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St. John's exploration of die-hard college football fans is extraordinary in several ways. First, he's a first-class investigative reporter, able to follow slender threads of connection to find interesting people and stories. Second, he's an excellent writer who's able to move back and forth from reporting to observation with ease; he describes the characters he encounters along the fan trail with exceptional vividness. Third, and most importantly, he's able to see social and personal truths that are larger than the immediate subject of his story. It's true that sports fans, and college football fans in particular, will connect to his subject most fully, but St. John's broader discoveries about individuals, groups, allegiances, friendships, and rivalries will be interesting to anyone who has even a marginal acquaintance with the dimensions of fanship, sports or otherwise. St. John's story of ingratiating himself with the RV crowd that follows Alabama football games at home and on the road is a page-turning read, artfully set to the dramatic backdrop of a turbulent SEC-championship run by the Tide. He weaves the stories of those he meets into a deep historical fabric of college football in the South, discovering some subtle (and not so subtle) realities about his own fanship in the bargain. This is a fine read for anyone interested in fanship, group dynamics or just good people stories; and it's a terrific read for sports fans. [©2008 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]

Sports brings out the best and worst in a fan. It gives people a sense of belonging to a group, but can also encourage violence and uncouth behavior towards opposing fans.

The theme of this book for me was the need that people have to belong to something. In today's fragmented and fast paced world, this is even more of a concern for people. St. John, a lifelong Alabama football fan, is able to gain entrance into people's lives simply by supporting the same team as they do. The frenzied postings on the Bama Fan message board and the sense of togetherness these total strangers feel on game days further shows the need for belonging most of these people have. The way most of them are described, Bama football is the end all and be all for them.

St. John's book also explores the dynamics of minority groups in a roundabout way. By traveling to opposing teams' home cities, the Bama fans show themseleves to be a vocal and aggressive minority. Everywhere they go, Bama fans are ridiculed and derided for their football allegiance. The way that the Bama fans band together and repel the assaults and insults of their rivals can give the reader some insight into how and why sports teams' fans can be such diehards.

This is a good book to give to the person in your family who can't understand the dynamics of being a fan.

I received this book for christmas i guess 3 years ago from my brother. I went to Bama so obviously I'm a fan. However.....I must tell you that even if you don't like the Crimson Tide, but do appreciate college football, you WILL LIKE THIS BOOK. You will be able to relate how you and your friends follow your team and all of their glory. It's a fabulous book that I have decided I will read once again; very entertaining, completely amusing, something you cannot put down. I do think you must like college football to some degree, but it really is a comedy-drama, dramady, if you will; anyone I have loaned it to has absolutely loved it. The writing was gripping, the storytelling almost like a folklore. You wanted to keep hearing more. A fabulous tale of how one writer/fan put it all on the line.........and came up with something really, really special. Enjoy-I can't imagine you wouldn't.

This is a must read for anyone with an interest in college football and in particular the Crimson Tide. It is a delight to read.

I am a college football fan and that helps when reading this book. I should say it is not completely necessary though. I found this book to be a interesting look at a sub culture of the sport I love. The book is fair and clear in presentation, no effort to hide the ugly part of this world, or sauce up the fun part. Mostly the book speaks about a interesting journey I wish I had the guts (and the time) to take.
I always measure a book by am I happy I bought it or do I wish I had gotten it out of the library. I am happy I bought this book, and you will be as well.

Great book for those interested in making fursuits. Goes over all the basics, but unfortunately just barely touches the more advanced stuff like air brushing. The book is also a little out dated concerning the various newer techniques like the "ninja hood" style mask and body part molding. Still a great book to have to give you an idea how to make a suit from scratch. There's plenty of good websites and social networking communities out there dedicated to fursuit making that can supplement this book very nicely.

The book covers the subject much more in detail then I would have expected, however the general guide on the actual work is too limited on a few techniques, even though it is understandable why. I would also have liked more tips on how to do something, and how not.

