Demons, Daimons, Daemons...and Goetia. - Writers Forum

Verago · 06-27-2005, 11:15 PM

In my trilogy, I'm using magic, demons, and all that stuff...but not in the traditional, dark, sense of the summoning, the incantations, and all that.
I found an entire directory of Goetia demon ranks, powers, and everything...I find myself interested.

As I look through them, I realize that some of this kind of stuff would be excellent for implemetation into my story--Things like names, the elements, powers...

I'm wary of using 'real' demons in my story, for fear that my community would look down on me for sacrelige, and that using real demons would hinder books sales, and the audience. In addition, the same thing might happen to me that happened to Rowling. You know; the media got mad, blamed her for teaching witchcraft to young readers...

My stories are targeted at teenagers-young adult- adult audiences, and I want to avoid situations like that if at all possible.

I am, however, thinking of using the Goetia Demon Ranks as inspiration...I will change names, change powers, but I will try to maintain things like where they appear, their descriptions, powers, etc.,

I might also use something similar to their demon ranking system; with the Kings, Earls, Dukes, Knights, and the whole deal.

The question...
Could this offend audiences, even if I change the names? I already have demons in my story, I would just be making things a bit darker...and more complicated, within reason.
Might I?
I might. Though, I really try to avoid this kind of thing...it bothers me. And it bothers me that I'm interested. But it would bother me even more not to have attempted to use it to my advantage in my writing.

Should I?
I don't know...

Sincerely,
Ethanael.

journyman161 · 06-27-2005, 11:20 PM

I'd say make your demons as real to life as possible, & be damned to the naysayers. You've got a ready-built system there & if you happen to use a few names that have thundered from the pulpit in the darker sermons, that should add just a touch of extra fear to your creatures.

And I'd kill to have the kind of publicity Rowling got. Dogmatists never learn to be silent & let something fade, so headline attacks actually help sell the thing they're so much against.

journyman161 · 06-27-2005, 11:21 PM

deleted double post

Hodge · 06-27-2005, 11:22 PM

Yeah, negative press is better than no press. Curiosity killed the cat—if someone hears that a book is sacrilegous and evil, then they're going to go out and buy that book to see what all the fuss is about.

Verago · 06-27-2005, 11:27 PM

Alrighty then.
That problem was solved rather quickly.
Thanks.

Time to darken up my book a little bit.

mammamaia · 06-28-2005, 09:12 AM

since no demons ARE 'real' i don't see what the problem was... am i missing something?

Verago · 06-28-2005, 09:20 AM

I'm not sure if I should reuse something, that was actually worshipped as a cult/religion for a while, and might be considered blasphemous, immoral, etc., by people.

I've kind of decided to use those demon's names for inspiration, though I'll continue on with my own demons and powers and stuff.

Unless someone can talk me out of it.

Saponification · 06-28-2005, 06:31 PM

People will always find something to complain about. Never let that turn you off.

Dan101 · 06-28-2005, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verago

In my trilogy, I'm using magic, demons, and all that stuff...but not in the traditional, dark, sense of the summoning, the incantations, and all that.
I found an entire directory of Goetia demon ranks, powers, and everything...I find myself interested.

As I look through them, I realize that some of this kind of stuff would be excellent for implemetation into my story--Things like names, the elements, powers...

I'm wary of using 'real' demons in my story, for fear that my community would look down on me for sacrelige, and that using real demons would hinder books sales, and the audience. In addition, the same thing might happen to me that happened to Rowling. You know; the media got mad, blamed her for teaching witchcraft to young readers...

My stories are targeted at teenagers-young adult- adult audiences, and I want to avoid situations like that if at all possible.

I am, however, thinking of using the Goetia Demon Ranks as inspiration...I will change names, change powers, but I will try to maintain things like where they appear, their descriptions, powers, etc.,

I might also use something similar to their demon ranking system; with the Kings, Earls, Dukes, Knights, and the whole deal.

The question...
Could this offend audiences, even if I change the names? I already have demons in my story, I would just be making things a bit darker...and more complicated, within reason.
Might I?
I might. Though, I really try to avoid this kind of thing...it bothers me. And it bothers me that I'm interested. But it would bother me even more not to have attempted to use it to my advantage in my writing.

Should I?
I don't know...

Sincerely,
Ethanael.

Dont worry about. Like said above, there's always someone that will complain about something, no matter how you write the novel.

It sounds like a very interesting idea to me. Many artists and authors use this method to create characters, or to obtain inspiration for characters. A prime example would be a manga called Saiyuki, which is based off of characters of eastern legend (Son Goku the Monkey King, for example). You can change the names, or you can leave them the way they are. You can base your character's physical, emotional, and personality traits off of them, or you can keep them the exact same. It all depends on the way you want to portray them. Do what you wish, it's your novel. Personally, I think it would be a great additon because it will add a little bit of history/legend to your novel that you can note in the back of the book as an extra, or somthing like that, giving a brief history of the demons or legendary people that you used in the book.

Go wild! ^_^

The Thing · 06-29-2005, 06:42 AM

Quote:

I'm wary of using 'real' demons in my story, for fear that my community would look down on me for sacrelige, and that using real demons would hinder books sales, and the audience. In addition, the same thing might happen to me that happened to Rowling. You know; the media got mad, blamed her for teaching witchcraft to young readers...

I suggest you read Graham Masterton, especially his early stuff. He made his name on using real demons such as The Manitou (American Indian), The Djinn (Arabian), Tengu (Japanese). I would reccommend The Devils of D-Day which features a whole hierachy of Christian demons.

The guy does his research.

suzakugaiden · 06-29-2005, 11:25 AM

Dude, don't worry. You're NOT gonna be the first person ripping stuff from the Goetia and you're not going to be the last :P

Verago · 06-29-2005, 11:49 AM

Yeah. I guess I was just worried about the originality...I really want to make this my original work...but then, I'm also borrowing and modifiying names and ideas from like six mythologies...
Heh.

jta_8888 · 06-29-2005, 02:25 PM

To keep with the J.K. Rowling theme: the amount of people to argue against her use of witchcraft is nothing to the amount of people that like it, and buy her books!

If you're targeting a teen audience, frankly, don't worry about what parents might think. They're, really, smart enough to know what is fiction, and what is not.

I say go full steam ahead with the grungy, realistic demons.

Verago · 06-29-2005, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jta_8888

I say go full steam ahead with the grungy, realistic demons.

Yay!