Furries in Unusual Places

I was introduced to the concept of furries through a very enlightening conversation with a young man who wore a memorable lion ring, and ever since I have had a soft spot for otherkin. If like me, you are willing to embrace alternate lifestyles without judgement, this Facebook group would be just the space for you. Whether you're just thrilled to have spotted a furry in the wild, or want to share memories through convention group photos. Some tales of accidental encounters hint at the layer of pure magic that furries sometimes inject into our everyday, mostly mundane world. There are also cartoons, humorous memes, selfies of members showing off their gear and costumes, as well as social media links. 

Members: 46.3k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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The Mythic Café, with Charles de Lint & Company

 Earlier this month, the co-founder of one of my favorite Facebook groups passed away. Charles de Lint and MaryAnne Harris created Mythic cafe to draw together fans of his books and through her active role in this space, MaryAnn became the heart and soul of a community of fantasists looking for tiny pieces of magic in our mostly mundane world. It was a place to share art, talk about books, share mythic tales and find those places that could be gateways to urban magic and beyond. At those time, when Facebook seemed to be stuck in its more toxic moments, this group became a balm and a refuge. While it is currently infused with a sweet sadness, it still remains one of the most special online spaces I know and it has exerted no small influence on what continues to motivate my quest to find Facebook's best online communities. My heart-felt condolences to Charles (who is one of my favorite authors) and to everyone who loved her. Unlike most of the groups I have featured since reviving the blog, this is a private group.

Members: 8.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to request access.

Rivendell: The Last Homely House of the Noldor

To anyone who's ever read The Hobbit for the first time (as I did in 8th grade), you will remember that special moment of magic when Bilbo Baggins first arrives in Rivendell. The moment is echoed later in The Fellowship of the Ring, when a desperately wounded Frodo finds refuge from the Black Riders in the Last Homely House and is healed by Elrond, its master. Rivendell occupies such a central place in the world of Middle Earth and that's why this has to be one of the most welcoming names any Facebook group for Tolkien fans can have. There are many, many gorgeous images of elven beauty, most of this in fan or fantasy art, rather than images from the Peter Jackson movies. There are also quotes and tales of elven lore and I detected one serious discussion concerning the shape of elven ears. As it should be, elves are at the heart of this beautiful community. 

Members: 8.7k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None. 

Go here to visit or join.

The Wheel of Time

 The first Wheel of Time novel (The Eye of the World) by Robert Jordan was originally published in 1990 and the series ultimately expanded to 14 novels. The author died in 2007 and the last novels were completed by another author, Brandon Sanderson. Following the trope of a chosen one who must defeat a dark lord, the series sold over 90 million units and inspired a fantasy series that premiered on Amazon Prime in 2021. If you count yourself among its many fans, this Facebook group offers you plenty to sink your teeth into. Much of the discussion and analysis revolves around comparing the cinematic adaptation to the original source material. There are also examples of artwork and tattoos. Share the love and celebrate favorite moments come to life.

Members: 21.8k at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: Spoilers

Go here to visit or join.

The Sean Bean Club

 He was in not one, but two of the most iconic fantasy series of the past 25 years. As Boromir, he is also the face of a meme that refuses to go away. In Game of Thrones, he played the embattled Ned Stark. But he is also Richard Sharpe, from the series of TV films. More recently, he appeared in Snowpiercer as the morally ambiguous billionaire Wilford, builder of the eternal engine. And this versatile actor has appeared in over 70 different roles in a career spanning forty years. So, it's hardly surprising that there should be a Facebook Group dedicated to the awesomeness of Sean Bean. And even despite the fact that this group seems to be plagued by fake Sean Bean Facebook accounts, it is still well worth a visit. 

Members: 4k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: Spoilers

Melkor and Sauron

 It is interesting to see a Lord of the Rings group that is named for two of the bad guys of Middle Earth. The group is more focussed around the tales of the Second Age, as collected within works such as The Silmarillion, and Tolkien's literary legacy, rather than the cinematic interpretation thereof. Another great feature here, is the inclusion of fan art, mostly of Melkor and Sauron, who were described at beautiful and elf-like in their appearance. So, expect a decidely dark art and elf-noire aesthetic. There are occasionally posts about Lord of the Rings and the Third Age, but not that much. It's a great space for Tolkien superfans. 

