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juushikaTitle: A Field Guide to Otherkin
Author: Lupa
Published: Megalithica Books, 2007
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 315
Total Page Count: 370,420
Text Number: 1360
Read Because: it me!
Review: I wouldn't call this an essential modern resource or the ideal place for newcomers. A lot has changed in community terminology since this was published, largely for the better: there's clearer boundaries around otherkin/therian identities and a better understanding of how they fit—and blend!—into other alterhuman identities, making the internet the better modern entry point. Neither is it essential reading for average community members, because the community history is preserved and discussed online. Don't worry too much about missing out on this now that it's grown difficult to access.
But as a snapshot of contemporary otherkin et al. communities, this is fascinating! And flawed. The balance leans towards magical and mythological, and the relative absence of community history feels like an oversight; a lot of space is given to identities like modern vampirism and plurality which would now fall under the alterhuman umbrella rather than being specifically otherkin. Some of this is an objective flaw, some is attributable to author bias, but as much of it is a snapshot of the community of the era—and, like the interesting inclusion of physical/genetic and archetypal origins, and the surprisingly slight emphasis on shifting, I'd be hard-pressed to pinpoint which is which.
As the first published book on otherkin, this is an important and formative work; while outdated, I wish it were more accessible in order to enable the ongoing, evolving conversation for which is advocates. And for all I say it's not essential reading outside that context, I'm glad to've finally read it—it's a fully-realized, consistently readable snapshot of its place in community history.
Author: Lupa
Published: Megalithica Books, 2007
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 315
Total Page Count: 370,420
Text Number: 1360
Read Because: it me!
Review: I wouldn't call this an essential modern resource or the ideal place for newcomers. A lot has changed in community terminology since this was published, largely for the better: there's clearer boundaries around otherkin/therian identities and a better understanding of how they fit—and blend!—into other alterhuman identities, making the internet the better modern entry point. Neither is it essential reading for average community members, because the community history is preserved and discussed online. Don't worry too much about missing out on this now that it's grown difficult to access.
But as a snapshot of contemporary otherkin et al. communities, this is fascinating! And flawed. The balance leans towards magical and mythological, and the relative absence of community history feels like an oversight; a lot of space is given to identities like modern vampirism and plurality which would now fall under the alterhuman umbrella rather than being specifically otherkin. Some of this is an objective flaw, some is attributable to author bias, but as much of it is a snapshot of the community of the era—and, like the interesting inclusion of physical/genetic and archetypal origins, and the surprisingly slight emphasis on shifting, I'd be hard-pressed to pinpoint which is which.
As the first published book on otherkin, this is an important and formative work; while outdated, I wish it were more accessible in order to enable the ongoing, evolving conversation for which is advocates. And for all I say it's not essential reading outside that context, I'm glad to've finally read it—it's a fully-realized, consistently readable snapshot of its place in community history.
