COMMENTARY ON BETTY HEAVY

Submission file version

Date posted: Aug 10/2011

© 2011 Fred Brown


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>>>>> Commentary On Betty Heavy <<<<<


By Fred Brown, Aug 10/2011  fwbrown61


Copyright 2011 All rights reserved, all commercial
infringements prosecuted, website display permission
available upon request. Non-personal distro is infringement.



(The story is located here: Betty Heavy )

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​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank​ you​ for​ coming​ here.​ I'll​ make​ it​ worth​ your​ visit.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ To​ open,​ about​ the​ military​ history​ thing.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ This story took its main inspiration from a gorgeous​ ​ poster in my​ ​ living
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ room.​ ​ It shows a​ ​ Lancaster bomber in​ ​ flight.​ ​ Ocean is​ ​ in​ ​ the background,
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ farmland​ ​ underneath.​ ​ The​ ​ afternoon​ ​ sun​ ​ is​ ​ putting​ ​ silver gleams on​ ​ the
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ water.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The plane itself​ ​ is​ ​ painted dark, dark, as befits the role​ ​ the​ ​ Lancaster
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ played​ ​ in​ ​ WWII:​ ​ night bomber. Death​ ​ from​ ​ above​ ​ at​ ​ 1:00 AM. Unless​ ​ a
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ searchlight​ could​ catch​ one​ no​ German​ ever​ saw​ one.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ It's​ ​ far​ ​ and away​ ​ one​ ​ of​ ​ my favourite posters.​ ​ You​ ​ can​ ​ almost hear
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 'that​ rumbling​ sound'​ (to​ paraphrase​ Steve​ Earle).

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Now,​ ​ WWII was​ ​ a​ ​ highly​ ​ multinational​ ​ thing.​ ​ The​ ​ Canadian​ ​ military
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ was in the thick​ ​ of​ ​ it along​ ​ with​ ​ everybody else.​ ​ This was especially true of
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ the​ air​ war.​ Including​ bombers.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The​ ​ Canadian​ ​ RCAF​ ​ 419 Squadron flew Lancasters. I'll quote​ ​ from the
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ text​ on​ the​ poster:


​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ "On​ ​ the​ ​ night​ ​ of​ ​ June​ ​ 12,​ ​ 1944,​ ​ Pilot​ ​ Officer​ ​ Andrew
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Charles​ ​ Mynarski​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ RCAF​ ​ 419​ ​ ​ Squadron​ ​ showed
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ selfless​ ​ heroism​ ​ as he​ ​ attempted​ ​ to​ ​ free​ ​ the​ ​ trapped
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ rear gunner​ ​ while their flaming​ ​ Lancaster​ ​ fell out of​ ​ the
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ sky​ near​ Cambrai,​ France.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ "Leaping from the​ ​ crippled bomber with​ ​ his​ ​ clothes​ ​ and
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ parachute afire, Mynarski​ ​ later died from​ ​ his wounds. He
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ was​ ​ awarded​ ​ the​ ​ Victoria​ ​ Cross posthumously. (Author's
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ note:​ that's​ one​ of​ the​ big​ ones.)

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ "In​ ​ ​ 1977​ ​ ​ the​ ​ Canadian​ ​ ​ Warplane​ ​ ​ Heritage​ ​ Museum
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ acquired​ ​ a​ ​ Lancaster​ ​ bomber​ ​ and​ ​ ​ the​ ​ largest​ ​ aircraft
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ restoration​ ​ project​ ​ ​ in​ ​ Canadian​ ​ history​ ​ began.​ ​ Eleven
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ long​ ​ years and​ ​ thousands upon​ ​ thousands of​ ​ volunteer
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ hours​ ​ later,​ ​ the​ ​ lovingly​ ​ restored​ ​ Lancaster​ ​ made​ ​ her
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ maiden flight-proudly​ ​ painted​ ​ in the colours of the​ ​ 419-
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ in​ a​ salute​ to​ Andy​ Mynarski​ and​ his​ heroism."



​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The​ ​ kicker?​ ​ I​ ​ saw​ ​ this​ ​ ​ Lanc​ ​ when​ ​ it​ ​ came​ ​ to​ ​ visit​ ​ the​ ​ Fredericton
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ airport​ in​ 1990.​ (Where​ do​ y'think​ I​ got​ the​ poster?)