There are nice portraits of some known or good Fursuit bilders which adds well to the overall impression.
However this book will still require you to do much additional research on how to do what you want (either by searching the internet or contacting people for tips) and where to get the manterials needed, especially if you do not live in the USA (some sources are covered, but the concentrated on the US).

I have not red the book fully, though, as you might also use it as a compendium to look into when you want to know something specific.

Many who got to know of or bought this book will know the Furry Fandom or be part of it - under this context I must say that the book is held rather general in terms of the target audience, which can be considered positive - but I would have liked a more Furry focus and touch to it.

Still, it has helped me on my plan to build a Fursuit and I would recommend it, especially as there are no other sources (in book form) like this that I know of.

This is a great book to use if you are making a fursuit for the time time! I got one because I wanted to see if I could make one. A lot of great information! It tells you all the materials you needed to make one! This may be outdated, but this book is great to read! I recommened anyone who's making a fursuit or a mascot to get this book!

This is a great book, but it needs more updated data for todays materials and technics but its still a great book!!

Lots and lots of good data, and plenty of nice pics. Covers about anything you could want it to. This isn't just a book you flip through and put on the shelf, this is one you will actually read, and refer back to, and takes the unknowns out of making your own fursuit.

I found this book while searching for anthropomorphic fiction and decided to take a chance. I was not disappointed. The collection of stories here have a wide range of tales each with their own unique feel, experience and heart.

The world that these stories take place inspire characters whose personalities and unique experience touch my heart. Despite being in a fictional world of anthropomorphic characters, the inhabitants of New Tibet speak to the desperation of the human soul. Their experience of struggle, love, vulnerability and hurt, remind me of how human we really are.

The cold world of New Tibet may inspire the worst in people but for some of it's inhabitants it dares to provoke the best. Its these polar extremities that make many of it's characters so enchanting. When I finished a story I was struck with the realization that I would not be able to read what happens to them "tomorrow" or "next week". And perhaps that is what makes this collection so special, heart breaking and frustrating for me at the same time. Where many of these stories stop they do not "end" and thats the real lasting quality that stays with me.

I want you to keep in mind that not every story evoked this much inspiration within me, and there was some stories I enjoyed much more than others but thats what made this collection wonderful for me. On the other hand, all the stories collectively paint the world of New Tibet and individually add a unique dimension and layer to it.

New Tibet. A cold, depressing planet where there is no hope of anything, even escape. It does not crush the body. It crushes the spirit, leaving those who live and work there as cold and soulless as the constant snowfall and frostbitten wind.

From "Dead End", a perfect introduction to this world that punches harder than any other story in the collection. Through "A Prison of Clouds", the original New Tibet story about the sacrifices we make for each other out of love, never realizing that the other person doesn't want you to make those sacrifices. To the heartbreaking "Skin Deep."

I didn't care for every story in this book, but the good ones made the whole thing worth it.

I saw this book on the coffee table a couple years ago, and decided to read at least 1 story out of it. Three hours later, I closed the book, and decided to find out where I can get a copy of it. The stories in this book are very good, and a refreshing break from most fantasy. I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially either lovers of animals, or people that like their stories to be a little bit bleak.

By the way, I bought the second book, "Shadows in the Snow" a few months later, and enjoyed it immensely.

When I first saw this book, it was at a convention, laid out on a table with a few others. I took it home, and read the whole thing in two days. There aren't many compilations similar to this, and you'll be hard-pressed to find one with stories that pull the reader through such a wide range of emotions.

The story universe of New Tibet is a very cold place, not just in the planet's weather, but also referring to the dark underbelly of mafia-like groups and their hold on the poor. Those who aren't lucky enough to have the wealth and status of being a part of one of these groups, or having a well-paying job and a strong will to refuse recruiters, are completely at their mercy.

