Universal brain, I need your help!

[azhure]

Two things:

1 - Alternative names for shapeshifters/weres?*

2 - Best shapeshifter novels.

Go!

* General names for all "classes", not specific names of shapeshifter types. I am exploring something. [cross-posted from my website]

Comments

[veraxia.livejournal.com]

1) I know I don't like "lycans", but only because when I hear it, I think "lichen". I know it's from lycanthropy and all, but it still sounds wrong to my ears. I'm not a big fan of most of the alternative names; it usually sounds like the author is trying too hard to be original, especially when the species they write about are inevitably not that original at all.

2) I know I'm in a minority on this, but I still think The Passion and The Promise by Donna Boyd were good werewolf novels; the primary focus was on the characters as people, not their species. There are others I like (e.g., Kelley Armstrong) or don't mind (e.g., Carrie Vaughn), but I haven't read many where the authors do anything blazingly original with shifters.

[azhure.livejournal.com]

I'm not really a fan of the term "lycan" either, but I've gotten used to it somewhat.

I think I agree with you about alternative names, too. It just feels a bit too generic to be using terms like were and shifter. *ponders*

[veraxia.livejournal.com]

'Were' and 'shifter' are generic, but generic's not necessarily bad. There's something to be said for simplicity. After all, we don't worry that 'human' sounds too generic, do we? :) I know there are different possibilities (skinwalker, metamorph, etc.) but those all seem to have... established details to them, whereas something like 'shapeshifter' can safely encompass all the varying types.

I guess I've just been jaded by too many books where the authors come up with neat lingo, but then fail on the follow-through. I'd rather an author use the plain old terms and dazzle me with the characters. (Of course, if you can have neat lingo and good concepts, that's ideal *g*)

[detritus2099.livejournal.com]

You weren't too specific, but my answer is... Selkie

And if you can force your bleeding eyes through The Ill Made Ute then I'm sure you could find more.

I would not recommend it however. That series is beyond bad.

[azhure.livejournal.com]

I don't think I can cope with reading that book ever again. Once is enough ;)

[callistra.livejournal.com]

I read the entire series. *sobs*

[detritus2099.livejournal.com]

There is a support group for us completionists. It came into being shortly after the first book was written because we knew that we couldn't stop ourselves no matter what it was doing to our soul.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

There's more than one? *shudder*

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

Known in my circles as The Ill Made Book.

[detritus2099.livejournal.com]

I didn't even realise I'd missed the "M" in Mute.

It's amazing how many people realised exactly what I was talking about despite this.

[martinlivings.livejournal.com]

There's the American Indian "skinwalker", of course... and, on that subject, SP Somtow's Moon Dance was pretty rockin'. :)

[azhure.livejournal.com]

"Skinwalker" is actually one of my favourites of the terms. Hm, I think I might be on a good wave of thought now...

[martinlivings.livejournal.com]

Only problem is, they kinda ruined the term with a pretty crap movie recently...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461703/

[azhure.livejournal.com]

Movies have a lot to answer for sometimes!!

[tezmilleroz.livejournal.com]

It really depends on how your shape shifters...well, shift shapes. If it's a painless, magical thing (like Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson), than Walker is a fine term. But when it's a physical change that the shifter can feel in agony as it happens...best choose another term.

All I can think of is changelings and "the animal inside".

Have a lovely day! :-)

okies

[yaguari.livejournal.com]

the 'generic' name for shapeshifters *as a class of beings* is therianthrope --> therianthropy

you should be able to google/wiki it

Re: okies

[azhure.livejournal.com]

I know that :) I'm more looking for terms that have been used in fiction :) Should have been a bit more specific. But thanks!

[rhiannontherose.livejournal.com]

1. Are you looking for names for the entire category of being, or for specific kinds? Also, are you going for technics (think Latin), lore of assorted countries, or as found in other creative works?

