Dear Papabear,

Firstly, I'd like to say thank you for taking the time to respond to my letter. It is fantastic to have some where to go to ask questions or even just talk about things related to the fandom.

Secondly, I've had some thoughts on my mind related to the type of image our fandom presents to the public. I would like to know if you might be able to provide some words of wisdom for myself and others to avoid potentially damaging publicity while in the presence of those who aren't associated with the fandom.

Specifically, I've noticed that often times we can be our own worst enemy and there doesn't seem to be much in the way of policing each other when some of our (usually well meaning) folks decide to be lewd or inappropriate. This usually tends to be at conventions where the hotel is being shared with people who have no idea what a furry even is. It can be as simple as a poorly timed
naughty joke (pun not intended) or sometimes as serious as inappropriate PDA.

Now with that in mind, I love that we have come as far as we have with replacing negative stereotypes through acts of kindness and good folks but I fear the damage that can be done by being complacent around this behavior could undo all of that. Ultimately, we are all ambassadors for this fandom and people are watching to see what we're about.

It really worries me how quickly someone’s curiosity can go to disgust just because of a joke. We are certainly familiar with our own brand of comedy among other things but to someone experiencing it for the first time it may be disturbing.

On a couple of occasions I've tried to politely address the issue with some furs but, unfortunately, they didn't seem to be worried about it.

I've thought about going to the convention staff but there is not really anything they can do about it unless they catch someone in the act. Most of the time it’s just a few people out of the hundreds or thousands that are attending.

So, Papa Bear, do you have any advice for handling these situations? In addition to that would it be best for me to just let it go?

0w0

* * *
Dear 0w0:

When it comes to conventions, each organization that runs a furcon has security people staffing the place. They also have codes of behavior, such as are listed on this page on the Anthrocon website. Con attendees are expected to adhere to these guidelines, and, if they cause considerable trouble, they will be evicted from the event. Usually, such great lengths are reserved for heinous behaviors, such as hard drug use, damaging hotel property, assault and battery, etc. etc.

Minor things such as displays of public affection (PDAs) or an off-color joke are not serious enough for such action (unless the PDA involves nudity or something like dry-humping someone, I would assume). Conventions can be problematic because you can get attendees who are young, undisciplined, and, when away from parental supervision, act like felines high on catnip. Naturally, if they are acting like derps and someone who has no authority (such as you) tells them to knock it off, they are going to cop an attitude about it and either ignore you or tell you to take a hike (probably using more colorful words than that).

Usually, minor, slightly offensive behavior is not a problem because you are surrounded by other furries, but yes, many times there can be other guests at a hotel that is hosting a furcon. In my experience, such guests usually look at you with a befuddled stare and think you're nuts, while others smile and think it is amusing, no harm done. As long as you are leaving the other guests alone, it should not be a problem.

So, I'm guessing what you might be talking about is some naughty verbal interactions between furries that are observed by mundane guests and how this might make all furries look bad. But if you see such behavior and admonish the culprits, by then it is too late; the mundane guests have viewed or heard the bad behavior and their impressions have been influenced accordingly.

Papabear's view is this: if you see a violation of furcon policy you should report it to security or to the people staffing Operations. Anything else, don't worry about it. You cannot control the behavior of all the immature derps out there; just not gonna work out and is more likely to give you acid indigestion than actually improve the situation. Let it be and focus on having a good time and behaving like a good furry. Give the mundane guests an example of what it is to be a good furry.

We individual furries are not in charge of the reputation of the furry fandom, just our own behavior within it. Control what you can control and let the rest go. Yes, we are all "ambassadors" of the fandom, but that just goes as far as your own behavior. Trying to control everyone else's will just drive you crazy.

Bear Hugs,

Papabear

Behind the World Where Animals Rule

In-Fur-Nation - Sat 30 Sep 2017 - 01:55

Of course we’ve already talked about Animosity, the dystopia/black comedy comic book series from writer Marguerite Bennett. Well now Aftershock Comics are back with another one-shot tie-in called World of Animosity. “A journey through an apocalypse like none ever imagined—this singular one-shot brings readers and fans alike an exclusive look at the characters, creatures, maps, mysteries, enemies, histories, and the road-so-far in a world where the Animals have risen up to take revenge. This standalone collection includes a variant cover gallery, character designs, never-before-seen artwork, and summaries that will not only bring new readers up to speed, but allow existing readers to dive deep with new information into stories they already love!” It’s on the shelves now, and the Hollywood Reporter has a interview with Ms. Bennett. Hmmm, could that mean a movie adaptation is in the works…?

image c. 2017 Aftershock

Categories: News

LondonFurs Music Video

Furry.Today - Fri 29 Sep 2017 - 17:42

It's fursuit friday and here is a nice music video from LondonFurs fur meet. So many furmeets these days!
View Video

Categories: Videos

The Animal Guild Series – Book Reviews by Fred Patten

Dogpatch Press - Fri 29 Sep 2017 - 10:00

Submitted by Fred Patten, Furry’s favorite historian and reviewer.

The Animal Guild Series

The Animal Guild, by Jennifer Sowle. 2nd Edition.
Seattle, WA, CreateSpace, May 2015, trade paperback, $11.97 ([5 +] 307 pages), Kindle $0.99.

Monsters in the Territory, by Jennifer Sowle. 2nd Edition.
Seattle, WA, CreateSpace, February 2015, trade paperback, $12.99 ([5 +] 340 pages), Kindle $3.99.

