Well, let me start by saying that i am happy hatrack is back online, i made the most of it during it's absence like coming up on a story outline for a fantasy/horror novel (or short story).
I am still in the process of editng my first book, a science fiction story but i heard it's best to move on just as well, so i am fermenting ideas about this fantasy novel which requires a lot of knowledge about demons in particluar but also about other foul creatures, what i am looking for is a book about demonology and a book about fantasy creatures. i have always been a science fiction fan so my knowledge on the former is a bit hazy. To be honest i am not sure if i am asking the impossible and i dont expect any book to be completely what i am looking for but as we got a saying in holland 'if you dont shoot you always miss'. thanx
Posted by ChrisOwens (Member # 1955) on :
I know this might sound alarmist, but some books are better off not had as they could draw the wrong attention.
Posted by Alye (Member # 5017) on :
There is a fantasy reference by Terry Brooks. It has a section on mythical creatures.
Not that is is very 'complete', but it does have some good information in there.
Posted by james2026 (Member # 5310) on :
hmm, let me rephrase that, i am interested in the background of demons and such in order to give the evil characters in my book the right powers that are associated with them, as a matter of fact checking. Also in order to hightened tension and suspense i want to look deeper into the social effect of all kinds of mythological creatures, perhaps i should have mentioned that for starters. I have looked amongst esoteric books and other genres but nothing i have seen so far seems anything other than somebody tryng to make a quick buck.
Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :
You'll find that any name associated with demons will be very culturally specific. An excellent reference I've discovered is: http://www.pantheon.org . Just select a culture that is most like the one you wish to portray, and peruse the extensive database.
In my case, I decided on a mixture of Tibetan and Inuit influences for part of my fantasy society. By looking at the demons associated with those cultures, I came up with a wealth of ideas for names, and characteristics.
Hope that helps!
(And boy, it's nice to have Hatrack back online!!)
Posted by dreadlord (Member # 2913) on :
you might want to go to Amazon and search for the ultimate encyclopedia of mythology. really helped me.
Posted by james2026 (Member # 5310) on :
thank you elan, that's a good start.
Posted by RMatthewWare (Member # 4831) on :
One part research, one part making stuff up.
You have the freedom of pulling facts from your butt. You just have to have the right consistency (ew, bad mental picture). There are going to a lot of different versions of the same thing, and every author takes creative license, so don't bind yourself to what you read. Take your own twist on things.
Research can easy be quick and easy (looking at the links), or slow and methodical (picking up books and looking for the info you want).
Matt
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Your heart or your gut are more likely places to pull useful facts/ideas from, if you can't manage to pull them from your head, that is.
Posted by james2026 (Member # 5310) on :
Thanks RMatthewWare for that website, that ought to hold me for a while. I havent got a problem with making stuff up, i find i have both a good imagination and a analytical mind to help on my way, but research is very important to me, it helps me as a writer to 'experience' the story, cant say it in any other way. I hope others will come up with a few tips and websites, not just for myselfe but for other people wanting to write in this area, for i have found that the information is quite decentralized.
Posted by RMatthewWare (Member # 4831) on :
There's always Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Angel. No, I'm not kidding
Matt
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Not a bad idea, RMatthewWare.
There are probably all kinds of fan stuff associated with the Buffy/Angel universe on demons. I'd be very surprised if there weren't.
Posted by GalaxyGal (Member # 4755) on :
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread . . .
I'm not sure where you are going with this demonology thing, but it sounds interesting. Whatever you do, be careful and don't take the subject matter lightly. Walk softly and carry a big stick.
Anyway, maybe these links will help with questions on demons.
