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Hi! I've been skulking around here for a few days before I decided to join. I really like the idea of this community: the discussion of the genre. I've been writing furry fiction since I discovered the Sonic the Hedgehog Saturday morning cartoon (yes, StHAM fan fiction, and yes 1) I had a Mary Sue, or her male counterpart, 2) he had magical powers, because, seriously, why the hell not rock that much? and 3) I never finished it, so there). I tend to favor present-day and future fiction (spec, or sci-fi, I suppose) over fantasy. I also tend to favor Young Adult fiction, just because it seems to be all I'm interested in writing. I don't read a lot of furry fiction outside of what I've read of Redwall and, very recently, the Tale of Desperaux. I think this is because I can't find what I want to read, and this is part of why I'm writing.
Ok, so. My request: I need beta readers. I just finished a novella (I'm about 10,000 words short of a novel), and I'd really like some opinions. It's a present day story, in an alternate universe, in which furries -- furs -- and humans evolved side by side, with a few exceptions. The story revolves around a party and the events that take place there. Still with me? Thanks. The story can be found here. Please email me if you have any questions.
Second, I'd like to comment on a thread from a few months ago. I'll save that for after the cut.
My Earth universe assumes a few things: aside from the mass evolution of most mammals (save what we eat. I couldn't get rid of pizza and ice cream...), the events of Earth are mostly unchanged. The slave trade brought species over from Africa, humans included. Furs came over as servants to Europeans, but for the most part, the humans are in charge on this world. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States involved furs just as much as humans. Breeding between species is remarkably easy -- I have one character in the story about, Bryan, who is half-wolf, half-human. That being said, human-fur relationships are still pretty taboo.
Species isn't so important in this universe. What it really comes down to is a human/fur divide. There's elements of older culture in there -- Ty's family tends to be a little more pagan, reflecting the older religions of wolves, but, for the most part, she's a typical American. Again, it's who's in charge. Species does tend to be an indication of where someone is from, especially if they're from outside the US. Lions tend to come from Africa, Maned Wolves from South America, etc...
So, that's it. I suppose the answer to the question of species is: not much is different.
I'll stop my rambling now. I appreciate any time you take to read my stuff.
<3
Grant
November 17 2006, 16:32:10 UTC 5 years ago
With regards to your earth, Wow dude. That would definitely be hairy. There's still latent racism today, and homophobia is rampant - I can just imagine how people would act about an entirely different species. Especially when it comes down to religion - a furry/human relationship is probably more of an abomination than a homosexual one, in the eyes of religious texts. Which also makes one wonder exactly what the origins of furries are - or at least, how modern vs. religious texts see them.
It's also worth noting: when mammals evolve, usually those same mammals aren't sticking around. Take humans for instance - the theory is that we evolved from monkeys, right? Well, there are still monkeys here, so why didn't they just evolve? The answer is, the species of monkey that man evolved from doesn't exist anymore. So, if a wolf evolved into a bipedial creature, you wouldn't stand it next to a non-morphic wolf and go "Huh, they're the same"; they would be slightly different. Sort've like comparing say, a mediterranian wolf to a timber wolf to a maned wolf. So if furries exist, the subspecies they evolved from is gone.
And if there are no more non-morphic variations (I.e. wolves don't exist because they either evolved or went extinct), then you got a serious problem when it comes to animal population control.
November 17 2006, 18:32:02 UTC 5 years ago
As for human, animal relations, the situation is different and the same at the same time. There are ramifications for this: assuming Jesus did exist in this world, what was he? Was he a human, as the Christians in this world claim, or was he something else? And if he was a human, does his salvation extend to furs as well, or just humans. People like Dr. King would have said the former. Furthermore, the question of interspecies relationships is very sticky. Bryan is proof that things come out ok, and his parents do love each other very much. Biologically, in this world, it's totally ok. It's society that has a problem with it. I plan on addressing this sometime in the future with a story about Furball and Ally.
Thanks for the welcome! I hope that clears everything up.