The Marrhob War, by Jennifer Sowle. 2nd Edition.
Seattle, WA, CreateSpace, February 2015, trade paperback, $12.47 ([5 +] 320 pages), Kindle $3.99.

The Nhorn, by Jennifer Sowle. 2nd Edition.
Seattle, WA, CreateSpace, March 2015, trade paperback, $11.97 ([5 +] 278 pages), Kindle $3.99.

Sowle’s Amazon “About the Author” says that she has been writing this Young Adult series since the age of 13. (Wikipedia says she was born in 1977.) Book 1 was published by CreateSpace on August 22, 2012, with this Second Edition on May 13, 2015. Book 2 was published on August 15, 2013 with this Second Edition on February 8, 2015. Book 3, March 6, 2014 and February 26, 2015. Book 4, June 8, 2014 and March 10, 2015. Book 5, January 26, 2015 and April 13, 2015. Further books are first editions.

What is the Animal Guild, and who is in it? The story is deliberately murky at the beginning:

“Corto dove between the mesquites and just missed the spiny cholla they cosseted under their branches. It was exactly how he’d cut his forepaw an hour ago and started the blood trail. Drok take every piece of cactus in this desert and chuck it over the white gates of Hell.

He didn’t continue the puerile curse because coyote scent wafted toward him again, stronger and closer. He hadn’t shaken his pursuers, attracted by the blood, and until he could hole up and stop the bleeding, he wouldn’t. The cairn terrier ran past the offensive cholla, which had been lurking in wait behind the mesquite, and wished again that he was a bit taller. […]” (The Animal Guild, p. 1)

In the opening pages the reader learns that Corto is a cairn terrier fleeing from coyotes through a desert. He is on a lone-dog mission, but he is resigned to being eaten by the pursuing coyotes, until he is unexpectedly saved by a fox. But wildies don’t associate with guilders like Corto, do they?

In the first chapter the reader is introduced to Corto and Reynard the fox. Conversation establishes that the animals are divided into wildies and dommies (domesticates), and that some of the dommies are guilders. Can a wildie be a guilder? Corto doesn’t think so, but read on. Corto swears by Drok Wardog and Reynard by Fenig First Fox, the gods of the dogs and foxes respectively; the two also refer to Kithis Singer, the coyote god.

Subsequent chapters are similarly mysterious. Reynard saves Corto’s life a second time, in circumstances so dramatic that Corto interrupts his mission to demand that Reynard tell him what the Hell is gong on.

“‘Speak for yourself [Reynard says]. Can you see a hog anywhere out there?’

‘Eh?’ Corto’s worries were confirmed; the head wound had addled Renard’s mind. ‘Why would a hog be out here?’

He heard something between a grunt and a snort. ‘A hawk.”

Corto blinked. ‘Same question. Why would a –’

Wind and sand swooshed over him. He looked up and saw yellow talons and dark feathers, then scrambled into a defensive crouch while a hawk landed in the creosote several feet away. He registered its slate-blue wings and white-speckled breast while it flapped debris in all directions. He swallowed his instinctive fear when its beady red eyes flicked to him, but he wouldn’t run; he wouldn’t leave –’

A dry nose poked him from behind. He nearly lost his balance and would have tumbled straight at the hawk if his nails hadn’t been gripping the earth so tightly. ‘She’s with me,’ Renard puffed, head and one foreleg sticking out of the hole. ‘She won’t attack unless you do.’

Corto had to sit down in numbed shock. With him? Birds and animals didn’t mix, and certainly not raptors who hunted animals. A low rumble vibrated beneath his pads. He stared at the hawk, his memory tweaked by something he’d heard during his months as a guilder, something about a bird who traveled with animals, but he couldn’t quite remember.

‘Corto.’ Renard said while the rumbling vibration increased. ‘I could really use some help here.’” (p. 14)

And this is only up to page 14 of Book 1. Sowle keeps up the action and tension, but only gradually expands on what’s going on. Of course, the reader can always skip to the back of the book where there is a five-page “Glossary of Concepts, Characters and Gods”. “Guild. An animal community that provides fellowship, camaraderie and safety among the dangers of the wild. Vegetarian by necessity [they eat insects, too], guilds are scattered throughout the West, but less common in the East. Usually hidden from humans in large caves or burrows, […]” (pgs. 287-288)

Corto, who has only recently joined the 235th guild, has been sent out alone to practice Training as an Officer Training School applicant:

“He needed to know what to expect even though he was technically cheating – scoping out the area before the exercise began. General Hannon hadn’t told him not to travel through the town, but it took him fifteen miles west of his destination, and trainees weren’t supposed to have foreknowledge of the physical layout of exercises. It didn’t matter; Corto had been born a domesticate, despite what he’d told the peculiar wildie Renard a month ago. He already knew cities, so it was hardly cheating to –” (p. 25)

It breaks off there for another action sequence. Who is General Hannon? Why did Corto leave his dommie home for the wild? Renard is revealed as the leader of The Fearless Four; the others are Valon, a goshawk, … never mind; you’ll meet them all eventually.

Since Sowle is so deliberately mysterious, almost any plot description is frustratingly a spoiler. Here is another early dramatic quote to whet your appetite:

“Both sloshed warily out of the current without shaking off, then stopped a few feet from Munk. The rottie’s glossy brown and black coat was marred by small scars on neck and sides, ample warning of her lifestyle if her eyes, confident and hostile, hadn’t already revealed her attitude. Her gaze moved casually from Renard to Munk, but the fox could tell this was her first wolverine. The tom’s eyes traveled down Munk’s solid body and fixed, wide and dilating, on his formidable claws.

