Monsters!
ZealI've been absent from this place for far too long again.
That mostly means to things. One is that I've been too busy at work to be able to frequent any of my virtual hauting places much (as if that's an excuse). The other is that I haven't written anything worth mentioning (which is perhaps even less excusable).
But hark! I hath a plan to mend my ways!
Recently, I wrote two series of poems, both subject to thematic restrictions.
One (which is still sort of on-going) was about Stones and Gems, the other was about Heavenly Bodies.
I got some very useful comments on both series (cheerz you lot, you know who you are) and I liked the restrictions I placed upon myself enough to muster up the courage for another series.
This new series will be titled "Monsters". I have some ideas about where to go with this, but perhaps you peepz have interesting things to say about this theme.
Anyhoo, back to the writing desk with me. I promised I wouldn't let Word of Warcraft impede on any of my other ambitions (Legion as they are), and by the gods I shall remain true to ym word
Hugz
Jo (Just)
Devious Comments
Although I don't have much right to criticize you, not writing anything myself. And don't get me started on the comments I still owe everyone...
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"Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. " - Kahlil Gibran
Was it Hans Andreus who had a book full of creepy children poems? Can't remember...
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All truth is fiction.
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All truth is fiction.
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"All art is quite useless" - Oscar Wilde
Comment and I shall answer.
If ye haven't read the Malazan book of the fallen series yet, ye are gonna really enjoy it! I is on book four!
P.S. The reason I don't get on the Phorum anymore is due to my limited computer usage time at work, now.
P.P.S. I finally got to work on meh book again!
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"I like a woman that can kick my ass"- Spike Speigel (cowboy bebop)
"Megan can kick meh ass."-Me
Is that what you were talking about?
Maybe you can have something about different monsters in different parts of the world? I am sure every country has a different monster to create stories about during camp fires...
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poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.
Carl Sandburg
Let's start with you then
I read half a book once (in fact I've read many halves of books, some even followed by their other half) byt Tim Powers, titled Declare. It's sort of a supernatural spy thriller, if that makes any sense. In the book, Powers weaves existing myths and legends into the backdrop of the second world war.
One type of spirit featuring in the book is the Djinn, which he portrays as a mindles (but not intentionless) force capable of possessing mortals.
Another writer who used spirits to good effect was Gregory Keyes with his alternative history series titled the Age of Unreason. In the series, efreti and malachim strive to bend humanity to their will.
I have little knowledge of Arab mythology and legend, and am very curious to learn more about it. And given the title of this Journal, I'd appreciate everything you can teach me about Arab monsters in particular, especially in regard to their position relative to humans and god(s).
Much obliged, m'dear
Hugz
Jo (Just)
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All truth is fiction.
Ok, so far I managed to find you two myths that are *somewhat* Arabic, although I suspect there are Indian and Persian influences in them.
The first is about a spirit called *Um Al Duwais*. This spirit is somewhat our version of Medusa. She appears as a very beautiful woman, and has particularly striking eyes. One of her hands has a hook in it, and she apparently seduces guys and then kills them. She is particularly popular... when we were kids in school it was often rumored thats he possessed one of the school bathrooms (who she'd want to seduce there, though, I have no idea.) It was also rumored that it was her spirit that moved the Ouija board. I think her popularity was in her name.. it kinda has a funny ring to it.
The second spirit is called *Bu Daryah*. This spirit appears to sailors, or so the story goes. The spirit appears as a drowning man in the ocean, and when the sailors would help him he'd get on the ship, take all the supplies and then break the ship which causes the sailors to die. What a captain must do to avoid death is when they see Bu Daryah drowning, they must yell *get the weapons* and Bu Daryah gets scared and flees without harming the sailors. It is said that this story was made up by mothers who wanted to scare their children. You see, in the UAE, the cities are all on the shore, and mothers were scared that their children will drown if they go swimming deep into the ocean.
These are the two myths that I know, but neither sounds poetic to me
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poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.
Carl Sandburg
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