Although the Rangers Apprentice books are set in a mythical world, astute readers will have noticed several similarities to the real world.

Obviously, Araluen and its neighbouring countries are loosely based on The United Kingdom and Europe. There’s a hint towards this in the fact that several Gallic characters in Book 3 are heard to utter occasional French words and phrases. And, of course, “Skandia” does sound similar to Scandinavia – although I seem to have moved it to the east by quite a few hundred miles.

Here are reproductions of the original maps I drew of the island of Araluen and its immediate neighbours. More finished versions of these maps were included in the Australian editions of the book, but I thought international readers might like to see where it all happens.

Remembering of course, that in keeping with the rough and ready measurements of mediaeval times, these maps aren’t to scale.

Click the links to see maps:
Araluen map | Araluen & continent map