‘Nice day,’ Renard said. He flexed his own pads, hidden in the sedge, because he knew how this meeting would end.

‘Is it?’ the rottie countered. Her rough voice oozed sarcasm.

‘Kind of far from the guild, aren’t you?’

‘Not too far.’ Renard smiled, aware that Munk was tensing, ‘I’m Renard and this is Munk. Are you from town?’

The rottie smiled back – most unpleasantly – while the tom snorted. ‘You’re in Nikki’s territory,’ he said. ‘Nobody gets through here without her permission. Even the 91st patrols stay to the south. I’m Rinker.’

‘Why do they stay south?’

‘Because they’re scared of me,’ Nikki said. Her gaze held Renard’s, challenging him. ‘If you’re headed for the 91st, you’re going the wrong way. Shall I show you what I do to people who get lost in my territory?’” (p. 43)

The Animal Guild (cover by B. Sowle & K. Womack) ends more-or-less satisfactorily, but it is followed by the first 13-page chapter of the first sequel, Monsters in the Territory. In fact, Monsters in the Territory is the first book of a trilogy within the series. It’s not much of a spoiler to quote Monsters in the Territory’s back-cover blurb:

“Two years after the adventures of The Animal Guild, Corto and Renard serve as the senior command of a new guild. [They transfer from the 235th to the 233rd guild.] But things are going wrong in the territory that Granite Council has assigned them; the guild that had lived there has mysteriously vanished, monstrous creatures abound, and most importantly, something has happened to derail the friendship between the dog and fox. Can they end their bitter feud before the monsters in the territory end it — along with them and everyone they love? Monsters in the Territory is the first of a trilogy of books within The Animal Guild Series, followed by The Marrhob War and The Nhorn (so be warned: cliff-hanger ending alerts!). By the end of the trilogy, the world of animal guilds will be changed forever.”

This trilogy can largely be described as the adventures of the 233rd guild, or that part of it that investigates what has happened to the 178th guild. To give away some spoilers in this trilogy, the monsters are the Marrhob, who consider any animals to be food. Another major danger are the Shagus, part plant and part spider (featured on the cover of Monsters in the Territory). Important characters besides Corto and Renard are guilders Morgen the vixen, Fist the kitten, Hercules the cocker spaniel puppy, and the wildie bear Rethus. Here is a quote from The Marrhob War:

“He [Renard] was well aware that he should return to his duties. The guild had to prepare for the skunk threat, while the next step in the 178th search – the exploration of Shagus lairs – had to be organized. He knew Corto depended on his help, whether or not the terrier would admit it, but Renard couldn’t focus on anyone but Hercules. So be it. He dismissed the guild and curled up against the cocker, mindful of Folroe’s [a wildie raccoon healer] instructions to keep Hercules warm. He draped his heavy brush over the dog, waiting until Hercules’ body warmed from his own. When he felt fatigue finally catch up with him, he let go and drifted into uneasy sleep. (The Marrhob War, p. 4)

Humans are introduced in the later books. The covers for Books 2 and 4 are by Shilo Quetchenbach, and for Book 3 by Quetchenbach & Jennifer Sowle. There are eight books published so far, with Book 9, Sev’s Vision – Sev the ferret is introduced in Book 1 — in progress. More are planned. They are The Animal Guild, August 2, 2012; Monsters in the Territory, August 14, 2013; The Marrhob War, March 6, 2014; The Nhorn, June 8, 2014; Outcasts, January 26, 2015; The Hikum, July 24, 2015; Seven Secrets in the Upper Attic, May 27, 2016; and The Rogan Treasures, May 9, 2017. The first five are in second revised editions (Sowle revised them all during 2015); the others are still in their first printings.

Action, action, action!, with non-stop drama and suspense. Plus a cast of anthro animals who aren’t just funny animals. And an admirably rich vocabulary. Sowle’s Animal Guild series will keep you reading for months.

– Fred Patten

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Categories: News

Beware of the Crow King

In-Fur-Nation - Fri 29 Sep 2017 - 01:48

Well, somehow this passed under our noses… fortunately, they brought it back! We’ve talked before about the comic Hero Cats of Stellar City. Turns out that issues #16 to #18 took things in a whole new direction. Now Action Labs Entertainment have collected those issues together in a single trade paperback, Hero Cats of Skyworld. Bandit (a Hero Cat from Earth) and his robot friend (of course) are transported to Skyworld, a magical realm ruled with a scaly fist by Corvus the Crow King. There, Bandit meets a whole new group of Hero Cats and enlists their aid in his quest. Written by Kyle Puttkammer and illustrated by Omaka Schultz, this new graphic novel is available now. There’s an extensive review over at Comicosity, including several preview pages.

image c. 2017 Action Lab

Categories: News

Trailer: The Jungle Bunch

Furry.Today - Thu 28 Sep 2017 - 14:36

Just your typical french Kung Fu pro Penguin raised by a tiger jungle avengers-esque superhero-ish film? Did somebody take furry TV Tropes then stick it in a blender and hit puree? Also, TIL: I can't get youtube to force translated subtitles to turn on by default ... not that the translations helped much. "Maurice looks like a penguin, but inside, he's all tiger! Raised by a tigress, this penguin is far from awkward and has become a kung fu pro. With his friends, the Jungle Bunch, Maurice, following in his mother's footsteps, intends to ensure that order and justice will reign from now on in the jungle. But Igor, an evil koala, surrounded by his gang of not very smart baboon mercenaries, plans to destroy the jungle... The Jungle Bunch to the rescue!"
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Categories: Videos

“Suburban Jungle: Rough Housing” – Comic review by Ace.

