The Mapmaker

by Neil Gaiman

short essay/short story that appeared *in* the introduction to Fragile Things (like "Sheherazade's Typewriter" in Joe Hill's Twentieth Century Ghosts)

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook, Fantasy

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Richard Dominguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mapmaker by Neil Gaiman is a short story that made it's way into his anthology "Selections From Fragile Things".
The story revolves around an Emperor and the importance he believes maps have. Willing to risk everything to build his maps, rather than to live wondering "what if" I think is the moral of the story. Well written, the author plays out the importance of achieving our goals. And when not done with reasonable foresight and consideration of others the possible consequences of those goals.
Very nice piece of work with a kind of reverence that surprises me, not being acquainted with the works of Mr Gaiman.

[Squid · Rating 2 out of 5]

This whole book flew right over my head 😭

[Storm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Embedded in the introduction to Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders, the Emperor is so enamored by his maps he is willing to sacrifice not just his empire but his descendant's future, to have the ultimate Map on an island. A solid story with a profound message.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a Chinese Emperor who had a map of China made on an island on a lake in the Imperial Palace Grounds. And yet he was not satisfied and wanted a bigger map made in 1/100 scale of his empire....

[Jakub Brudny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nie mam nic ciekawego do dodania, to dobrze napisana, krótka opowieść o cesarzu który kochał mapy więc zlecił stworzenie takiej 1:1 wykorzystując do tego wyspę i de facto odtwarzając na niej swoje państwo

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story originally intended to go in American Gods. Interesting and entertaining.

[Obsession Beats Desolation · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am in awe of this story.. ❤❤

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about an Emperor who believed in the importance of Maps and how most maps made his Empire better.

[Misa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about the importance of maps in a time when they saw it as not.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story told in the likeness of a Chinese folktale.

[Joseph Brink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept.

[JB · Rating 2 out of 5]

2023 read #47

2 stars! the reading slump is real 🤪

[nic p · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[elisabeth ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if the dreams in your heart, as beautiful and ambitious as they may be, hurt the things you love and are too grand to be attainable?

Some things are better left untouched.

[hyper saline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I checked off the wrong book.

[Destiny T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just okay