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ And​ ​ I​ ​ *definitely*​ ​ heard that rumbling​ ​ sound, as​ ​ it did a flypast.​ ​ It's
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ not​ that​ I​ dwell​ much​ on​ war,​ but​ on​ that​ day​ I​ surely​ did.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Nor should I say that the story​ ​ is dedicated to Mynarksi, but I​ ​ can't​ ​ let
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ the​ opportunity​ go​ past​ to​ acknowledge​ him.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ I​ have​ a​ feeling​ I'll​ never​ write​ another​ story​ like​ Betty​ Heavy​ again.



​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Yes, and​ ​ what was​ ​ that​ ​ about the​ ​ date​ ​ on​ ​ the story?​ ​ 2002?​ ​ Whuffo
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ does​ that​ matter?

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Notice​ ​ that​ ​ I've​ ​ said​ ​ that​ ​ 2007​ ​ was​ ​ when​ ​ ​ I​ ​ officially​ ​ ​ tripped​ ​ over
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ matters​ ​ furry. An image​ ​ of Bernal's​ ​ Champagne grabbed me​ ​ by the throat
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ and​ demanded,​ 'Write​ me!'

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Full​ ​ disclosure:​ ​ ​ Other​ ​ things​ ​ were​ ​ grabbed​ ​ too.​ ​ ​ That​ ​ pic​ ​ ​ with​ ​ her
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ sliding​ down​ the​ stripper​ pole,​ the​ purple​ thing​ on​ the​ floor,​ 'nuff​ said.​ :-​ )

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ So​ ​ how did​ ​ a fur story get written at​ ​ a​ ​ time​ ​ when I​ ​ didn't even​ ​ know
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ what​ a​ fur​ was?​ Oooo,​ a​ mystery...

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Not. Betty​ ​ Heavy​ ​ was actually​ ​ a​ ​ *science fiction* story,​ ​ told straight,
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ not​ ​ a tail​ ​ or muzzle​ ​ or​ ​ ears in​ ​ sight.​ ​ Got submitted​ ​ for​ ​ publication a few
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ times​ too.​ Nobody​ bit.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ No prob. Anthology fodder for​ ​ sure. You gotta​ ​ look​ ​ at rejection​ ​ letters
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ like​ that​ or​ you'll​ go​ mad,​ mad.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ But​ ​ 2002, 2002.​ ​ Nearly​ ​ ten years​ ​ ago. That would​ ​ have​ ​ made​ ​ Betty
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Heavy.​ .​ .

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Yup. The​ ​ first​ ​ official​ ​ SF​ ​ short​ ​ story written.​ ​ Meaning​ ​ to say,​ ​ written
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ for​ publication.​ This​ was​ the​ first​ story​ to​ hit​ that​ standard;​ a​ watershed.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Oh,​ ​ the mid-late​ ​ 90's​ ​ saw quite a​ ​ bit​ ​ of​ ​ writing​ ​ effort.​ ​ The​ ​ 'training
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ wheels'​ ​ ​ were​ ​ ​ still​ ​ ​ on,​ ​ so​ ​ ​ to​ ​ ​ speak.​ ​ Takes​ ​ ​ a​ ​ while​ ​ to​ ​ ​ polish​ ​ ​ one's
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ craftsmanship.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Some half-assed​ ​ flailing around was​ done on some​ ​ novel ideas (sound
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ideas, just bogged down​ ​ by lack of skill). Much more​ ​ work went​ ​ into a long-
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ running erotica project, kinda dark, and​ ​ aimed at​ ​ a​ ​ kinda​ ​ dark newsgroup.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Remember​ newsgroups?

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Humour was​ ​ also​ ​ involved. One​ ​ awfully​ ​ weird niche,​ ​ in hindsight.​ ​ But
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ the​ writing​ skills​ got​ honed​ to​ a​ much​ sharper​ level.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Then came​ ​ changes​ ​ in​ ​ the life​ ​ situation and​ ​ the​ ​ decision​ ​ to​ ​ buckle
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ down​ ​ and​ ​ DO​ ​ ​ SOME​ ​ REAL​ ​ SF,​ ​ GODDAMMIT!!​ ​ Stop​ ​ ​ pissing​ ​ ​ around,​ ​ Mr.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Brown.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Betty Heavy​ ​ was the result. Another​ ​ thirty or​ ​ so​ ​ short stories​ ​ clattered
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ off​ ​ the​ ​ keyboard​ ​ in​ ​ quick​ ​ succession.​ ​ Having​ ​ upgraded​ ​ ​ the​ ​ short​ ​ story
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ chops​ I​ then​ began​ thinking​ novels​ again.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Then​ ​ a​ ​ ​ certain​ ​ white-haired​ ​ ​ vixen​ ​ ​ entered​ ​ my​ ​ life.​ ​ ​ Among​ ​ other
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ equally​ ​ lovely​ ​ fur​ ​ females.​ ​ Novels?​ ​ Did​ ​ somebody say​ ​ novels?​ ​ (with sex
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ scenes)​ Hello.​ .​ .

