If you haven't heard of it, check out the A to Z blog and join in the fun.
Here at Untethered Realms, we're taking on the Challenge as a group. Each day, one of us will be sharing with you a fantastical creature that may be from one of our books, a favorite movie, or something we just came up with as entertainment.
Today we have...
G is for Ghoul
In mythic lore, the Ghoul was an undead creature that lurked in cemeteries, feeding upon the flesh of corpses - a carrion eater! Nasty, ugly creatures. They feature in my upcoming dark fantasy book Necromancer, publishing Summer 2014. Here's my description of the Ghoul:
"Something lunged at me, grunting and growling in one hideous sound. I rolled against the tombstone and the misshapen creature pounced where I had lain, its hands raking the ground, flinging dirt everywhere [...]
Desiccated flesh hung from the body of the ghoul, revealing glimpses of yellowed bone beneath its torn, paper-thin skin. Another lunged at Kolta, who had bolted upright while I had been lying in the dirt. Behind them, more ghouls clawed free of the ground.
Filthy creatures."
The Ghoul also featured in classic Arabian mythology. Known as the ghul, it was a demonic, shape-shifting type of djinn that preyed on its victims by pretending to be an animal, then luring them away into the desert, never to return.
How do you fancy meeting one of these things on a dark, moonless night?
I don't fancy meeting them any night - or day for that matter.
ReplyDeleteGhouls have featured in some of my very worst nightmares for more years than I like to admit. Their fingernails are always filthy too...
Bring it on. Okay. Maybe not. Running away now!
ReplyDeleteUm, I think I might embarrass myself if I met one. Thinking I would scream, run, fall down, and then make a mess of my pants. Might make for a funny story for others. Not for me at all.
ReplyDeleteNasty, wretched things aren't they? Always loved them.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought zombies were bad. Ghouls are just gross! :P
ReplyDeleteNo, thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of the Arabian version. Pretend to be an animal, lure them out into the desert until they succumb to the elements, then back to feasting on flesh. Sounds like the perfect plan!
ReplyDeleteLyle S Tanner
I'm with Ellie. Running away!
ReplyDeleteUmmm, yeah, sounds like I'm with the others. I don't think I'd fancy meeting him at all! Lol!
ReplyDeleteSarah from Scribbles and Shorts
Great description - very powerful and descriptive.
ReplyDeletewww.editorialstand.co.uk/blog
I think I'd rather not meet a ghoul. ;)
ReplyDeleteSuch creepy creatures. They should stay in the cemetery. :)
ReplyDeleteA filthy creature, indeed! Your description of the Arabic classic ghul is interesting. Someone should do a modern twist on that kind too!
ReplyDeleteSaw your comments on another post and popped back to say hello. Loved the Ghoul post today. So nice to follow and connect with an a to z challenger, and I look forward to more posts. http://aimingforapublishingdeal.blogspot.co.uk/
ReplyDeleteI think I went out with one of those in my past:) Can you imagine their bad breath:)
ReplyDeleteMeeting one on a dark moonless night? Um, NO THANK YOU. I would probably pee my pants in fright! ;)
ReplyDeleteAmazing description! Visiting from A-Z! Can't wait to read more.
ReplyDeletecreep-tastic! now i must go research ghul! awesome post!
ReplyDeleteThat's such a scary creature! I would not want to meet one. I wonder how they're "born"?
ReplyDeleteGreat question, Gwen. In mythology a necromancer can raise a corpse and feed it carrion, awakening its everlasting hunger. Some legends state the animated corpse must be fed vampire blood. Other legends say that if you are bitten by a ghoul and survive ghoul fever, you can never eat normal food again. Yiu will eventually die of starvation and rise again as a ghoul. Yes, I read some super books for research. :)
ReplyDeleteUh...can I not meet him and just say I did? Ghuls and djinns are awesome creatures. Viewed from afar, anyway. :)
ReplyDelete