Overview

Botanica Fantastica brings to life the astonishing fictional plant and fungi creations of some of the world's favourite authors and creators. Every self-respecting fantasy or supernatural imagining has its own botanical world full of characterful species, with powers and features that have become iconic. Join culture writer Alison Flood on a journey around Middle Earth, Panem, Sunnydale, the Upside Down and more, discovering the origins of 50 curious creations, from ents and mandrakes to triffids and nirnroot. Over 100 beautiful illustrations of these fantastical species by artist Emma Tudor-Bloch are accompanied by expert text and historical images from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, exploring the real-life plants and fungi that inspired the fantasy. CONTENTS INCLUDE: - Nightlock, The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins - Weirwood trees, A Song of Ice and Fire, George R.R. Martin - Firemoss, Cosmere universe, Brandon Sanderson - Ents, Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien - Lethe's bramble, Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Tesla trees, Hyperion Cantos, Dan Simmons - Redweed, The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells - Vines, Zahrah, Nnedi Okorafor - Wheel trees, The Amber Spyglass, Philip Pullman - The World Tree, The Broken Kingdoms, NK Jemisin - Moly, Circe, Madeleine Miller - Fungus, The Last of Us - Vines, Stranger Things - Nirnroot, Elder Scrolls

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9781035438822

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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Author) THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW is a world-famous scientific organisation, holding an unrivalled position for its outstanding collections of plants and fungi, artefacts and art, world-class Herbarium as well as its expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development. From its beginnings as a small physic garden in 1759 it has grown to become a top international visitor attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kew's 132 hectares of stunning landscaped gardens and iconic glasshouses make it one of the world's best-loved gardens, a paradise for plant lovers, offering a wealth of ideas and inspiration to all. Alison Flood (Author) Alison Flood is New Scientist's comment and culture editor. She was previously books writer for The Guardian. She jusged the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in 2024, chairs the British Book Awards' Crime and Thriller Book of the Year award and has also judged the Costa first novel award and the Orwell prize for political fiction. She has contributed essays and forewords for titles including Poor Souls' Light, a collection of stories inspired by Robert Aickman, and Literary Landscapes. She writes a monthly round-up of the best new science fiction for New Scientist, and also runs the New Scientist Book Club. She lives in London, UK. Emma Tudor-Bloch (Illustrator) Emma Tudor-Bloch was previously the print Designer and Head of Textiles for Zandra Rhodes. Emma has designed prints for Paul Smith, Cath Kidston, Valentino and Liberty London. She is now an illustrator based in Edinburgh, UK.

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