05-20-2011, 04:22 PM
Monster history for humans go back to the things we were affraid of in the dark while still living in caves. They stem from superstitions further developed and explained by religion as we evolved. The basis of most of the current day monsters find their roots in basis on religions concepts of hell. Religious institutions used these even further to drive more people to their faith. This eventually developed monsters that come or are influenced by Santan and hell. Not only Dante's hell but all hell stories is where the Vampire, Zombie, Wraith and Demons are born.
The question for today is what has become of such monsters now that we live in a modern world that explains so much. Monsters are now just entertainment or are they?
The best Sci Fi book ever written was such story. It is by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It is called "Inferno"
It is about a Science Fiction writer who dies and actually goes to hell. Quite a rude awakening when an athiest wakes up and find himself in Hell. When the Sci Fi writer finally figures out where he is or may be he tries to escape hell using Science from the modern world as his weopons.
It is a great book that blends the world of the superstitious and the world of science. If you want to show the parrellels of the old and new all in one story and use it as a header to the human pyschy etc I can't think of better material. It has everything for every student including all the monsters "human and demon" a like.
Their was also a sequel called "Escape from Hell" but it wasn't quite as good as the original but certainly more modern.
If nothing else I can promise you that story will give you tons of material for your class.
Vllad
The question for today is what has become of such monsters now that we live in a modern world that explains so much. Monsters are now just entertainment or are they?
The best Sci Fi book ever written was such story. It is by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It is called "Inferno"
It is about a Science Fiction writer who dies and actually goes to hell. Quite a rude awakening when an athiest wakes up and find himself in Hell. When the Sci Fi writer finally figures out where he is or may be he tries to escape hell using Science from the modern world as his weopons.
It is a great book that blends the world of the superstitious and the world of science. If you want to show the parrellels of the old and new all in one story and use it as a header to the human pyschy etc I can't think of better material. It has everything for every student including all the monsters "human and demon" a like.
Their was also a sequel called "Escape from Hell" but it wasn't quite as good as the original but certainly more modern.
If nothing else I can promise you that story will give you tons of material for your class.
Vllad