Demons: A Monster Romance Field Guide
They are everywhere, used for everything, but there's so much more we can do with them.
Spiritual beings who personify humanity's profound shame, complexities, and flaws seem almost global. A proper anthropologist or sociologist could undoubtedly enlighten me on the cultures that don’t have such beings in their folklore. However, I suspect it would be quicker to name those exceptions than those that do.
Demons in Monster Romance
Spiritual beings who personify humanity's profound shame, complexities, and flaws seem almost global. A proper anthropologist or sociologist could undoubtedly enlighten me on the cultures that don’t have such beings in their folklore. However, I suspect it would be quicker to name those exceptions than those that do.
Admittedly, I have encountered more use of the Western Christian concept of demons in Monster Romance than in any other genre. However, it would be only to the genre's benefit if more authors featured Asian demons, indigenous cultures, non-Christian Middle Eastern demons, and pretty much anything other than a Western Christian remix.
I have no annoyance with demons as they are commonly used now. It is like watching folks paint a rainbow with only some colors. You just can’t help but think how there is more.
I will note stories that deviate from the norm in my reading list.
Culture(s) of origin
Arguable Global (with Western Europe being the root of most pop culture demons)
Notable Cultural References
Lucifer/Satan
Krampus
Hellboy
Human-Like Scale
[ ] 1 - Almost indistinguishable from humans
[ ] 2 - Subtle differences present (such as pointed ears)
[x] 3 - Clearly different from humans (possessing some non-human body parts)
[ ] 4 - Completely different from humans (very few or no relatable body parts)
Common Physical Attributes
Horns
Hooves
Tail
Skin colors can range from grey to red to blue and so on
Often possessing transformative powers
May possess supernatural abilities
Employed Erotic Attributes
Double Cocks
Cock Pocket
Horns
Tail
Size Difference
Extremely long tongue
Recommended Monster Romance Reading
As a side note, I think it is vaguely hilarious that demons and the winter holidays go together like peanut butter and jelly, according to my reading tastes.
Holly Jolly Mess by C. M. Nascosta (features a Japanese Oni)
Obsidian Feathers by N. Cáceres (features Central American Cadejos)
Housekeeping
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