Dogpatch Press - Thu 28 Sep 2017 - 10:26

Review: Suburban Jungle: Rough Housing
Guest review by Ace

Suburban Jungle was a web comic done by John “The Gneech” Robey that started on February 1, 1999. It starred a young tigress, named Tiffany, who is trying to make a career of acting and modeling while holding down numerous temp jobs. Along the way she meets the Kurt Russell-esque Leonard Lion, Leona Lioness (no relation to Leonard), and many others such as Drezzer Wolf and Conrad Tiger. It was slice of life with the characters residing in the fictional city. It was light, campy and a general good read.

It was the web comic that made me become a furry.

When Suburban Jungle ended in November 6, 2009 it felt like a giant punch to the gut. I had only been in the fandom ten years in the fandom because of Suburban Jungle. I loved the characters, especially Tiffany, Leona, as well as Leonard, Conrad and everyone’s favorite gay uncle, Drezzer. It was hard to fill those holes. I had never gotten to the opportunity to read Never, Never (which I found out actually came before SJ in terms of production) and while I liked other web comics, they didn’t hold my attention like SJ did.

So imagine my surprise when found out that The Gneech did another SJ comic starting in 2016. This one was a sequel but didn’t feature the same characters. Instead, the main character was a cheeger (the hybrid result of a tiger and a cheetah, in this case Comfort Tiger the sister of Suburban Jungle star Tiffany and her husband the code speaking Dover Cheetah), named Charity Cheeger.

The main cast consists of Charity, Langley Lupina, Roxie Fox, Rufo Redwolf, Parker Peacock and Bounce, who is an otter. All of them have different personalities and yet have enough of the old cast to make you remember the good ole days. Charity and Langley’s chemistry will remind you of Tiffany and Leona, yet Langley is also very different. She’s more a joker or a troll, not doing things out of malice at all. Roxie is more laid back and Parker is a little shy due to bullying. Bounce is the tough and silent guy. And Rufo is, as The Gneech himself puts it “flirty, pansexual, and Latino (in that order).” I didn’t bring it up but even then, the characters are also different in that they are diverse sexually too.

That’s not to say that old favorites don’t pop up. I won’t give it away but at least two characters that I personally loved make a return, briefly. It was an enjoyable stroll down memory lane without being intrusive or out of place. The Gneech really pulled it off enough that this writer has clamored for another character to return.

The basic premise is that Charity, the niece of Leonard Lion and Tiffany Tiger, takes over as manager of a hotel her uncle invested in using her aunt’s money. Along the way, she meets the rest of the crew, battles giant crabs and deals with living in a new area and new people. It’s a fun experience to both read and to experience, whether you’re a new reader or an older one. There are plenty of references, gags and thought provoking comments to make one glad to have read Suburban Jungle: Rough Housing (found at http://roughhouse.suburbanjungle.com )

All in all, it’s an exciting slice of life romp that features characters both familiar and new. I’d give it a 10 out of 10 paws, but I also admit I’m biased having been a long time fan.

– Ace

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Categories: News

Fly, My Pretties

In-Fur-Nation - Thu 28 Sep 2017 - 01:48

There’s a new full-color science fiction series out now from Image Comics called Angelic. Here’s what they say: “Winged Monkeys! Techno-Dolphins! Quantum Alleycats! Humanity’s long gone. Its memory lingers only as misunderstood rituals among mankind’s leftovers: The genetically modified animals they used and abused for eons. But for one young flying monkey, QORA, the routines are unbearable. All she wants is to explore. Instead she’s expected to settle down, to become a mother…to lose her wings… Eisner nominee Simon Spurrier (The Spire, CRY HAVOC, X-Men Legacy) and rising-star Caspar Wijngaard (LIMBO, Dark Souls, Assassin’s Creed) present your new bittersweet adventure obsession: Teenage rebellion and animal antics amidst the ruins of civilization! Think WALL-E by way of Watership Down.” Whew! The official Image page features a video introduction by the creators, and there’s an extensive review over at Monkeys Fighting Robots. Funny that…

image c. 2017 Image Comics

Categories: News

PEEJAY – NA B YA

Furry.Today - Wed 27 Sep 2017 - 22:30

Yeah, I really want to know where that club is. "A private detective is eager to seek out a mysterious cat in the city late at night."
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Categories: Videos

FA 087 Lifestyling Furry - Fortunetelling! Skewed visions of the future! Lifestyling in the fandom! Asexuality! Car alarms! All this, and more, on this week's Feral Attraction.

Feral Attraction - Wed 27 Sep 2017 - 18:00

Hello Everyone!

We open this week's show with a discussion on depression and mindfulness. Conventional treatment for depression and anxiety has worked under the impression that it is due to a skewed view of stressed from the past or present, but recent research shows that we become more anxious or depressed over false visions and fortune telling of what the future might hold. We take a look into an analysis of a book concerning this topic, Homo Prospectus, and what it might hold for future treatment of these conditions.

Our main topic is on lifestyling. Within the furry fandom, the idea of lifestying often tends to come accompanied with derision or words of caution about being "too furry". We talk about why lifestyling can be fun and fulfilling, how to go about it, and how to balance it out with your own life responsibilities to ensure you don't neglect your life outside of the fandom. We also discuss ways you can get into lifestyling with other communities like BDSM.

