This is The Ten Thousand map I illustrated for the Macht trilogy by Paul Kearney, which begins with The Ten Thousand (Los Diez Mil). The map was created for the Spanish edition published by Alamut, which released the trilogy through a subscription campaign. You can read more about that edition on the blog Artifex Plus.
The Ten Thousand map
What The Ten Thousand map shows
The map covers the world of the Macht and the vast empire they march into. In the north-west, the mountains of the Harukush, homeland of the Macht, face the sea. To the east and south stretches the great empire of the Kufr, with lands and cities such as Asuria, Medis, Artaska, Bost, Kandasar and Arakosia, crossed by rivers, deserts and mountain ranges.
Stylistically, it is a black and white map framed with a Greek key border, a nod to the classical inspiration of the story. It includes a compass rose and a scale in both miles and parasangs, the ancient Persian unit of distance, to place the reader in a world that feels close to antiquity.
A closer look at the details
Around the Harukush, three seas frame the western edge of the map, and the coastline opens towards the lands of Umir and the far north. At the heart of the empire lies the region labelled as the Middle Empire, surrounded by deserts, hills and the great rivers that the Ten Thousand have to follow and cross. Further east, regions such as Padran, Honan and Yue suggest how immense the empire is, while a gulf in the south-east closes the composition.
Mountains are drawn one by one with hatching, so that relief reads clearly even in black and white, and the many place names are organised in different sizes to create a hierarchy between kingdoms, regions and cities. The aim was that The Ten Thousand map could be read at a glance on a book page while still rewarding readers who look closely.
About the Macht trilogy
The Macht trilogy is made up of The Ten Thousand, Corvus and Kings of Morning. The first book is inspired by Xenophon’s Anabasis: ten thousand Macht mercenaries are hired to fight in a civil war deep inside a foreign empire and, when everything goes wrong, they must fight their way home across hostile lands. It is gritty, military fantasy with a strong classical flavour.
Why this story needs a map
The Ten Thousand is, above all, a march: a long journey across rivers, mountains and deserts, far from home. Without a clear map, it is hard to grasp how far the Macht have travelled and how much is still ahead of them. The Ten Thousand map helps readers follow that route and feel the scale of the empire they cross. If you want to know more about what makes a good book map, read my guide What is an illustrated map.
I also illustrated the map for another of Paul Kearney’s series, The Monarchies of God.
Do you need an editorial illustration for your novel?
Every day I work on maps and other illustrations for fantasy, science fiction and horror novels and books. If you have a project in mind and need a cover illustration or a map for your book, feel free to get in touch. I also create children’s and young adult illustrations for all kinds of projects.
A map is not just a visual extra; it is a tool that enriches the reading experience and lets readers fully immerse themselves in the world you have created. See more examples on my map illustration page, or contact me to talk about how I can help bring your story to life.
