Forkwitch: Let's Talk About That Map
Jan. 3rd, 2019 05:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
torylltales posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
antishurtugal_rebornWhich map? This one, from the front of The Fork, The Witch, and The Worm.
I feel a mighty need to rant about that map. First, it looks like the product of 10 minutes in CorelDraw 6. Stylistically similar to the monochrome map of Alagaesia, but somehow colourising it just makes it look sloppy and rushed.
The big thing, though: Where is that river flowing from or to?!
The map labels it as the Edda River, which originated on the easternmost edge of the "distant" Alagaesia map. So... it's been running inland for long enough for Alagaesia to be regarded as "distant"? And instead of flowing towards the large bodies of water to the north, it flows UPHILL towards a mountain, skirts around the base of the mountain, continues flowing UPWARDS towards the hills and... cliffs?... and then down through a forest, heading AWAY from another body of water.
THAT'S NOT HOW WATER FLOWS
But you know the worst thing about it? Look closely, it's easy to miss
Actually, that's a trick question. The worst thing about the map is on the next page over.
HE DIDN'T EVEN COLOUR IT HIMSELF
SEVEN YEARS TO PLAN THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF ERAGON & CO AND HE COULDN'T EVEN COLOUR IN THE MAP HIMSELF
It would have taken him half an hour to an hour at most in Photoshop, or even with actual pencils. WHY did Immanuela need to be involved, when one of Paolini's artistic strengths lies in colouring and shading?!
Before you even read a single word of the story, this is a clear warning, like a garishly-coloured beetle, of the laziness and carelessness that lies in wait should you continue.
I feel a mighty need to rant about that map. First, it looks like the product of 10 minutes in CorelDraw 6. Stylistically similar to the monochrome map of Alagaesia, but somehow colourising it just makes it look sloppy and rushed.
The big thing, though: Where is that river flowing from or to?!
The map labels it as the Edda River, which originated on the easternmost edge of the "distant" Alagaesia map. So... it's been running inland for long enough for Alagaesia to be regarded as "distant"? And instead of flowing towards the large bodies of water to the north, it flows UPHILL towards a mountain, skirts around the base of the mountain, continues flowing UPWARDS towards the hills and... cliffs?... and then down through a forest, heading AWAY from another body of water.
THAT'S NOT HOW WATER FLOWS
But you know the worst thing about it? Look closely, it's easy to miss
Actually, that's a trick question. The worst thing about the map is on the next page over.
HE DIDN'T EVEN COLOUR IT HIMSELF
SEVEN YEARS TO PLAN THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF ERAGON & CO AND HE COULDN'T EVEN COLOUR IN THE MAP HIMSELF
It would have taken him half an hour to an hour at most in Photoshop, or even with actual pencils. WHY did Immanuela need to be involved, when one of Paolini's artistic strengths lies in colouring and shading?!
Before you even read a single word of the story, this is a clear warning, like a garishly-coloured beetle, of the laziness and carelessness that lies in wait should you continue.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-04 11:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-01-04 12:06 pm (UTC)*smug grin* No comment. Wait for Book 5!
no subject
Date: 2019-01-04 12:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-01-04 12:13 pm (UTC)No comment! *evil grin*
no subject
Date: 2019-01-04 12:36 pm (UTC)Inselbergs, batholiths, and various types of volcanic mountains, for example, can be huge formations or rock monoliths that loom over an otherwise flat terrain.
We cannot assume that the name "white mountain" which is what Arngor apparently means, refers only to snowcapped peaks (seeing as we know most of the Beors were snowcapped, and the person who presumably named this one "white mountain" in dwarvish (either Eragon or a dwarf) were at least familiar with the concept of a snow-capped mountain peak). It could be a chalky (e.g. Dover cliffs) or other dominantly pale grey rock type, distinct from other rock types in the area, or in the beor mountain chain/cluster thing
no subject
Date: 2019-01-04 10:02 pm (UTC)