We close out this week's episode with a question on asexual dating. A straight, ace male is worried that he will not find a partner that can look after his periodic kinks and general submissiveness. We talk about the virtues of sex workers and why looking for a relationship is not always the solution to improving yourself.

For more information, including a list of topics, see our Show Notes for this episode.

Thanks and, as always, be well!

FA 087 Lifestyling Furry - Fortunetelling! Skewed visions of the future! Lifestyling in the fandom! Asexuality! Car alarms! All this, and more, on this week's Feral Attraction.

Categories: Podcasts

The Third [adjective][species] Poetry Collection

[adjective][species] - Wed 27 Sep 2017 - 13:00

Welcome to The Third [adjective][species] Poetry Collection! Each year, for the past few years, we have collected some poetry from those within the fandom centered around a loose theme. This year’s theme was **comunity and belonging**. Below are the submissions we received in no particular order (other than the fact that the first made Makyo cry on the plane).

The furry subculture is full of unbelievable talent, and it is our pleasure to showcase poetry from those who make up the fandom.

“Quigley Napoleon Underfoot” by Jazmine Bellamy

That little wet nose with the short legs & the crooked tail didn’t know
How broken the family he was becoming a part of was

All he knew was he was leaving yet another place behind
Another car ride to another place

Old Maggie finally had the chance & sat on him
Big Red & Bigger Jed were thrilled to see him go

He noticed off the bat
Just how quiet & sad his new mommy was

How much his new daddy didn’t seem to care
Past saying that getting him was a mistake

A year or many dog years later
He was back in that house they’d picked him up from

Big Red wasn’t there anymore
Old Maggie was older still

But a new friend was exciting
A Bassedor

So ungraceful
His new sister Grace

His mommy loved on them both so much
She was still sad

Some days more than others
But they all sat in the sun in the yard for hours

The years rolled by
Mommy was up and down and all around

One day
Mommy was gone

A whole week gone she was
Daddy and his other girly stayed though

When mommy came home she was still scared but not as sad it seemed
Suddenly they were packing again

Everything in boxes and garbage bags
A new bed

Just the three of them
Yet the family wasn’t broken anymore

He was starting to feel old
As the years slowly shuffled past

Mommy brought home someone new
Patient & calm & kind

Who rubbed his ears just right
Scratched his back so good

His new daddy loved all of them
The family grew again

New daddy bought them all a bigger bed
But he still wanted to sleep right between them at night

This was the forever family he signed up for
When he left that foster home way back when.

“Fuzzed Gallery” by Z. Tanner

Sometimes people can only see
myself as a monstrosity
They spare no thought nor sympathy
no quarter given unto me
in spite of all this tragedy
that I have found a family!
Inside of the menagerie
They accept all identities
Genders and sexualities
with the words of simply be
Beauty paired with simplicity
of implicit animality
a strike against the world’s cruelty
Have I found such camaraderie
And this is where I becomes we.
So come join me and he and she,
Lots of room in this gallery
So with a kind heart and some glee
Welcome to our community.

“Color Fur Power” by Shining River

Color Fur Power is
The power in the fibers
And those fibers come together.
In our superfurry bodies,
Our paws, arms, and faces.

Put on your head!
Yeah, put on your head!
Join our dancing mass of colors
In more than a parade,
More than a masquerade.
‘Cuz this time it’s for real.

Color Fur Power
Is our fierce furful love,
Our fierce furful hope,
Our fierce furful joy
Will shake the earth.
We shake the earth.
Until a stubborn monument falls,
And an ancient flag of black and white and red

Is
No
More.

We write for justice,
Speak for freedom.
Solidarity
For the fur family.
To dance around the flagpole
And the stubborn monument
And sing a freedom song.
We shake the earth.

With the blessing of the Sun,
And the blessing of the Moon,
Color Fur Power flows within us
Color Fur Power flows from us.
And the stubborn monument gives way.
The flagpole falls and the flag
Of black and white and red tears loose.
It’s away,
away,
away down.
On to the ashes
of history.

“Call to Change” by Z. Tanner

This is our community
It belongs to you and me
We can make this place great
If we can just stomp out hate.

Cannot block this silent roar
The Poisoned hounds have taken root.
But we can heal this open sore.
If we can give them all the boot

Is not the time to tolerate
Nor is the time to anticipate
Now’s the time to stand and act
That’s not opinion that is fact

So Fuzzed friends and family
Which side is it gonna be?

“Thoughts From a Ewe in Late Autumn” by Jazmine Bellamy

“How strange”
She thought
As she watched the imperfect v’s overhead
This time headed south

“They should just find a place and be happy”
She shook her wooly head and lowered it
Back to the hay left out by the farmer

“My own sisters and I enjoy all that is here”
She mused as the shepherd dog lazed nearby
Eyeing all of his flock peaceful on the ground

“Even the Collie is one of us anymore”
She munched happily at the realization
Sure he wouldn’t appreciate it as much but still be amused

“Progress and Change” by Z. Tanner

We stand tall on
those that came before.
Refining our flaws
Carried to these shores

Breaking down these
Zoo walls bars and cages.
Reaching up to the stars
We be thoughtful sages.

Learn from our history
and one another
These animals we be
Are welcome as brother

And march on from
the dark of our past
Beasts who have learned
To make all this Last

United Together
Us Animals be
I’m glad to be here
With you and with me.

Continue with me,
In our diversity.

