Creating a Sci-Fi and Fantasy Map Archive for Fiction Readers

📍 My Kindle is great - except for one thing.

Whenever I read a book with a map on the inside cover, flipping back to it mid-chapter, can be a real pain. And when I finally find it, it’s too small and impossible to read. I wish I could just have all the maps to all the books I read in one easy to access location.

In this edition of the Easy Startup Ideas newsletter, we’ll explore how to launch a sci-fi and fantasy map archive—a low-cost, high-value platform with recurring revenue potential and strong expansion opportunities.

Today’s Idea

A website and mobile app that hosts high-quality, interactive maps from popular sci-fi and fantasy books, making them easy to zoom, browse, and reference while reading.

Many fantasy and sci-fi books feature detailed maps, but they are often small, low-quality, or difficult to access on e-readers. This platform solves that problem by offering an organized, high-resolution archive where users can zoom, annotate, and bookmark maps for their favorite books.

Ideal Customer

• Sci-fi & fantasy readers who want easy access to book maps.

• Kindle & e-reader users struggling with low-quality or hard-to-find maps.

• RPG players & world-builders interested in fictional worlds.

• Students & literary analysts who study fictional world-building.

Why It Will Succeed

1. Solves a Common Reader Frustration

   • Many fantasy and sci-fi books have amazing maps, but they’re difficult to access on e-readers, PDFs, or small physical book pages.

   • Readers love world-building—this gives them an easy way to explore maps without flipping pages.

2. No One Has Built a Dedicated, Well-Organized Archive

   • Some maps exist on wikis or fan sites, but there’s no single, high-quality, mobile-friendly repository.

   • This platform curates and organizes maps in a clean, directory-style format, making them easy to browse and use while reading.

3. Features That Enhance the Reading Experience

   • Interactive zooming & panning

   • Custom annotations & bookmarks

   • Search by book title, author, or world name

   • Dark mode & reading-friendly design

Getting Started and Building an MVP

Step 1: Gather and Organize Maps

1. Finding Public Domain & Licensed Maps

   • Public domain sources: Some classic works older than 95 years have maps that can be freely used

   • Creative Commons maps: Some artists create free-to-use fantasy maps under CC licenses

   • Contacting authors and publishers:

     • Reach out to indie authors to feature their maps in exchange for exposure

     • Negotiate small licensing fees for access to newer, high-quality maps

2. Allowing User Uploads (Optional for later expansion)

   • Users can contribute maps from their favorite books

   • Maps will be verified before being added to avoid copyright issues

3. Standardizing Map Formatting

   • Convert all maps to high-resolution PNG or SVG for smooth zooming

   • Store multiple versions if a book has different editions of a map

   • Optimize file sizes for fast loading on web and mobile

4. Linking to Author-Hosted Maps

   • If an author or publisher hosts a high-quality version of their book map on their own website, provide a direct link instead of hosting the image directly

   • Create a directory of official map sources to help users find the most accurate and legal versions of maps

   • This avoids copyright infringement while still making the platform a comprehensive resource for readers

Step 2: Choose the Tech Stack and Build the Core Features

1. Web App Development
   Use Glide for a quick no-code prototype, or develop a scalable custom web app using React.

   Other core technologies:

   • Leaflet.js – A lightweight mapping library for smooth zooming and panning

   • Google Firebase – For user authentication, database storage, and cloud hosting

2. Basic Web App Features for MVP

   • Search bar to find maps by book title, author, or world

   • Thumbnail previews of each map before clicking to open full view

   • High-quality zoom and pan functionality using Leaflet.js

   • Dark mode and mobile-optimized UI for e-reader users

   • Basic user accounts for saving favorite maps (optional for later versions)

3. Mobile App Development (Future Phase, Post-Web Launch)
   Once the web app gains traction, convert it into a mobile app using React Native or Flutter.

Step 3: Populate and Launch a Beta Version

1. Upload an Initial Map Collection

   • Add 20-50 high-quality maps from public domain books, indie authors, and CC-licensed sources

   • Ensure popular titles are included (e.g., Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Dune’s Arrakis)

2. Private Beta Launch (Test with Fantasy/Sci-Fi Fans)

   • Invite 100-500 early testers from Reddit communities such as r/Fantasy, r/Worldbuilding, and r/SciFiBooks

   • Get feedback on loading speed, usability, and missing features

3. Implement a Feedback Loop

   • Add a "Request a Map" feature where users submit missing books they want added

   • Track user engagement:

     • Most searched books (helps prioritize which maps to acquire next)

     • Features users request most (e.g., annotations, bookmarks, RPG layers)

Monetization Strategies

• Affiliate Partnerships

  • Earn commissions by linking to booksellers like Amazon, Kobo, and Bookshop.org

• Premium Subscription

  • Offer a monthly subscription for premium features such as offline access, custom annotations, and cloud storage for saved maps

• One-Time Purchases for Exclusive Maps

  • Sell high-resolution, printable, or custom-labeled versions of popular maps if you have rights to do so

• Advertising & Sponsored Content

  • Partner with fantasy publishers, indie authors, or RPG creators for targeted advertising

• Licensing Deals with Authors & Publishers

  • Charge a small licensing fee to host exclusive high-quality maps from new authors

  • Offer revenue sharing for indie authors who upload their maps

• Crowdfunding & Community Support

  • Run a Kickstarter-style campaign to fund map acquisitions and expansion

Marketing Strategies

• Social Media Growth

  • Share high-resolution map previews on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter

  • Feature a "Map of the Week" series showcasing maps from famous books

• SEO & Content Marketing

  • Publish blog articles like “The Best Fantasy Maps Ever Made” or “Where to Find Maps for Sci-Fi Books”

  • Target Kindle users and world-building enthusiasts with long-tail keywords

• Reddit & Fan Community Engagement

  • Share in r/Fantasy, r/SciFi, and r/Worldbuilding

  • Partner with book influencers, authors, and YouTube reviewers

• Referral Program & Early Access

  • Offer free premium access to early adopters who refer friends

  • Incentivize user sign-ups with exclusive map previews

Expanding and Improving

• User-Generated Content & Community Features

  • Allow users to upload their own maps (fan-made versions, RPG world maps)

  • Introduce annotations, personal notes, and community discussion threads

• AI-Generated Maps for Missing Worlds

  • Use AI tools to generate high-resolution maps for books that lack official cartography

  • Allow authors to commission AI-generated maps for their books

• Interactive & RPG Integration

  • Custom overlays and labeled map layers for role-playing game sessions

  • Ability to trace character paths and journeys on maps

• Mobile App Development & Augmented Reality Maps

  • Develop a fully-featured iOS/Android app with offline access

  • Implement AR functionality that projects interactive 3D maps when scanning a physical book

Brainstormed Business Names

1. MapLore

2. Fantasy Atlas

3. Mythic Maps

4. StoryScape

5. WorldBinder

6. Fiction Cartography

7. Atlas of Legends

8. VerseMaps

9. Epic Cartograph

10. The Reader’s Map Room

Thanks for checking out another edition of Easy Startup Ideas!

As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of various partnership programs, the owner of this publication may receive commissions to linked products or services in this newsletter at no additional expense to the reader.