Mythological creatures that don't get enough play in modern fantasy fiction?

[Jefferson]

So, vampires, werewolves, elves and dwarves have been left on the fire for far too long, right? They're so over-done they're charred and crumbly. Faeries and unicorns are probably getting a little crisp, too. But it's a big wide world out there, so tell me about your favorite mythological beast that isn't getting much attention in popular fiction these days. And it would be particularly interesting to hear about creatures that aren't from the western European mythology tradition.

[Emily]

Alas, you'll have to deal with European mythology more, but I've always been a fan of Greek creatures - pegasi, Gorgons, chimaera, etc. Oruborus (sp?) is pretty swell, too. And the sidhe court is just bursting with curios such as the Fachan Man and Demon Dogs.

However, I'm a fan of creating creatures for my worlds - wylenn (kind of like angels), the Lights of Aodh (think will-o-wisps by way of people), the Gorwynymgraine (a variety of creatures with lights in their flanks or in their antlers, etc., created when the Sun and Moon had been banished and the world was in Perpetual Twilight). And the cwynadd, which is part dog, part monkey, with a scorpion tail - all fangs if you fight it, all wimpering if you chase it.

You?

[Jefferson]

I have two different approaches. In some cases, I take existing mythological creatures and then riff on them to come up with my own interpretations. In other cases, I invent from whole cloth.

For example, I used Gnomes in my first novel (Strange Places) but they are definitely not Gnomes as you've seen them before.

I've also constructed a really cool new race of my own, but they don't enter the story until the second book, which I'm working on now, so I can't say anything specific.

But ultimately, I need two or three additional types, so rather than go to Google or Wikipedia for my inspiration, I thought I'd kick it around here for a bit and see where the conversation leads me.

[Eden]

I use a Golem in mine and have an author friend who did, as well. I'm adding mermaids and using them as a type of faery in my sequel.

I'm also intrigued by incubi and succubi.

Things that are taken from "real" (depends who you're talking to..) stories and twisted into a modern story, I love that, too.

I do a lot of research to get a basic idea, but then my creatures become something of their own and don't follow *rules* -- not all of my faeries, for example, have wings. Some do, but most don't.

Authors who make up characters -- that's pretty awesome :)

[K.]

I love the Minotaur. It's such an odd creature, but something about a giant axe wielding monster lurking in a labyrinth waiting to kill you is just about as awesome as it gets. I like all of those creatures from greek mythology, but the minotaur was always my favorite.

[Larry]

American Indian shape shifters.

[Kasi]

I used witches in Crushed and a variety of things in Vampires Rule including wraiths. Since I couldn't find much on wraiths, I made them how I wanted them, women trapped in their bodies during the day. They cannot die, and at night their master (a werewolf) sends them out to attack people. They are like blue smoke and can touch you, but you can't touch them. Makes them hard to fight. Vampires Rule is the first of a series. Book two, Werewolves Rule, was just released. The next book is Shifters Rule.

[Anthony]

I took a couple of old favourites and mushed them together into a single, bigger, nastier one... though keeping it in the house now I'm finished with it is proving a bit of a problem... :)

[Kendal]

I used dragons as well as a variety of "invented" creatures in my book, but I have to say I love the idea of a dragon creature. It has been a couple of years since dragons have played any part in the more well known books or stories I should say. I know that there was an interest in Eragon but nothing involving dragons has really reached its full potential in my opinion.

[Lynne]

Dragons haven't reached their full potential? Anne McCaffrey made a living from writing about them. ;)

With my stuff, I'm trying to stay away from the usual tropes -- elves, dwarves, sparkly vampires ;). The only mythological creatures in my first book were human. Okay, and a goddess. :) My second book is based on an Irish myth in which four children are turned into swans. So that book features magical swans.

In the next book, I'm going back to gods/goddesses, but there may be a shapeshifter (and thanks for the validation on that idea, Larry!). Haven't fully fleshed it out yet.

[Kendal]

Gargoyles make an appearance in my book. I was getting tired of not seeing them in literature anymore.