Palace shows the mountains bowing the OPPOSITE direction... The map in _BP_ is, perhaps, an Eastern map, and as such not likely to accurately describe the shape of the mountain range beyond human territory. I had assumed the Eastern Mountains present a rather straight NS wall; they are not a natural feature. > 2. How far is Pepperfield from Redface. > > Twice the distance is declared, and both times it is 50 leagues, which works > out to 150 miles, I believe (TPG pg 154/155 and 277). This has to be the path-length of the (presumably fractal) road, not the map distance. I think even 50 miles is too far.