Paranormal Creatures discussion

A place to discuss what you think about demons as well as talk about your favorite demon characters

I've always had a special fondness for the big guy himself in Milton's "Paradise Lost."
"Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven."

I have yet to read that one but I have heard the quote before. I would have to agree with that quote

Milton's 'Paradise Lost' is the greatest story ever told in my opinion (humble as it may be). If you've not read it then I recommend the parallel prose edition Paradise Lost: Parallel Prose Edition.

It has the original poem on one page and a prose transcription on the other, makes it a lot more accessible.

Although for me I consider demons to be something other than fallen angels.

I think that there is probably more than one kind of demon. There is probably the type people assume who are fallen angels and then there are the more viscious, pure blooded type of demons (ie: Possesion, mutilation, and destruction). I use both kinds in my writing but I usually refer to the fallen angels as fallen angels and not demons

When I write about demons, I envision them as incredibly powerful but more importantly, manipulative and seductive. They can be ferocious monsters when they want to be, but it suits their purposes better to be subversive, to use mankind's fallibility against itself. From a Biblical perspective, this grieves God more because the person has willingly corrupted themselves. What is more terrifying than irresistible evil?

I go back and forth. In the first book most of them were just destructive because their purpose/ job at that point was just to kill. In the second book they have more uses, although none of them get to the attractive or seductive point. It all depends on what they intend on doing

It changes bdepending on my story, but in my current series demons are something completly different, they are the only living thing no part of God's creation.

And there's now only one of them.

Curious if you are refering to the Lilith story?
Lilith being the original woman created by God but was replaced by Eve when she turned against Adam. She got her revenge by working with the angel of death to create the race of demons
I used some of this in my second book but changed it slightly to fit my own story

No, in my story demons were entities that God cannot see and where wiped out by both rebel and loyalist angels.

Well, all except one were wiped out. I'll be answering the question of the remaining demon in the final book in the trilogy.

I will have to read that. Angel and demon is my favorite paranormal, hence why I write it.

I recently read Demon: A Memoir. It's written for a Christian audience, and I'm not usually down with Christian fiction, but I wanted to give this a spin. It was decent, but I found myself getting annoyed with the very un-menacing, soul-searching demon that seemed more interested in sympathy rather than the ruin of humanity and desolation of the earth. It was just a fictional interpretation, but I personally wasn't that into it.

I think demons don't have to be monstrous but they should always be dangerous.

I think demon "redemption" so to speak is like making the serial killer bad guy suddenly remorseful. It just doesn't work that way. They might not be completely horrifying all of the time, but they certainly don't care about sympathy or the human race

I don't know, I've had some fun with demons in short fiction. A young demon taking his possession exam and not being into it was darkly amusing.

I had a short story about a half-breed (half angel half demon) who had to kill her guardian angel in order to become a deal maker/ crossroads demon. Although that one didn't end well

Demons can be witty, inept, clumsy, lethargic, etc., but they should never be sympathetic or remorseful, like SKN said. Writers who turn demons into emotional saps forget that, at least in the classical sense, these are creatures who revel in the sickest, most vile depravity that people can come up with. One of my favorite demonic classics is The Screwtape Letters, but I know that's too old school for a lot of people. Nothing sensational; just a play-by-play of a demon trying to corrupt a dude. The menace was there, but very subtle.

Clive Barker's The Yattering and Jack was a fun demon story.

I I am obsessed with demons, in most books they are powerful and incredible

What exactly are demons? :3

Nearly every religion/culture has demons, but in the Judeo-Christian sense, they're unholy spirits that serve Satan. Now I'm not sure if every demon is a fallen angel, but the bottom line is that they're evil. They're certainly smart, crafty, cunning, and hate everything good and holy. Pretty much the most awesome bad guy imaginable.

Mark wrote: "Nearly every religion/culture has demons, but in the Judeo-Christian sense, they're unholy spirits that serve Satan. Now I'm not sure if every demon is a fallen angel, but the bottom line is that t..."

Okay thanks :D

Hey Michael did you know that a movie version for Paradise Lost was almost made? Alex Proyas (the guy who directed The Crow and Dark City) was scheduled to direct, and it would have had Bradley Cooper and a few other heavy-hitters. It was scrapped because the budget estimates were gi-normous. Too bad. How freakin' sweet would that have been!

