Many stories portray the effects of war and empire expansion from the perspective of a conquered nation. The Last Mapmaker represents a significant departure from this approach, for the novel portrays the effects of imperialism through the naïve eyes of Sai, a citizen of the conquering empire. This point of view places emphasis on the ruling power’s actions and intentions, a characteristic which distinguishes imperialism from colonialism. In An Lung, Sai experiences the hard truth that the costs of war affect even the conquering nation. When she joins an expedition charged with discovering new lands, she learns that the costs of war are far greater than she ever realized. Through Sai’s shifting perspective as she uncovers the truth behind the Queen’s propaganda, The Last Mapmaker exposes the imperialist implications of exploration and discovery.

During the journey, Sai soon learns that knowledge and glory are not the real objects of the voyage. Instead, the expedition focuses upon exploration and discovery as a means to increase the empire’s interests, thereby expanding its profit and power. Sai connects ideas of dominion and profit early in the book when she notes, “One result of winning a war meant that all the conquered places got new names, which was a pretty good deal for someone in the mapmaking business” (13).