kay, where to start, where to start…

I’ve yet to go to sleep tonight so forgive me if I sound a little disjointed.

For most furs that have been around the fandom for awhile, Watts Martin’s “A Gift of Fire, A Gift of Blood” is considered one of the classics of furry literature. In fact, many people would consider it to be the story that all other fur stories are compared to. It’s a gothic romance that’s set in the fictional land of Ranea, a land that is the cross between the Victorian Era and swords and sorcery. It was first printed in issues of a furzine call Yarf! back in 1990.

Now I’m not that old, so I actually didn’t read it from those issues, but I did read it in ‘99 from a version that’s been posted on a website called “The Belfry Webworks,” run in part by someone who’s named after one of the main characters, a vampire bat named Revar. You can actually read the old version there, plus its sequel, “The Lighthouse,” along with other works. Unfortunately, the first chapter of “Gift” there seems to have been obliterated, which makes me sad. I loved the story so much that I printed both it and The Lighthouse out, and keep it in a makeshift book under my bed. Perhaps I should retype chapter 1 onto the computer, like an archivist lovingly restoring the lost print of a silent movie…

Anyways, Martin’s recently revised “Gift” and reprinted it on Weasyl, and is thinking about publishing it into an e-book with new illustrations. While I can’t say that I agree with some of the changes, as far as new illustrations go, I figure, why not give it a shot? I’m barely starting out, and he’s said he’s wanted to keep it cheap, so hopefully the above pic can be some sort of resume for him.

It’s basically of two of the three main characters in the story, Revar, and a spotted tabby named Mika, basing them off their descriptions and the original illustrations for the story. Some of the originals can be found on FA, but all of them are of Revar. Up until a couple weeks ago, all I had to go on Mika were drawings by Jordan Greywolf (from VCL). I’d like to take this time to thank Wolf Kidd for sending me those first two drawings of “kitten.”

Probably the only other problem I had was Revar’s outfit. They tend to be very skimpy and anyone who knows anything about Victorian times knows that those didn’t really exist, so trying to make it fit was a bit of a strain. I figured out the solution while listening to Fleetwood Mac. One word: “gypsy.” Problem solved.

For the record, that’s not blood on Mika’s chest, but ink. He works at a printing press and his third meeting with Revar is kind of spurred on by an “accident” that happens there. I realize that it doesn’t show up in the new version, but I liked the printing mishap. And the “pastahead” insult. And the “scary bitch” label that Revar has for herself. And even the beanbag chairs. So sue me. (Besides, they all transfer into the sequel later.)

I want to reiterate however just how much the story means to me. Hell, whenever I listen to The Beatles’ Revolver album, and a few of Billy Joel’s old songs, I think about these guys. (Hence the title.)

I’m going to sleep now. I think I’ll try to make a Victorian-styled beanbag chair next. I like a challenge.

Copyrights on Pic.