The stories follow different anthropomorphic characters, from foxes, to bears, to rabbits and wolves, and many more. Each has their own distict personality and problems, with different levels of success in overcoming the hurdles that life throws at them. It's very clear that the writers were picked for their skills-- I wasn't displeased with a single story in the entire compilation (this coming from someone that's extremely picky in what she likes to read!). Tim Susman has done an outstanding job editing this book together, and his own story in the collection, "A Prison of Clouds," is one of my favorites.

Give this one a read, you won't be disappointed. Also be sure to check out the book's sequel, "Shadows in Snow." It's just as good as this one. Another to check out is "Best in Show," renamed here on Amazon as "Furry! The Best Anthropomorphic Fiction Ever!" Happy reading!

Pleasant read for non-fan. No great insights. Buy if you want it for your collection.

A friend of mine recommend this book, the reason? For every movie and book release of Harry Potter I went to I dressed as Professor Severus Snape. I have even worn the costume to comic cons (being one of the few there from the books). With this book I have learned that there are other people who are as die hard as I am. The author really got me interested in going to one of these symposiums and going further into this fandom.
-Magus-

Ten years ago, my father sent me Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone with a note that said "Since you like Roald Dahl, you might like this..." Ten years later, I found myself donning a rather crazy rock n' roll wig to play Sirius Black in the fan film The Marauders' Worst Memory, directed by the author of this amazing book. As evidenced from this book, Erin Pyne lives and breathes Harry Potter; however, the true acclaim for this book lies in her ability to translate that excitement to the reader. If you are a fan of Harry Potter, Erin taps into every great moment you have experienced throughout the ten year odyssey of the Harry Potter books, enabling you to relive those moments and guaranteeing to put a smile on your face. If you are not a fan, you just might to pick up A Fandom of Magical Proportions to see what you've been missing...

Engaging, easy to read, and informative! I've loved the Potter books since Sorcerer's Stone was first published, but I never knew how vast the reach of this fantastical world has been. Ms. Pyne takes us on a fascinating journey through amateur authors, wizard rock bands, and enormous gatherings of thousands of fans from all over the world! No matter how deep into the Potter fandom you are, there's something in the book that will surprise you. Potter fans, as a group, have taken this simple story and expanded it into something wondrous, and I've never been more proud to be a fan of the Potter series as I am right now.

Robert Rankin's books are kind of like a really good BBC television show. Superficially, they don't take a lot of brainpower to comprehend, they're hysterically funny, and there are really only like, six characters in the whole series.

Conversely, the real reason they're so funny is because there's a core of intelligence and education to them that one rarely sees in American media. I've actually learned quite a few interesting things in researching offhand jokes about obscure historical characters, for instance.

All in all, I'd never call any of his novels life-changing gems of intellectualism, but I'm always pretty glad that I've read them.

I agree with another reviewer... I listened to the audio version, his dry wit and sarcasm came across in a way that I'm not sure would have by reading it in print, especially since Rankin is the speaker as well. I highly recommend the audio version over print. I wish more of his books were available in audio, in fact!

I read Fandom of the Operator because of ONE blurb on the back: Terry Prachett, author of the Discworld series, wrote "One of the rare guys who can always make me laugh." Well, that, and the fact that I picked it up cheap at a used booksale for charity. I won't go into the plot too much--suffice it to say that the ludicrous plot is the source of most of the humor, and alien mind control and raising the dead play a big part. It's a very silly book with more twists than an anaconda committing suicide, and nobody can rightly say they figured it out in advance. But for me it wasn't terribly satisfying. It's basically light entertainment, with a tiny touch of sex and a bit of disgusting stuff for fun. Discworld's much richer textured and funnier. I can't see it being worth the price asked here at Amazon--I think that's cause it's a UK book, and I'll bet you can get it in paperback from amazon.uk much cheaper. If you're someone who roars at the humor of the title, you'll go for it big. But the cover blurb, from the Daily Express, says it all for me, "Everybody should read at least one Robert Rankin book in their life." Well, now I have.