“Otters of the Northwest” by Jazmine Bellamy

The surface of the water breaks
A spray of droplets
Followed by happy chuffing
Another dive
Fur sleek
Spirals and rolls
The chill of the underwater world barely noticed
Dancing
Elegant and free at the same time
Pure ecstasy
Clown princesses and princes of their aquatic realms
Trickster darlings
But that beautiful dance
Oh to be able to move like they do
Dancing in beams of light that break between the currents
Precious moments of ephemeral grace

“Place called Fandom” by Z. Tanner

This place called fandom
is where I have found me
Yeah this place called fandom
is where I found me.
It gave me a place to explore
and room to be free

It’s such a wild place to be
friends encourage growth and change
Such a wild place to be
my friends help me grow and change
With radical inclusive love
The world we will rearrange

I am glad that I am here
with all expression to just be.
Oh so glad that I am here
And free to express all that be.

I am grateful that you are here,
We together make furry.

“Midnight or so” by Tyler Parsons

The winds awaken from their dead sleep,
on one of those nights around midnight or so.
It’s right about that time of night,
that I find myself wandering alone.

“You’d think by now I’d have learned to cope,”
I sigh to nobody passing by,
as I pull my coat in closer,
cuddling a ghost with all my might.

I remember saying something like
“You are the only one who understands me,”
but the gentle breeze upon my face
is my only hope for a reply.

Eventually, when my pilgrimage
has laid time to rest
and my skin feels just a bit too tight,
I come across wherever I was headed all this time:

this desolate freeway overpass
between the suburbs and the forest,
where balls of light dart
towards the endless darkness.

Then, I felt the wind pick up
and force me against the railing,
like the world had stopped moving
but the air continued past.

The trees bowed, the clouds scattered,
a golden moon blazed down from a clear sky,
and somewhere deep down inside,
something was aching to come out.

AROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I cover my mouth as I stumble into the road
struggling to steady myself
watching the world roll around inside my head.
what on earth had come over me?

As the wind begins to clear
and the world shifts back into place,
I start to hear a familiar sound
coming somewhere from the town.

It started slow, a faint murmur
from the depths of the earth, rising
up to the rooftops, past the trees
into the swirling sky

From all over the city, the choir sings,
surrounding me with their music.
A howl—a million howls
ringing out through the sky;

and I with my silence,
begging to be released,
and the last of my will
floating away in the night…

So I did the only thing
I could ever do:
I let myself howl
and cared not who or what heard.

I have found them.
They have found me.

“Forgiveness” by Z. Tanner

I was once called to serve among you
Proud as a lion I stood.
Tried to hear complaints all through,
Trying so hard to be good.

But yet like many I’ve stumbled
in fear I made a call
From that I didn’t fumble,
What I did was fall.

Felt like I was a broken cat
to far gone to redeem,
You all told me it’s not like that
That it wasn’t what it seems

I now still walk among you
As we are all friends true.

“Meaning and Self” by Makyo

There’s some duality between sources of meaning,
Between the types of stories we use to back identity.
It’s not quite good & bad or light & dark,
Though I’m not yet sure just how to define it.

Dad used to punish the dogs
by locking then in the basement.
If he was really mad,
he’d toss then down there by the scruff.

Mom moved me & her dogs to a new house —
moved us three days early during the divorce.
Her dog punched my ex stepdad in the crotch the night before,
the nut-shot to end all nut-shots, & our time there.

Few things make me feel as deeply about life as parenthood,
even if it’s just me caring for my dogs.
Some reminders of that are intense enough to be raw, painful,
salt in the wounds of mortality, maybe, or the ache of maternal love.

The meaning behind the story of me & my dogs
comes with a story of its own, or maybe several.
It’s bound up in stories to come,
& these stories nest infinitely deep.

Remembering that & shaping that,
It’s a part of making the meaning in my life.
This isn’t better against worse,
it’s not mom against dad.

It’s not a dichotomy at all, really,
now that I think about it.
It’s something subtler, comfortably complex, a topic of its own.
I guess it’s just meaning & self.

“A Rhyme” by Z. Tanner

Birds of a feather
all chant together
cats in our clowders
come on now get louder
you ferrets in business
Ya’ll already got this
Dogs in your packs
we’ve all got your backs
Through this diversity
we all achieve unity
Join us and come in
There’s warmth here within.

The Student, Vol. 1, by Joe Sherman – Book Review by Fred Patten

Dogpatch Press - Wed 27 Sep 2017 - 10:00

Submitted by Fred Patten, Furry’s favorite historian and reviewer.

The Student, vol. 1, by Joe Sherman
Covington, OH, Joe Sherman publishing, May 2017, trade paperback, $15.95 (284 [+ 1] pages), Kindle $2.99.

Readers had better consider this to have a Sex Lovers Only rating.

The date is 2290, fifteen years after the Kaspersky foundation developed the first successful human-animal person. That was a dog-man they named Furton Kaspersky. This was almost unnoticed by the public because of the simultaneous announcement that humans had been accepted into the Galactic Trade Federation. But as soon as the excitement over that died down, there was plenty of social questioning and panic over letting “animal people” into society. However, by the 23rd century there was enough acceptance of the concept of intelligent non-humans that the anthropomorphic animals couldn’t be suppressed. A compromise was reached: to construct a domed city for the scientists and the hybrids where the research could be continued “in safety”, until the general public was convinced that the animal people were safe. The scientists ensured that the steel-&-glass-domed city, also dubbed Furton, would not become a slum. Furton was built twelve years ago.

