The Floating World
Worldbuilding: How to Design a Floating World (That Actually Works)
World-Building: How to Create a Floating Island World (That Actually Works) is a practical guide for writers, fantasy authors, and tabletop creators who want their worlds to hold together under pressure. Part of the World Creation Series.
If you're building a fantasy world with floating islands, the usual rules no longer apply. Water does not flow the same way. Travel becomes a problem. Trade routes break down. Power shifts to whoever controls access, resources, and movement. This book focuses on function, not just appearance.
Inside, you'll learn how to:
Build a floating island world that follows consistent physical rules
Design systems for water, weather, and survival
Create believable travel, trade, and infrastructure
Understand how geography shapes political systems and power
Turn worldbuilding into a structured process for writing fantasy or RPG settings
✓ World Creation Series
A World in the Sky
Browse the gallery below to see original artwork from the book.
What Makes This Book Essential:
- Functional Worldbuilding: Not just how worlds look, but how they actually work — water, weather, trade, travel, and power.
- For Writers & GMs: A structured process for creating consistent worlds for novels, RPGs, or fantasy settings.
- Environment Drives Story: Learn how geography shapes conflict, politics, and character decisions.
- Part of the World Creation Series: A framework approach that fits any setting or campaign.
Original Artwork:
Matthew Degelleke
Matthew B. DeGelleke is a multi-genre author dedicated to building immersive worlds. His writing spans post-apocalyptic fiction, dark fantasy, and practical guides for writers and role-players. With roots in Upstate New York and years of travel across the United States, his work draws from the rugged landscapes and harsh realities he has experienced firsthand.
The Floating World is part of the World Creation Series — a collection of framework books designed to help writers, game masters, and world-builders create deep, consistent, and meaningful systems for their stories and campaigns.