As far as I heard it's been in oproduction for ages. One of my life goals is to make a film for 'Paradise Lost', but I don't mind somebody else doing it as long as it's decent :-)

I like the different variety of demons that you find in different novels. I recently read a book where the daemon had a hole filled with rows of teeth instead of an actual mouth. I loved this image!

I like the different variety of demons that you find in different novels. I recently read a book where the daemon had a hole filled with rows of teeth instead of an actual mouth. I loved this image!

I recently read one where they were described as shadows that devoured everything they came across. It was pretty intense

that sounds fantastic. what book was that in?

I can't remember... lol. It was good whatever it was. I will have to see if I can find it again.

Debra wrote: "Hi everybody. This demon post got my attention-I've always been interested in this subject, and studied it too..and finally wrote a couple books. LOL

Someone above asked what a demon actually is-t..."

That depends on which mythology you take as the basis, in many demons existed before the fall.

I think there is a lot of controversy on what they are or what they look like and even what they do. It depends on the religion, the time period, the context, even the age group. The Christian tradition does teach that they are the fallen angels from before time whereas some of the other religions, such as Judaism, teach that there were those demons and there are others that were born of Lilith, the mother of evil. As Christianity and Judaism are so closely connected, many people combine the two but Christianity does not believe in the Lilith story. Then there is the Muslim (I believe its muslim) take where Lilith is real, but she got those demons by stealing them from an unknown source. In different parts of history people believed different things and now most people are inclined to simply believe they were made up for horror movies. Perspective, I believe, would be the right term

I am quite positive they are real and I have been terrified of them ever since I was a kid. A big part of that would probably be having an overly religious father. They have just been "hollywoodized" so much that people don't believe in them anymore

I'm not sure Hollywood is to blame, we're just more familiar with human evil that supernatural evil is less of a worry.

I'd be curious for the stats on that statement. How do you measure evil?

I agree with that sentiment.

I was reading the above post by Debra and just for discussion purposes: Is it possible that 'here' is hell and that WE are the demons and always have been.

If you take the point that humans are capable of the most evil and also the most good it's an interesting concept that we are supposed to raise ourselves to a higher plane only after we give up everything that is considered sad but normal, the killing, the theft etc Let's face it humans break every single commandment and we do it with an amazing amount of creativity.

I like that theory - there's a story in that :-)

I've always had a soft spot for demons (yes I know that sounds a little odd) but they seem to be God's kicking boys. You don't like what I do? You're out. You don't like my rules? you're out. Those of you that agree with Lucifer and think I'm being unfair? well you're right out. Those of you that can't make up your minds well you're halfway out but you're Lucifer's problem; you can rule yourselves but you have to pay a blood tithe to him. Always seemed a little unfair.

One of the great paradoxes in Paradise Lost is that God comes across as a bit of a bastard - I'm sure that wasn't Milton's intention :-)

It's that whole 'ineffable' thing... If you don't tell anyone what your 'big plan' is then it may be that they don't understand what's going on and you can end up with egg on your face and all your minions heading south. :-D

And if it is all a plan, then he deliberately caused misery for the human race. Mind you if I was God I might do the same :-)

Michael wrote: "And if it is all a plan, then he deliberately caused misery for the human race. Mind you if I was God I might do the same :-)"

Aha! but that supports my theory that we are the demons. Faced with and overcoming manufactured 'trials' that we need to surmount is the only way that we can ascend to the next level. :-)

If that were true then the question is why? Why not make us perfect in the first place? :-)

Ah... my theory is that we are HUGE mistake, we were angels that were created after 'the fall' but to make sure that we never challenged God we are first tested to make sure that we're worthy. Its been such a disappointment to God that most humans are happy wallowing around in sin and will NEVER ascend. :-)

Ah I see. A fun premise.

You know what's funny? People say that I'M a demon! Heh heh heh. I guess it's just the way that I look... but people say I'm all diabolic and stuff... like I do withcraft every night before I go to bed and sacrifice people to the gods or whatever... oh well, let them think that i guess, it'll show them to not mess with me or else i throw a curse upon them right? :D

I just read The Exorcist in 24 hours. Scared the hell out of me. Check out my thoughts on my homepage.

Eat Right and Exorcise!

Wow I want to read it!

It's a good read. I quite liked Legion as well, although it's not quite as good.

I will check them both out!

I love The Exorcist it's a beautifully written insight into the loss of control that terrifies all humans.