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Four fun​ ​ years​ ​ later,​ ​ and it could be said that​ ​ my fur story​ ​ chops are
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ in​ ​ reasonable shape. But much​ ​ more work​ ​ to go, IMHO.​ ​ This​ ​ was​ ​ already
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ well-known​ well​ before​ I​ came​ to​ FA.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ I'll say out loud that​ ​ I​ ​ see furfic as​ ​ a​ ​ meta-genre, which ain't​ ​ news to
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ those​ ​ who know,​ ​ and means​ ​ that I got a bitch​ ​ of a lot of work to do before
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ I'll​ label​ myself​ skilled.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (The nature of this meta-genre will be saved for another​ ​ Journal or​ ​ I'm
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ not​ gonna​ get​ through​ this​ one.)



​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Still,​ that​ mystery.​ How​ did​ Betty​ Heavy​ go​ from​ SF​ to​ Fur?

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Sort of simple.​ ​ I looked at the​ ​ stockpile​ ​ and realized that I ​ did have a
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ few stories​ ​ that were​ ​ sorta​ ​ furry. The most​ ​ obvious was​ ​ Ah-Wooo! ​ (located
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Here).​ ​ The others,​ ​ well,​ ​ look​ ​ at them​ ​ a​ ​ bit sideways​ ​ and​ ​ they​ ​ could​ ​ be
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ posted​ to​ FA​ without​ objection.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Then​ ​ I​ ​ reread Betty Heavy. For my first, it's still​ ​ one​ ​ of​ ​ my faves. Not
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ a​ furry​ story​ in​ the​ slightest.​ Can't​ be​ posted.​ Drat.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ But.​ ​ .​ ​ .​ ​ what​ ​ if​ ​ I​ ​ *had*​ ​ written​ ​ this​ ​ as​ ​ a​ ​ fur​ ​ story?​ ​ This​ ​ was​ ​ the
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ question​ that​ launched​ me​ down​ the​ road​ to​ sin.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ What​ ​ would this story look like? (as​ ​ a​ ​ fur story?)​ ​ What would need​ ​ to
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ be​ changed?​ Or​ added?​ Or​ taken​ out?

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ So​ ​ I set​ ​ myself​ ​ a​ ​ private writer's​ ​ challenge:​ ​ rewrite​ ​ this​ ​ one,​ ​ using
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ what​ ​ I​ ​ now know about​ ​ fur​ ​ stories, and try and make​ ​ it work.​ ​ As in,​ ​ don't
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ damage​ the​ core​ story.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ I​ think​ it​ took​ me​ about​ twenty​ minutes.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Then​ I​ sat​ back​ and​ stared​ at​ the​ screen.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Now​ ​ just hold on​ ​ here!!! It​ ​ was *that* easy?​ ​ To 'furrify' this​ ​ piece? Ye
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Gods, I barely even​ ​ glossed​ ​ the thing! ​ Not that​ ​ the story devotes much​ ​ ink
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ to​ characterization,​ but​ come​ on!!

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ And from​ ​ all​ ​ accounts I​ ​ pulled it​ ​ off. The​ ​ core story is intact, and the
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ reviews have been quite positive (the​ ​ war buffs like​ ​ it; that's a​ ​ real positive
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ vote).

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ But, but, but. . .​ ​ in a certain sense, as a​ ​ fur story it's completely bogus
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (or​ am​ I​ taking​ honesty​ as​ a​ writer​ a​ little​ too​ far​ here?)

