Map of place name origins proves that we all secretly live in a fantasy novel

Stephan Hormes and Silke PeustClick to embiggen.

Unlace your bodice, put down your bastard sword, and stop trying to genetically engineer that goat into a unicorn — it turns out all you need to experience the thrill of living in a fantasy novel is to look at this map of place name etymological origins.

Stephan Hormes and Silke PeustClick to embiggen.

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Suddenly, instead of having a conference in New Orleans, you have it in New Golden One, Land of the Warriors. You’re not from Jersey — you inhabit the Isle of Spears. Your European vacation might take you on a quest through the Fire-Cleared Land to Lightstone. And of course, we all dream of a getaway to the Islands of the Monkey God* (*the one with the strong maxillaries). At least, we do now.

Stephan Hormes and Silke PeustClick to embiggen.

The Atlas of True Names is a project of cartographers Stephan Hormes and Silke Peust, and you can buy a physical map to hang on your wall and make every mundane business trip or holiday homecoming into an epic adventure.

Stephan Hormes and Silke PeustClick to embiggen.