I borrowed this from the library as an audiobook before a roadtrip and loved it. I think though, being an American and prone to reading things with an American's timing, rather than a Brit's, that I would have missed the humor had I not heard it read by the author. This book is funny, but exponentially more funny read aloud by Rankin. Reading it to myself, I would have likely rated it much lower, as I think I'd have mistimed the delivery.

"Machine Goddess" by Charles Phipps is a novel that somehow encompasses the issues of technology abuse, philosophy and action all into one. After the exposition, the novel dives into a wild sequence of events which see James Brody's day go from bad to worse. Brody, the protagonist and narrator, is a genius with cybernetic implants, which give him unparalleled computing abilities.

This genius, however, also makes him extremely arrogant- initially, you might find it difficult to like James, but it improves as the story progresses.

As for the events of the novel...there's a battle between geniuses, a bizarre love triangle and a revolutionary movement for starters, not to mention all the interesting philosophical questions it raises. The character of Eve is particularly intriguing- and she provides a bit of comic relief in the book through her naivete. The concept of the Digital World is great, and is well handled in the book.

If you like cyberpunk, computer implants or completely Digital Worlds...you'll probably love this book. Even if you're not into alternative computer-generated worlds you'll probably still enjoy it ;)

I enjoyed Charles Phipps' Machine Goddess, and also the second in the series Undying Machine. His attempt to create a new universe is awesome to watch, especially one of such a sophisticated level. I did enjoy his OZ books, and his work in that already established universe was certainly worth reading, however working in someone else's universe doesn't require the same level of skill as creating an entirely new one. I've found few authors who could pull it off like this author.

Machine Goddess is an unusual and very creative adventure story set in a bleak far distant future of Earth when technology is very advanced. It's told from the first person perspective of James, who is the main character. James is human being who has cybernetic implants. These implants permit this already very gifted person to think millions of times faster than a normal human. Talk about multi-tasking! He can be taking a language class AND a class in martial arts in the Digital World at the same time that he's composing a poem and chatting with the lady of his life. (One of several ladies of his life actually!) Despite his implants, James is a very human and very compelling character with a strong morality. James creates Eve, an amazing Artificial Intelligence who is more intelligent and perfect than humans. She is a very interesting, complex character despite being a machine.

Much of the story involves the Digital World, an intriguing and wonderous place where people can do anything that they can do in reality and more. The fast-paced, action-filled story takes place over just a few real-time days, but James has enough adventures to last a lifetime! The book is definitely a page-turner! The end of the book leaves you wanting to read the next one immediately!

A weaker collection of stories from New Tibet. Tim Susman writes the only two outstanding stories in here: "Life is Beautiful," and "Spook." The others are not bad and they're definitely not boring, just...uh..."passing through." Fortunately, Susman's stories take up just over half the pagecount, so majority makes this collection worth it anyway.

I picked up the book before this one, "Breaking the Ice" and enjoyed it so much, that I looked for it's sequal. This is almost as good as "Breaking the Ice", but I think it's still completely worth reading. One of the stories, "Spook" deserves at least a sequel of it's own. This book is a great one to read while curled up in your favourite chair with a mug of hot cocoa. I really liked not only the cover illustration, but the illustrations between the stories.

Right to the ending, and admittedly I will look at the author's blog on the whole mess occasionally to see if there are any updates. Someday, I hope there will be a second edition of this book including some of the zany things that have happened since it was published.

A must read for anyone who can't help craning their necks when passing by a trainwreck.

I have read this book many times, just to soak it all in--the insanity of how far these two "women" were willing to go to lie, cheat, and steal their way through the LOTR fandom was almost unbelievable. I had to put the book down several times, because the amount of rage building up was ready to cause me to implode. This is a must read for anyone who is involved in a charity, especially if you are contributors, rather than the ones in charge. Highly recommend it for LOTR fans.