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Or​ ​ does​ ​ this​ ​ matter?​ ​ The​ ​ story​ ​ still​ ​ connects with​ ​ a fur​ ​ readership.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Furrify the​ ​ rest of​ ​ the​ ​ stockpile​ ​ the same way and​ ​ those​ ​ stories could​ ​ do
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ the​ ​ same​ ​ as BH. Any pickiness​ ​ about​ ​ provenance​ ​ perhaps​ ​ ought best​ ​ be
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ kept​ between​ me​ and​ the​ keyboard.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Oops: Blown​ ​ that.​ ​ This for​ ​ me raises​ ​ questions.​ ​ Just what​ ​ *is*​ ​ a fur
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ story,​ ​ then? On one level, an​ ​ easy answer: Whatever fur fans​ ​ will read​ ​ and
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ label​ as​ a​ fur​ story.​ BH​ seems​ to​ pass​ the​ test.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ On another level, this wee literary experiment​ ​ suggests that​ ​ there​ ​ is a
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ minimum standard of​ ​ 'furness' that a story has​ ​ to meet. Ergo, in theory any
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 'mundane'​ ​ story​ ​ could be​ ​ run​ ​ through​ ​ the​ ​ Furrifier​ ​ Machine​ ​ with​ ​ equally
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ good​ results.​ In​ theory.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The​ ​ lightning​ ​ crackles,​ ​ the​ ​ gears​ ​ clank, the​ ​ steam​ ​ hisses,​ ​ and​ ​ the
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ required​ ​ amounts​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ Secret​ ​ Fur​ ​ Elixir™ ​ are ​ injected. ​ Then the ​ story
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ shambles​ ​ off​ ​ down​ ​ to​ ​ the​ ​ village​ ​ to​ ​ entertain​ ​ the​ ​ kiddies.​ ​ ​ 'Igor,​ ​ we're
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ running​ low​ on​ tails.'​ 'You​ can't​ have​ mine,​ Marthter.'

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The irony​ ​ here is​ ​ pungent.​ ​ A​ ​ couple​ ​ of​ ​ months back,​ ​ a conversation
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ with​ ​ another​ ​ writer​ ​ took​ ​ place, about​ ​ fur​ stories. I suggested a quality​ test
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ for​ ​ a fur​ ​ story. Go​ ​ through the text​ ​ and​ ​ remove all the​ ​ fur​ ​ elements​ ​ you
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ can​ find.​ Cut,​ cut,​ cut.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Then reread​ ​ the story. If​ ​ it's a total​ ​ hash, that's a​ ​ clue​ ​ to​ ​ how​ ​ much
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ the​ ​ story depends on​ ​ those fur elements.​ ​ As in a​ ​ lot, which is​ ​ good. If the
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ story​ ​ is​ ​ still​ ​ readable,​ ​ ​ however,​ ​ ​ then​ ​ you​ ​ ​ may​ ​ have​ ​ ​ something​ ​ of​ ​ a
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ mundane​ story​ 'in​ a​ fursuit,'​ so​ to​ speak.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ This​ ​ is to​ ​ say,​ ​ it​ ​ might​ ​ be​ ​ entertaining​ ​ if done as a fur​ ​ story, but it
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ would also​ ​ work​ ​ just as​ ​ well​ ​ with purely human​ ​ characters.​ ​ So​ ​ it could​ ​ be
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ worth​ ​ the work​ ​ to​ ​ figure​ ​ out​ ​ how​ ​ to​ ​ take​ ​ it to​ ​ the next​ ​ level​ ​ (ie., more
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ strongly​ furry).

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Now here I​ ​ am​ ​ going in​ ​ the​ ​ opposite​ ​ direction​ ​ with​ ​ BH.​ ​ A story​ ​ in a
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ fursuit? Arguably​ ​ yes. Wearing a helmet. What​ ​ do I make of this?​ ​ (even as
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ much​ as​ I​ still​ really​ like​ the​ story)

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ .​ .​ .

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 'Igor!!​ ​ Start​ ​ lining​ ​ 'em​ ​ up,​ ​ adjust​ ​ the​ ​ formatting​ ​ engine,​ ​ and​ ​ lube
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ everything​ ​ that doesn't get out of​ ​ your​ ​ way​ ​ fast enough! We're​ ​ going​ ​ into
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ full​ production!!'​ 'About​ my​ overtime,​ Marthter?'​ 'What?'​ :-​ )

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (Give​ the​ readers​ what​ they​ want?​ Why​ sure,​ I​ can​ get​ behind​ that.)

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