The Map Maker

Can We Really See the World in a Fair and Unbiased Way?


The Map Maker is the story of a young adventurer who travels to Paradise Island with the aid of a magical map. Here, he begins his own “knowledge quest” to better understand why people see the world just the way they do. Using simple prose, this work introduces and explores the meaning behind the phrase “the subjectivity of truth and the relativity of reality.”


Target audience: A product of inspirational and literary fiction, The Map Maker will hold special appeal for readers interested in philosophy in fiction. In particular, this story is ideally suited to high school or college students studying English literature or philosophy and lends itself to classroom or group discussion. It is a think piece that explores the topic of human perspective and shows the folly in believing that we can see the world in an objective manner.


Author’s note: The Map Maker and Paradise Island are both works of fictional satire. The Map Maker is a short story that presents a satire on human perspective — how we see the world. Paradise Island is a short novel that presents a satire on human nature — why we are the way we are and why we behave the way we do. Together these two works explore four major themes: subjectivity, truth, human nature, and happiness.


Author’s bio: Brandon Royal is an award-winning writer whose educational authorship includes The Little Blue Reasoning Book, The Little Red Writing Book, The Little Gold Grammar Book, and The Little Green Math Book. He continues to write and publish in the belief that there will always be a place for books that inspire, enlighten, and enrich.


“The Map Maker is a short story as playful as it is poignant. The marriage of whimsical images and thought-provoking text creates a unique tapestry: one that weaves storytelling and philosophy with literary verve. Royal challenges us to think about the key role that perspective plays in our lives. He also shows how literature, acting as both an art form and a pragmatic tool, can help us gain critical insights.” —Rachel Metalin, B.A. M.A., English Instructor, Upper Canada College (UCC), Toronto, Canada