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Furtannia: The History of the Furry Fandom in the United Kingdom by Tim Stoddard
The Furry Fandom is a subculture in which literally hundreds of thousands of people across the world enjoy discussing and creating fictional worlds populated by anthropomorphic animal characters. "Furries" are increasingly in the news these days, but they are still a very misunderstood society. Most people who aren't Furries think that they all dress up in fursuits (costumes), go to conventions, and pretend to be sentient animals. But that is far from the full picture. Author Tim Stoddard, who is himself a Furry, clears up many of the misconceptions about the fandom, provides a history of its origins, and offers his personal take on how he became a Furry himself in his debut book, Furtannia: The History of the Furry Fandom in the United Kingdom. Furtannia provides a unique perspective on Furries. As many people familiar with the fandom know, the origins of the modern Furry phenomenon can be traced to America--specifically, California--and eventually grew and spread to other countries. One of the first countries outside the United States to embrace Furry was the United Kingdom. |
But the UK is not just a follower. Much of the literature and other media that inspired the modern-day fandom have their origins in England. Stoddard discusses these influences, such as Beatrix Potter's The Tales of Peter Rabbit, Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. He also credits such British influences as political cartoonist John Tenniel and Arthur White's Jungle Jinks, as well as the British art of pantomime.
After some history, you'll venture into Furry culture British style, as Stoddard relates the experiences of attendees at the Yately and other housecons, the first furmeets in the UK, and Furry conventions like ConFuzzled and how they differ from American furcons. You'll learn about unique British Furry 'zines such as AnthropoMORPHINE, too, and you'll poke your snout into special events like Frantic Eufuria and the RBW.
Whether you're an American Furry and wonder what fuzzy life is like outside the United States, a Furry from a European or Asian country who wants a broader perspective on the fandom than just what you hear about the States, or you're a Brit who is tired of hearing about Furries on the other side of the Pond and want to learn more about the fandom in your own country, Furtannia is the book for you!
After some history, you'll venture into Furry culture British style, as Stoddard relates the experiences of attendees at the Yately and other housecons, the first furmeets in the UK, and Furry conventions like ConFuzzled and how they differ from American furcons. You'll learn about unique British Furry 'zines such as AnthropoMORPHINE, too, and you'll poke your snout into special events like Frantic Eufuria and the RBW.
Whether you're an American Furry and wonder what fuzzy life is like outside the United States, a Furry from a European or Asian country who wants a broader perspective on the fandom than just what you hear about the States, or you're a Brit who is tired of hearing about Furries on the other side of the Pond and want to learn more about the fandom in your own country, Furtannia is the book for you!
Read an Excerpt:
| furtannia_sample.pdf |
Check out the Dazed interview with Tim StoddardAbout Tim Stoddard
Tim Stoddard, who goes by online as Gamepopper and is known to his friends as Popper, has been in the furry fandom since 2008. He is recognisable by his Lynx vigilante fursona known by the alias “D”, who wears a mask and cape and carries a rapier sword wherever he goes. Not only has he gone to many furmeets and conventions throughout the United Kingdom and Europe over the years, but he has also been involved in furmeets and conventions as a volunteer and staff organiser. Beginning in 2017, he took an interest in the fandom’s history, with a particular focus on his local communities. Since then, he has given history lectures on the furry fandom and furry-themed media at conventions such as ConFuzzled and Scotiacon, as well as written for furry publications such as Dogpatch Press and Flayrah. As a commitment to his research, he has contacted many furries to record their recollections and travelled to archives to view media about the furry fandom as it was intended, aiming to provide the full story of the furry fandom in the United Kingdom. |
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