Members: 45.6k members at time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None

Go here to visit or join.

Fans of Charles de Lint!

I visited this group for personal reasons - I am a fan of Charles de Lint's writing - but decided to also include it in this blog. Threads on the discussion board include 'Favourite Book?', 'Newford as a TV series...', 'Favorite Character(s)', 'Favourite short story?', 'Other authors' and 'What was the first CDL book you ever read?' In the gallery, you will find mostly images of book covers, a few photos of Charles de Lint and a little fan art. What's truly interesting, is that you will find  several posts from Charles de Lint's wife on the wall and in the discussion section, including an invitation (with link) to the author's personal Facebook page and an invitation to his annual yard sale.

What's great about this group: An example of what's (still) good about the internet in general and Facebook in particular.

Update (26 October 2023)

I could not find the Facebook group, Fans of Charles de Lint. However, I do know that there is a really awesome community centered around the magic of Charles de Lint's stories and fantasy and folklore in general entitled Mythic Cafe with Charles de Lint & Company. Since it is a private group, you can request access here. Additionally, there is a smaller Facebook group focused on Mapping Charles de Lint's Newford, (which is, of course, the fictional setting of many of his books). This group is also private and access can be requested here.

Support Julian Beever.3D sidewalk drawing. Just awesome!

Meet Julian Beever, a gifted artist who can turn drab sidewalks into feasts of fantasy that twist and warp your perceptions in directions you never thought they'd go. In many of the photographs featured in the gallery it is difficult to tell what is real and what is not - and therein lies the challenge.

What's great about this group: enjoy the pictures

This Group does not seem to exist anymore. There are a few old video clips on Facebook of Julian Beever's street art.

harry potter

There are various Facebook groups dedicated to the Harry Potter phenomenon, like for instance 'Harry Potter and the Bad Pickup Lines', '"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" : Mrs. Weasley Appreciation Group' and 'Fred Weasley -- We Salute You'. That's not even touching on the great many simply called Harry Potter, of which today's featured group seems to be one of the biggies, weighing in at over 52,000 members. Threads on the discussion board include 'What pet do you want from Harry Potter?', 'Who is your Favorite Character and Why?', 'dialougue from the movies', 'You know you're addicted to Harry Potter when...', 'The Greatest Spell Ever?' and 'Favourite Character who Died..' Two particularly popular topics are 'Twilight VS Harry Potter' and 'who said ( dialougue from the movies)'. Draco Malfoy and Albus Dumbeldore both have threads of their own, while 'Mistakes of Harry Potter' tackles continuity errors.

What's great about this group: It's a home base for Harry Potter's many fans.

Update (29 April 2024)

There are several differently named Harry Potter fan groups.

Terry Pratchett and Discworld Addicts

Since the publication of 'The Colour of Magic', the first Discworld novel in 1983, the elephant carried flatland of Terry Pratchett's imagination has gained many fans and some 22,000 of them are members of this group on Facebook. There are many fun threads here to explore. In 'Vs...' any discworld character is pitted against anyone else, real or fictional. You can speculate about 'If the Discworld somehow got mixed with other fictional worlds, what would happen?', 'What would you like to see in the next book?' or 'If you were to add a brand new charactor to the disc, who would you base it on and why?' Test your knowledge in 'Trivia game!' or just share your own enjoyment in 'What was the first Discworld book you read?' and 'What's your favorite Discworld quote?' There is even a thread dealing with 'Inconsistencies in the series?'

What's great about this group: Share your enjoyment of this best selling fantasy author's work.

Update (29 April 2024)

It's weird to think that when I wrote the original post, Sir Terry was still alive. I cannot find group with this exact name, but there are many other Terry Pratchett fan groups out there.

Steampunk

The genre now referred to as steampunk may have existed long before its label was termed. Per definition, steampunk includes any fantasy or science fiction setting where steampower still plays a major role, but many fans of steampunk name long-dead authors such as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells among their favorites. The group features such fun threads as 'Your Steampunk Alter ego's' and 'Steampunk Slang', but also offers opportunities for enthusiasts to hook up with steampunkers and steampunk events in their area.

What's good about this group: It's a good place to visit if you've caught the steampunk bug or would like to find out what the fuss is all about.

Update (29 October 2023)

This Facebook group still exists and shares awesome content - mainly gadgets and gear. Go here to visit or join.