The Cryptonomicon Embodied — A Literary Nautical Atlas

Atlas controls

Explore the novel’s two interwoven histories on one three-dimensional globe. Routes are schematic where the text gives sequence but not a navigable itinerary.

War timeline · 1941–45Amber

Modern timeline · c. 1999Blue

Novel cable networkFiction

OpenStreetMap mapped cablesOSM

Geographic reference places

GEBCO ocean-floor relief

War characters

War narrative progress1941 · opening

Drag backwards to retrace the wartime narrative. Exact dates are used only where the novel supplies them.

Modern characters

Modern narrative progressComplete

The modern storyline is represented as a narrative sequence, not a day-by-day calendar.

Map legend

WWII character path

Modern character path

Fictional cable

Approximate route

Event location

Fictional place

Solid lines indicate a route supported by the narrative sequence. Dashed lines indicate a schematic connection or approximate location. They are not claims of exact travel tracks.

Geographic index

The initial index includes the requested countries, territories and US states. Markers are shown only when a specific place or a defensible representative point is available. Fictional and broad-area locations are labelled accordingly.

Data and rights

Original interface code: GPL-3.0-or-later. Original project text and curated narrative annotations: CC BY-SA 4.0. OpenStreetMap-derived data: ODbL 1.0 with attribution. GEBCO bathymetry: public domain, attribution requested. The novel itself remains © its rights holders. This is an unofficial, non-commercial fan project.

No National Geographic or Royal Society marks are used. The visual direction draws on historical scientific engraving, maritime charts and modern field-atlas design.

The Pacific and its connected worldsBoth narrative layers visible · rotate, zoom, select a marker

Basemap: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Bathymetry: GEBCO when enabled · Routes are interpretive, not GPS tracks. Sea-monster ornaments are original vector decoration.

1941–1945 · WarFull narrative

From Shanghai, November 1941, through the Pacific war and its aftermath.

Modern storyline · c. 1999Full narrative

Follow the modern search, network construction and convergence of the two histories.