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Flame Tree Fiction

Matt Knight

Recent Posts

Rituals, Pain and Egyptian Mummies – The Origins of Tattoo Art

Posted by Matt Knight

Whilst tattoos take many forms, from the embarrassing to the funny, here at Flame Tree we’re most interested in the art of tattoos. The relationship between visual art and the human body. Today we take a look at the origins of this unique art form, starting all the way back in the Bronze Age.

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Topics: tattoo art

A Cracking Collection of Cosplay from 2015!

Posted by Matt Knight

We’ve had a stellar year for cosplay, with 2015’s conventions bringing talented costume makers and models together from all over. Great photographs usually pop up from time to time, such as these mind-blowing Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic cosplays and these downright incredible advanced combat suits (from a variety of influences). However today’s blog takes a quick look back at some of the best events for this year for cosplayers, with a handful of our personal favourites (links on event names will take you to the most interesting photo collections we found for that event).

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6 of the Most Epic Warriors Around | Fantasy Art

Posted by Matt Knight

Our dazzling title Warriors and Heroes is a large art book, packed with incredible images that will make your jaw drop to the floor. Also detailing different factions and fighters, today we’re taking a quick look at six of our favourites.

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Topics: Gothic & Fantasy Art

James Bond, Spectre and the Day of the Dead

Posted by Matt Knight

Bond is back. Spectre has been winning over critics and is now showing at most major cinemas. What fans and reviewers seem to be enjoying is not only the character of Bond, but director Sam Mendes’ sleek vision of the super-spy’s adventures. After 2012’s well-received Skyfall, Mendes has returned with Spectre, a film equally dripping with the director’s signature style and eye for seductive costume and set design. Whilst Skyfall was guided by veteran cinematographer Roger Deakins (when, oh when will he get his Oscar?), Spectre’s camerawork lay in the hands of Hoyte Van Hoytema – already boasting impressive credits, from Interstellar to Spike Jonze’s Her.

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Topics: Day of the Dead

Great Science Fiction from the East | Gothic Fantasy

Posted by Matt Knight

Science Fiction is a wonderful genre. Though powerful fiction can always transplant us into new worlds, SF really amps it up – whizzing us off to alien locations and hauling the future right to our feet.

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Topics: Gothic Fantasy, sf fiction

John Howe | From Middle Earth to Dragon Art

Posted by Matt Knight

Dragons don't exist. 

That's a shame, of course. Instead we have to rely on the brilliant work of artists to render these fantastic worlds for us. One hugely important figure in the fantasy art world is the artist John Howe. With a much-loved body of work and perhaps best known for his concept art work on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series, Howe's career is marked with an array of interesting experiences that have resulted in some truly astonishing fantasy art pieces.

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Topics: Gothic & Fantasy Art, Biography

Cthulhu Conquers the World... and Space | Gothic Dreams

Posted by Matt Knight

You know Cthulhu. Monster. Scary. Gigantic. Yep, that's the one. If you know who this fearsome god is, you probably know why so many people think he's cool. But as the mythic monstrosity's popularity grows, you may find him wandering out of the ocean into pastures new. Perhaps even, into space.

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Topics: Gothic Dreams, cthulhu

Science Fiction Short Stories: Author Bios

Posted by Matt Knight

Our forthcoming Gothic Fantasy anthologies feature an explosive mix of new and classic writers. We've released the list of new authors, and their stories, now here are the biographies of Science Fiction Short Stories. Some are first time writers, others have had stories printed in magazines and story collections before. 

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Chilling Ghost Short Stories: Author Bios

Posted by Matt Knight

Our forthcoming Gothic Fantasy anthologies feature an explosive mix of new and classic writers. We've released the list of new authors, and their stories, now here are the biographies of Chilling Horror Short Stories. Some are first time writers, others have had stories printed in magazines and story collections before. 

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Will Fallout 4 be the Best Video Game Dystopia? | Gothic Dreams

Posted by Matt Knight

One of the biggest gaming announcements of the year was the unveiling of Bethesda's Fallout 4. Perhaps best known for their sprawling open-world game series, The Elder Scrolls (read, Skyrim), their critically acclaimed Fallout series is not far behind. With Fallout often edging it in when it comes to the critics the games are wildly different in terms of the universes they portray. Where Skyrim is full of rich colour and endless forests, Fallout operates within a desolate dystopian dumping ground. So why then are people so excited for the fourth instalment?

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Topics: Gothic Dreams, dystopia

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