Anthropomorphic Dreams Publishing

PodCastle the fantasy fiction podcast has run two stories by author Eugie Foster with both anthropomorphic animals and an Eastern setting.

Daughter of Botu features rabbits and shape-changing and the story of trying to leave one world and live in another. It’s rated mature for for frank descriptions of adult events.

The Tanuki Kettle is sweet story with a mischevious tanuki and is completely G-rated.

District 9 is quite a compelling movie. The film is like Alien Nation with a more interesting, realistic and gritty plot. The fact that the disabled space ship came to rest over Johannesburg, South Africa is no accident.

The film is a study of race and the mistreatment of refugees. The social critiques are obvious but deftly handled, starting out with dark humor and building into a mounting dread. There is a fair amount of violence and gore, but it feels organic to the plot as it mounts to its conclusion.

The creature effects are wonderful. They created a race of aliens which are truly alien. The bipedal shrimp-like “Prawns” are both pathetic and unnerving as they eke out their existence in the settlement camp. It’s only later when we get to spend time with them as characters do we get to identify with them more.

The plot is brilliantly economic with the back-story, not answering all the questions, but showing enough to relate to the drama of the situation. It all adds up to a very impressive and moving film.

Here’s a few more stories from PodCastle, the fantasy podcast which might be of interest for their inclusion of anthro animal characters.

On the Banks of the River of Heaven is a fun Eastern myth about the affairs and loves of the gods and it features a talking otter character.

The evolution of trickster stories among the dogs of North Park after the Change is a mixed bag. The premise is very interesting, but the narrative structure is kind of detached and the politics get heavy handed. However the idea of the dogs creating universal myths was really neat and the ending was emotionally satisfying.

Pull up a log and grab a marshmallow as we bring you two stories perfect for telling around a campfire on a summer night.

A Campfire Tale by Allen Kitchen
Inspired by and a retelling of “The Highwayman” poem by Alfred Noyes
Read by Peter Katt

The One with the Spooky House by Tim Susman
Read by Chris Hvidsten from the Outcast podcast novel.

Sound effects from the FreeSound Project

Music by Infinity Squared

Both stories appeared in Alone in the Dark, the dramatic horror anthology.

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One of the goals behind the anthology Alone in the Dark was not only to have dramatic horror, but to feature sympathetic monsters in some of the stories. The dramatic stories in Pseudopod, the horror podcast, provided inspiration for the project.

Among Their Bright Eyes and Brothers are two examples of these types of stories.

Variant Frequencies’ Under the Bed is another story which is both disturbing and emotionally affecting.

All these stories are rated mature for violence.