FurFiction

Some Assembly RequiredA Home World Story Wilson G. Bear ~ 1. ~ Malya was sitting at her desk when her phone signaled an incoming call. "Beegle-eep," she told the phone; since she was born with a harelip, she could not whistle. Her entire family was born with harelips, since they were, after all, Hares. Still peering into screens filled with endless rows and columns of numbers, she answered without looking at the calling party. "Malya Turfer." The tawny face of a Puma filled another screen, its owner looking somewhat flustered. Keleyah Pahona, M.D., Malya's sister-in-law for all practical purposes (except that neither of them was technically m

Shades of MeaningAn Off World StoryWilson G. Bear Fenrys Rider sat at her desk, glaring into her computer monitors -- all four of them. Fen is my factum factotum at the Ministry of Goods and Resources. Her official title is Expediter, meaning one who makes things go quickly and smoothly, but actually she has a hand in many of the things we do. Documents, inventions, diplomatic pouches, trade agreements -- Fen is the one who finds the most efficient paths, the right contacts, the best methodology. Fen is a Canine, a race known as Scrub Herders. The closest analog in the Human world is an Australian Cattle Dog or Queensland Heeler. She grew up

The Fisherman and the TanukiPart 1Wilson G. Bear About five hundred years ago in Old Edo, when it was a fishing village – before it became the capitol of Japan, and long before they changed the name to Tokyo – there lived a fisherman named Kazuya.  He was rather successful in his business, so he built a larger boat and wove extra nets to bring in more fish.  With all the extra capacity, he needed help to operate his boat, but his son was still too young to assist. Kazuya tried to hire another man, but the good men in the village had their own boats, or they were working for other fishermen.  Kazuya posted a notice on his spot at

The Fisherman and the TanukiPart 2Wilson G. Bear Kazuya's business flourished with Shigeo's help.  He built an addition onto the house and gave the Tanuki his own room.  Shigeo was a guest at dinner more often than not, and he told the children wondrous tales and played his tsuchibue for them.  Sometimes Kazuya would play his samisen, and even Masumi said his playing had improved since he had someone with whom he could perform.  For her part, Masumi adored Shigeo, and even her parents grew fond of the Raccoon Dog and brought him little presents when they visited, as they did for the children.  As Masumi had thought, the Tanuki brought them lu