Although the venue of this true story is "Lord of the Rings" fandom, the book is bootcamp for ALL trusting, good-willed folk--no matter WHAT your passion--in how con-artists beguile. Indeed, it tells exactly how, and how FAR, two con-artists actually went to get what they wanted, everybody else be damned. Fake gender? Fake suicide note? Fake charity? Multiple fake pasts? NO PROBLEM! Let's hope, as I believe, that author Jeanine Renne's first-hand experience will make a fake *future* seriously difficult for two depraved narcissists still on the loose--and oh-so-eager to con YOU! This book is a fascinating read, and a valuable expose. Buy it before YOU get snookered!

I read this book having personally seen the beginnings of what would be become the disaster that followed Bit of Earth's so called attempt at charity. I heard first hand what "Those Two" were planning, and from my vantage point, everything seemed legitimate and honest. I even witnessed a conversation between "Those Two" regarding a phone conversation about the upcoming event they were planning to have with Sean Astin. They even promised me that I could attend the event myself, until "Those Two" came to the conclusion I was unworthy of their "exhalted" company.

The description of events as described in this book were, from my memory, accurate and candidly described.

There's many lessons to be learned from this book, and the most important lesson is this: It's not about her anymore; it's about the people she wrongfully screwed over. Good things come out of horrible situations --a point Jeanine proves by her investigation into this matter and her honest portrayal of events.

This story - the better for being true - moves quickly from revelation to revelation of astounding yet small-time duplicity, and of the gullibility all too common among those who wish to do good. Getting to know the anti-heroines (without being burned by them) is alone worth the price of admission. There is something pricelessly absurd about a self-proclaimed Warrior whose ultimate weapon is the fake suicide attempt.
Unusual among true crime stories, this one concerns major players - both con artists and dupes/avengers - who are women. The action takes place in a fandom centering around a group of men, the LoTR actors, of whom only one plays more than an elusive background role in the book. There is much food here for thought about sexual and gender politics.
While the story is dramatic even on a quick read, more of it would be accessible to a wider variety of readers if more background information were given; for instance about the organization of an international on-line fandom, the typical requirements for the success of a fan convention, or the IRS regulations concerning non-profit status. A great deal can however be gleaned from the text, with attentive reading.
A serious discussion of transsexuality and whether that is a relevant issue would have strengthened the book's focus. It is currently an unexplored subtext that has distracted some readers from the primary story.
The second part of Appendix A could, with a a bit of narrative added to the chat transcript, stand on its own as a very funny short story about clashing agendas. (Too bad that would probably not be quite legal.)

At the time of my purchase i hadn't realized how dated this book was, though it is helpful to me as an anthro art collector, it still has old addresses / people who may or may no longer do comissions.

What i would liked to have seen was a date on the publishing of the product so that i could have known it's age not just the ISBN.

Other than that, i do appreciate the art contained therein and hope more editions become available sooner or later.

This book contains some of the best furry artwork that I have seen in a long time. It lists the price of commisions as well as contact information to the artists.

For the most part, the artwork in the book is good, although I agree with other reviewers that it is blurry on some pages. It has a very broad selection of work, not all of which is furry. My only complaint is that it isn't in color. (Had I read all the reviews I would have known this) I expected it would be, and was kind of disappointed that it wasn't.

A nice collection of artists, with some great examples of what they can do. But....
Paper stock is poor and some prints are a bit blurry.

This is a great artbook, featuring many famous furry artists. I love the art, and look at it regularly. If you're a fan of Michele Light, I recommend it.

