Crystal chimes and wizard chants for A.M. Tuomala, whose highly acclaimed, wildly original fantasy The Map and the Territory opens its magic satchel today!
The Map and the Territory, first in the projected series Spell and Sextant, is a riveting, sui generis apocalyptic picaresque fantasy in a richly imagined, fully inhabited fictional world. The work is equal parts Station Eleven and Emberverse, a unique retelling of the consequences of hubris and the refusal of those with power to contemplate careless stewardship that results in a global catastrophe. Seamlessly fusing science and magic, the story cries out for the attention of someone with the talent and flair of Guillermo del Toro or Hayao Miyazaki. The synopsis:
When the sky breaks apart and an earthquake shatters the seaside city of Sharis, cartographer Rukha Masreen is far from home. Caught in the city’s ruins with only her tools and her wits, she meets a traveling companion who will change her course forever: the wizard Eshu, who stumbles out of a mirror with hungry ghosts on his heels.
He’s everything that raises her hackles: high-strung, grandiloquent, stubborn as iron. But he needs to get home, too, and she doesn’t want him to have to make the journey alone.
As they cross the continent together, though, Rukha and Eshu soon realize that the disaster that’s befallen their world is much larger than they could have imagined. The once-vibrant pathways of the Mirrorlands are deserted. Entire cities lie entombed in crystal. And to make matters worse, a wild god is hunting them down. The further they travel from familiar territory, the more their fragile new friendship cracks under the strain.
To survive the end of their world, Rukha and Eshu will need more than magic and science—they’ll need each other.
A.M. Tuomala lives in western New York, somewhere between Niagara Gorge and the Eternal Flame. In addition to hiking those sublime landscapes, Tuomala enjoys researching eighteenth-century science, collecting rocks, and building new worlds. The stunning cover is by H. Won.
The Map and the Territory received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, and enthusiastic endorsements from, among others, SFF legend Melissa Scott. Excerpts:
Gripping, vivid, and magical, this fantasy adventure from Tuomala (Drakon) has a power to enchant its readers… // This impressive fantasy packs the punch of a much longer epic. —Publishers Weekly
…Magic, stories, and cartography mix with romance, adventure, and philosophy. // A stellar start to a new fantasy series, this book is highly recommended for all fantasy collections. —Lynnanne Pierson, Booklist
I loved the intricate world-building and the unique magics, but most of all I loved the characters, facing the end of their world with compassion and the determination to—somehow!—find a way forward. —Melissa Scott, SFF forerunner and pioneer, winner of numerous awards
With worldbuilding reminiscent of LeGuin, Tuomala has constructed a rich and exciting story of survival and friendship. —Jo Graham, author of the acclaimed Numinous World historical fantasies and Calpurnian Wars space operas
Tuomala’s writing is excellent and lyrical; hir characters well-drawn; and hir plot compelling; but it is the deep dive into how what we ‘know’ to be true can shape (or reshape) reality that makes A. M. Tuomala’s The Map and the Territory a work not to be missed. —Kelly Jennings, Interzone Digital
A.M. Tuomala’s picaresque Map and Territory follows the footsteps of the best traditions of secondary world fantasy travel narratives like that of Jack Vance, C.J. Cherryh, and K V Johansen. —Paul Weimer, SFF book reviewer and Hugo finalist
The Map and the Territory is available on Amazon, B&N, Kobo – and of course on our website, where buying the lovingly prepared trade paperback also brings along the full digital bundle (PDF, Epub and Mobi) . All C&G ebooks are DRM-free. The continuing US Post Office upheaval has necessitated use of UPS for shipping, which in turn has unfortunately forced us to raise shipping fees.
Come explore The Map and the Territory with us; keep Rukha and Eshu company as they combine their knowledge to try repairing their shattered world!