Teenager Chris Tailor is the first human to be accepted into Furton University (although its professors are humans). Chris has always been fascinated by the hybrids, and he had been sending questions to the Kaspersky foundation via computer for a decade. The foundation had usually ignored him; but apparently someone has recently decided to let a human into the animal student body as a social experiment, and Chris’ pro-hybrid interest plus his genetics major has made him stand out. Chris is incredulous but delighted to be invited inside the domed city to become a student at Furton University.

This is described in the short Introduction and first chapter. Sherman has an unusual style of huge paragraphs with justified margins, but the reader quickly gets used to them. Here he meets one of the Kaspersky professors during a subway ride inside the dome to the University:

“‘I am Professor Meyers,” The scientist introduced himself as he studied the nervous young man. ‘You’re wearing generics. New to the city I presume?’ he observed in a gravelly voice. ‘I just got into the city less than an hour ago. I’m a new student at the University,’ Chris confirmed with a nod, grinning foolishly in his excitement. ‘Ah, I’m an instructor there myself. What is your major?’ Professor Meyers inquired as he brightened up slightly. ‘Genetics… I’ve been fascinated by the hybrids ever since I watched the news feed of their first creation. I’ve been looking forward to coming here for years to learn how they are created,’ Chris answered proudly. ‘Well then, I suppose I’ll see you in my class. Genetic engineering and hybrid biology are the courses of study, which are my responsibility,’ Professor Meyers announced once he recovered from the surprising answer. He lifted and cocked his head a bit as a tone sounded down the subway tunnel. After a moment, the recorded voice signaled the arrival of the next train. Well here we are. Do you know where you’re headed? I can show you to the dormitories once we arrive at the University, if you’d like,’ he offered.” (p. 14)

This is actually less than half the paragraph, which fills the rest of page 14 and almost all of page 15. It’s all smooth writing, but its presentation is a bit startling at first.

Chris finds that his dorm roommate is Marcus, a six-foot walking, talking German shepherd. Two of the first things he observes is that all of the hybrid students show their teeth in open human smiles and grins, whether they have sharp carnivore fangs or bucktoothed rodent teeth, and the students themselves refer to each other as Furs, not hybrids. (Sherman is careless whether Furs is capitalized or lower-case. Sometimes it is both within the same sentence.) Chris’ quick following suit wins himself acceptance.

Sherman colorfully describes the Furs. They are much more than funny animals:

“As they came up on another fur walking the opposite direction Chris did his best not to stare. He had no doubt this one was a female and quite short. He didn’t believe she could be any more than four feet tall. He thought she had an interesting bounce in her step. He liked the way her long floppy ears sprouting from her head would slightly curl forward with each bounce. She was skinny, but had wide, fuzzy white cheeks separated by a pink, button nose and two oddly cute buckteeth. Chris knew this was clearly a rabbit hybrid despite the fact that he hadn’t heard of or seen any rabbit hybrids previously.” (pgs. 17-18)

Chris also discovers within the first week that the Furs, while observing human modesty in public, especially in front of their Kaspersky professors, ignore it when they are alone – and Chris is now one of them. There is almost no privacy in his & Marcus’ dorm room. “Besides, Furs aren’t as insecure as most humans seem to be. Privacy doesn’t mean a lot to us,’ he [Marcus] explained with a mischievous grin.” (p. 19) Marcus goes naked and openly masturbates to Fur pornography. He is fascinated by Chris’ “morning wood”, since the male animals don’t have that in their biology.

As soon as Marcus is convinced of Chris’ pro-Fur sincerity, he introduces him to the Club, the Furs’ private orgy room. Most of the Furs take advantage of the fact that all Furs are sterile:

“‘Unfortunately [Profssor Meyers explains], all hybrids created to date, male or female, have proven completely sterile, which readers them incapable of having children of their own. We have not been able to discover the reason for this sterility despite our greatest efforts. Therefore, we have been unable to correct it.’” (pgs. 24-25)

So all the Furs can fuck without worrying about pregnancy. This is definitely NSFW action, including attention to how the Furs are matched up by different sizes from horse to mouse, and different sexual equipment – the canines’ knots, the felines’ barbed penises, and so on. Some like it rough; others don’t. Chris has already met many of the students in his classes – Maya (rabbit), Leah (wolf), Kyra (tigress), Blake (horse) — and he is both shocked and thrilled to see them here naked and enthusiastically going at it. He can’t wait to join the fun.

Consider pages 37 to 90 all hard-core NSFW action. On page 91 the story starts moving forward again:

“‘Chris… Marcus… Could I have a moment of your time,’ Professor Meyers called as he caught the two young men nearly bolting down the hall from their class [in a hurry to get to the Club]. ‘Yeah, sure,’ Marcus replied quickly after he and Chris nearly skidded to a halt. ‘The dean of students and I would like to have a few minutes of your time,’ Professor Meyers explained awkwardly. ‘What’s up?’ Marcus questioned more suspiciously. ‘It involves the new student or special guest. That is all I can say until we reach the dean’s office,’ Professor Meyers replied nervously before he began to lead the young men to the dean’s office.” (p. 92)

The University is about to get its first extraterrestrial student:

“‘… like I was telling Blake [the equine student] here, I… or the University needs your assistance,’ the dean repeated before he returned to his seat behind his desk. ‘The new student is humanoid, but not of earth origin. He is from the Gemini solar system. He is one of the Commonwealth, as they call themselves. He will be the first alien life form to attend an earth University and it will happen right here at Furton. That is why I have asked the three of you here. I want the three of you to make sure we extend every hospitality we have to offer to ensure he is comfortable,’ the dean explained as he struggled to contain his excitement.” (p. 93)

It turns out that the Commonwealth’s and the Galactic Trade Federation’s technology far exceeds Earth’s, so it is vitally important to not only the University but to all Earth to make a good impression. The Commonwealth has been very reclusive up to now, so the University – specifically, Professor Meyers, Chris, Marcus the German shepherd, and Blake the horse – don’t even know what the new student looks like except that he can live in the University’s environment and he is “diminutive”. Aside from the Professor’s problems in making him welcome to the University, the three students wonder how he will react to the open Fur sex?