If you pick up this book just for pure entertainment you will not be disapointed, the stories inside range from the merely wonderfull to the fantastic in quality.
Great for a moment of reading durring morning commute or a moment of relaxation in a quet corner of a waiting room.
If however you are like me, and you want more then just entertainment for its own sake you will find that this book reprisents allso the posibility of studing different tecniques and stiles of writing.
Now, admitidly when you do this you run the risk of being a little confused, unlike a textbook the transition from one story and one tecnique to another is sudden, litterally the turn of a page, however there are few other examples out there where you can study and be entertained at the same time.
Just dont let the entertainment distract you from the study.

FYI, This book is/was also published as "Best In Show" by Sofawolf Press.

This anthology is very good and I heartily recommend it. It contains stories from authors on my "buy-on-sight" list and I had nearly laid out the cash for it before I started reading the descriptions and realized it sounded awfully familiar. It's darn good, but I don't really need two copies. :)

I think the biggest strength of this anthology is its variety. With twenty six different authors, you are almost guaranteed to find something new. I already knew Brian Antoine and Phil Geusz were excellent furry authors. In this anthology, I discovered "The Color Of Rain" by Gene Breshears, "Crucible" by Kim Liu, "Messenger" by Mel White, and more. If you like anthropomorhic short stories, this is for you.

P.S. The Sofawolf version has cover art by Ursula Vernon, which you might prefer. :)

This book is the best bargain I have ever gotten. It is a must read for Furries. And Non-Furries will enjoy it just as much.The stories are well written and well catigorised . I will read them again and again.

This book is the literary manifestation of sexual repression and malformation. Coherent stories, decent prose, actual plot and character development, but all in support of repressed bestiality. Though non-furries will find it readable and perhaps even enjoyable as fiction, the true reason behind each and every one of these stories is furthering the spread of the mental abhoration that is furrydom.

Do not support this book or any of its benefactors.

If you're like me, you're tired of sword-and-magic fantasy, weary of Lord of the Rings clones and you couldn't care any less about Harry what's-his-name. You do not understand what is so fantastic about the medieval period. You are tired of humans getting all the attention. You wish Jurassic Park had been told from the dinosaur's point of view without all those humans getting in the way (and you were rooting for the raptors). We want something different.

This collection of furry stories breaks out of what is considered normal fantasy by making animals the center of attention, and it's a refreshing break!

Fully realized worlds with intelligent, humanized animals. Some by genetic manipulation, some by transformation, and many where there is no explanation. If you're willing to buy into this and get a dose of a different kind of fantasy, this is a great find! These are writers who have broken from the norm and explored the less-traveled road of animal stories for adults. Humanized animals have a nasty reputation as being cartoons exclusively for kids, but these authors write them for adults who are open-minded enough to take them seriously. There's nothing childish about them; they explore themes meant for adult minds and I'm not talking about sex. Yes, there is some (and it's all tasteful), but a lot of these stories will make you think about far-reaching subjects. Some will touch you emotionally, like good literature should.

As with all collections of short stories, the quality varies from story to story, but there are some real gems in here.

Foxy Lady--a very touching love story. It tickles the hormones without ever breaching good taste. Wish it was longer!
Canis Major--great action with a cute ending.
Wings--this one alone is worth the retail price of the book. Emotionally, it is the deepest story of them all. It gets you in the heart.

Secret Weapon--you just don't see dragons portrayed like this! The funniest in the collection.
Mercy to the Cubs--I thought the ending needed to be poignant instead of happy, but it's still a suspenseful read.
Messenger--the Eater is a unique idea.

Find the Beauty--I like foxes, so I have to like this one. An unexpected twist in a transformation story.
Little Monster--the most original take on a werewolf story I've ever read! Real fun!

The rest range from barely passable (only 2 or 3) to very good. I'm glad to find fantasy that does not copy TLOTR and rehash the tired old dethroned-king-peasant-becomes-unlikely-warrior-medieval-politics-group-of-friends-on-epic-journey plots that dominate much of fantasy. We've been there and done all that for over 50 years. It was fresh and original when Tolkin did it, but it's time for something different. Time to view talking animals as something other than childish cartoons. I'm glad I read this.