Grant
November 17 2006, 18:47:24 UTC 5 years ago
It's not impossible. Birds can mimic human speech. Dolphins have a Form of communication (though it's certainly not a human voicebox).
I mean, monkeys don't mimic human speech; who's to say it's completely unique to humans?
As for the spicier brains, I again reference dolphins, which are Very smart. I hear pigs have the mental capacity of a five year old. Certain birds are smart, too.
With regards to opposable thumbs, this one's the real gotcha. Pandas have a Sort of thumb - it's more of a jutting of bone at the wrist/paw area that lets them grip bamboo easier. Chameleons have a sort-ve pincer-like hand that lets them hold branches a lot easier.
I think primates just developed the opposable thumb because they used tools more. I don't know how other species might adapt thumbs, but who knows?
Though I do think it would be very interesting if an anthro species developed that didn't act fully human. For instance, canines depending more on body language and TONE of voice vs. actual verbal communication, so interactions between canines and say, humans, can be very confusing or at least frustrating when you're trying to convey complex ideas.
You also have to consider the eye structure, to some degree; canines see movement a lot better than unique details. While I CAN see this changing a little - you need to be able to tell the difference between a red light vs. a green light, or numbers on a phone - it would be rather interesting when you're dealing with different biology.
But if humans and anthros can interbreed, I don't anticipate much difference between them in your world. O:)
And if he was a human, does his salvation extend to furs as well, or just humans.
That would depend, I think, on if the religious consider furs to have souls. If they have souls, then clearly they can be saved. This of course can be a source of debate.
As to interbreeding, yeah; usually it's society that has the issue, not actual biology. However, I think it would be interesting if certain defects bubbled up as a consequence. Susceptability to certain diseases, a higher chance of certain disabilities or deformities, etc etc. Just so that there is Some risk, no matter how statistically Unlikely.
Okay, that's enough from me. I obviously like to see myself type.
November 19 2006, 03:04:52 UTC 5 years ago
This is something I'm trying to explore in my work. One of the great things about animals is their body language, and I'd love to exploit that to its greatest effect. I like making the reader have to interpret what a character is feeling by how their body reacts.
Grant
November 18 2006, 06:14:49 UTC 5 years ago
I'm a Christian, myself, and I've struggled with this idea, as well. I think...that the Bible would be a different if furries were real, but that basically they would have fallen under the same sort of category as the Gentiles. Technically, the Gentiles weren't God's 'chosen people' (Jews were,)but when Jesus came along, he extended God's message to everyone. I think that would have included furries.
The main issue is, do furries have souls? Are their minds comparable to humans? If it's just the same mechanisms ticking behind different sorts of bodies...then sure, I think salvation would apply to them, as well.
As a side note, it would be interesting to see how humans react to furries who are descended from animals that have a certain symbolism in the Bible. What would they think of reptile furries, if snakes symbolize evil? What would they think of lion-descended furries, if for centuries Christians were fed to the lions in the coliseum? Then there's the whole Jewish kosher idea... ect.
I've also thought about the inter-species thing. I think- if species are capable of producing mixed offspring, then society would eventually get used to the idea of mixed relationships. Like inter-racial relationships in our world, yanno. But if the species *aren't genetically compatible, then I think mixed relationships would continue to be more or less taboo.
As for the thumbs mentioned in a post further down...what I get from nature shows is that if a species has a need for something, it will develop it. If furries in your world have cultures similar to humans, then somewhere along the line, they must have needed thumbs, just like humans did. Know what I mean?
Anyway, this is just my take on the subject. I hope it helped.
November 19 2006, 03:00:27 UTC 5 years ago
I certainly do know what you mean. "Nature will find a way" (yes, from Jurassic Park), has been a motto of mine for a while. Of course, just saying that in writing isn't good enough. ^_^;
And, as for the Young Adult novels, they've been some of the most intense writing I've read in a while. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a master work. I'm coming to really admire the genre, but I'm not sure what I should read next. Any suggestions?
Grant
November 18 2006, 06:23:34 UTC 5 years ago