Product details
- ISBN 9781035438822
- Dimensions: 238 x 286mm
- Publication Date: 15 Oct 2026
- Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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Botanica Fantastica brings to life the astonishing fictional plant creations of some of the world's favourite authors and creators.
Featuring over 100 illustrations, specially drawn by artist Emma Tudor-Bloch to visualise these species as if real, this book will combine expert analysis of these iconic creations and the worlds they inhabit, as well as exploration of the real-life species that inspired the authors. From Middle Earth and Hogwarts to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Zelda, and from poverty grass and cordyceps to nirnroot and triffids, every self-respecting fantasy or supernatural imagining has its own botanical world full of characterful and powerful plants.
Created with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and New Scientist comment and culture editor Alison Flood, Botanica Fantastica is a sumptuously illustrated journey into the bizarre botanical creations of some of science fiction and fantasy's most ingenious minds.
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
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.