And with that, less than 100 pages into the 284-page novel, this review is ending. Anything more would be a spoiler. The Student, vol. 1 (cover by Ailie MacKenzie) is well-written, both as furry fiction and as science-fiction. It is also screamingly erotic, reveling in graphic animalistic sex and sticky bodily fluids – and by “animalistic” you’d better believe that the word is used both figuratively and literally.

This volume 1 comes to a definite conclusion, but Sherman says there will be two more volumes to make a trilogy.

– Fred Patten

Buy on Amazon

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Categories: News

The Daemons Return

In-Fur-Nation - Wed 27 Sep 2017 - 00:39

Feels like it’s been a while now that author Philip Pullman has been promising his fans a follow-up to his landmark alternate-earth fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials. Now it looks as if the wait is over! La Belle Sauvage, the first book in the new trilogy The Book of Dust comes finally to bookshelves in late October. Here’s what the author says: ““I’ve always wanted to tell the story of how Lyra came to be living at Jordan College, and in thinking about it, I discovered a long story that began when she was a baby and will end when she’s grown up. This volume and the next will cover two parts of Lyra’s life: Starting at the beginning of her story and returning to her twenty years later. As for the third and final part, my lips are sealed.” Lots of talking animal companions are sure to abound in this, the author’s furriest universe.

image c. 2017 New Line Cinema

Categories: News

HEΧ – Burn Your House

Furry.Today - Tue 26 Sep 2017 - 20:57

It's fake fursuit Tuesday! This was filmed in Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Perú where I expect there is one really bad costume shop. Still, this kind of enthusiasm is really cute.
View Video

Categories: Videos

Good news from Tiny Paws con, and a look at Spalding’s furry art.

Dogpatch Press - Tue 26 Sep 2017 - 10:22

Two furry things happened in Connecticut the other week. One was sad – a politician lost a job for being too open minded about furry stuff. And one was happy: Tiny Paws con happened, giving love to that very same politician and raising money for the Humane Society too. Whenever there’s a setback, look for how this cool fandom keeps moving forward.

Tiny Paws is made by former staffers of Furfright, and you’ll definitely hear more about it here. It’s very special to me, because oh my gosh, they invited me to be Guest of Honor in 2018!

I’ll have to work hard to earn that. Meanwhile, let me tell you about a hard working artist. When the con started talking to me, they asked if I wanted an ad in the con book. That’s why Spalding lent a paw to draw this fabulous cartoon ad:

Spalding is a practicing Bay Area furry artist who’s been at it for a few years now. He’s contributed art to conventions such as Further Confusion, Biggest Little FurCon, and Rainfurrest. He does badge work mostly in his spare time, but strives to do more and be a better anthro artist. You should check him out on FurAffinity and Twitter.

I have to keep this short or I’ll get distracted…

Woof! Where was I again? Oh yeah, Tiny Paws! I can’t wait – wish it was there already! Come hang out! Expect more when it gets closer to August 2018.

Guests of Honor at #TPC2018 @ShadraAvroArt, @BoozyBadger, and Patch O'furr of @DogpatchPress! So much excite! ❤️

— Tiny Paws (@TinyPaws_Con) September 10, 2017

GOH, welp. @BoozyBadger you're officially popufur now

— Dante The K9 (@DantePD) September 10, 2017

OMG can't wait to meet him in furson and buy him a drink!

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) September 11, 2017

Super hype to be GOH at a con. Looking forward to it! https://t.co/2Z55bGGGWN

— Shadra @ CDF Homecon (@ShadraAvroArt) September 11, 2017

Want to collab on GOH stuff? Or maybe a GOH club with secret decoder rings? I'm gonna help publicize the con for starters.

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) September 11, 2017

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Categories: News

Woo-Hoo!

In-Fur-Nation - Tue 26 Sep 2017 - 01:57

Looks as if IDW gets the honor of publishing the tie-in comic for Disney’s new DuckTales animated series. After a preview “issue #0” this last summer, the first issue of Disney DuckTales hit the shelves recently. “In ‘The Great Experiment of the Washing Machine,‘ Donald and the Nephews visit a top-secret lab, chock-full of crazy inventions to make life easier… but might make them shorter, instead! And then, learn ‘The Chilling Secret of the Lighthouse!'” The comic is written by Joe Caramagna and illustrated by Luca Usai and Gianfranco Florio.

image c. 2017 IDW Comics

Categories: News

ep. 175 - Firestream With Kage - ep. 175 - Firestream With Kage by Xander & Alkali

The Dragget Show - Mon 25 Sep 2017 - 22:59

ep. 175 - Firestream With Kage by Xander & Alkali ep. 175 - Firestream With Kage - ep. 175 - Firestream With Kage by Xander & Alkali

Categories: Podcasts