[azhure.livejournal.com]

I was thinking along the lines of an all-encompassing term (hence the use of were/shifter in the question). And more in creative works, though I can possibly use something from lore...

[rhiannontherose.livejournal.com]

You know, other commenters already covered (or gave references for) most things I could think of. The other things I could think of, of course, I currently cannot. Urgleblurgle. There's always metamorphs, for a general term...has that one come up yet? And one source not yet mentioned, which can be plundered for a variety of names for a variety of creatures, is the White Wolf RPG system.

[rhiannontherose.livejournal.com]

Oh...you'd probably find them in one of the references someone already left commented here, but I don't believe anyone has yet tossed out the Japanese Kitsune (fox woman spirits) among the cultural lore references, yet.

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

Lychanthrope, and I don't know any novels, but the tales of Ric the Were Otter on shinyshinyelves are good. Especially this one and this solution (http://community.livejournal.com/shinyshinyelves/14170.html). (http://community.livejournal.com/shinyshinyelves/7967.html)

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of terms from specific cultures indicating shapeshifters. The Lithuanian laskowicze/leszi (primarily wolves, but anything really), the Scandinavian bakhahasten (horse shape-shifters), the German nix (shape-shifters), etc.

I suck for book references though. :(

[weishaupt.livejournal.com]

Damn you for sucking at book references. I've never heard of any of those and I totally want to read about them now.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

Oh! I have non-fiction book references; just not fictional ones - which I assumed was what Steph was looking for.

Witches, Werewolves, and Fairies: Shapeshifters and Astral Doubles in the Middle Ages
- Claude Lecouteux

Werewolves, Shapeshifters, and Skinwalkers (For the Millions Series)
- Marika Kriss (out of print, but wicked)

Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins: An Encyclopedia - Carol Rose


The Folk Lore Of The Isle Of Man: Being An Account Of Its Myths, Legends, Superstitions, Customs And Proverbs
- A. W. Moore (particularly good for information on the Each Uisge, a wight I'm fascinated with).

This is just the tip of the iceberg; there's heaps of awesome non-fiction shape-shifter references out there. :D

And then of course you've got things like 'The Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were,' and what have you. :)

[weishaupt.livejournal.com]

I rather like the Each Uisge too. The Claude Lecouteux and the Manx folklore look interesting. I've probably got some obscure ones I've forgotten in encyclopedae-ish books too...

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

When I move and can get most of my occult books out (I don't have as many as I'd like) I'm going to compile a reading list or something, I think.

And you probably do have some obscure ones! Almost all cultures had their own version of a shapeshifter.

[weishaupt.livejournal.com]

I know there's obscure blood-drinking, astral-travelling shapeshifting creatures from south-east asia I've got in some books on vampire lore...

[weishaupt.livejournal.com]

When I move and can get most of my occult books out (I don't have as many as I'd like) I'm going to compile a reading list or something, I think.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours ;)

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

Also you might like this:

http://www.ststlocations.com/Archives/Scandinavian/Folklore/

Info on Scandinavian folklore and wights. :)

[weishaupt.livejournal.com]

ellevolk and tomtes and klabautermenn, oh my!

[azhure.livejournal.com]

I really need to pick your brain one of these days about all of the lore that you know. I am jealous of your braininess :)

I really should hunt out some good books on shapeshifting and myths.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I'm more up with knowledge on European shape-shifters and less on the UK ones (though I have devoted some time / research into myths on black shucks, each uisge etc.) but I'd love to!

Thank you for your message the other day. My brain has been so fried lately. Stupid brain. *throws things at it*

[weishaupt.livejournal.com]

Yay Black shuck!

[azhure.livejournal.com]

If you feel like it, I'd love to get you to beta read this book at some stage, too :)

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

Lycanthrope or shapeshifter seem the most generic to me, or at least the most used. I was reading an old Latin tale in one of my beginner books and encountered the term "versipellis" literally change skin and really like that as an idea, dunno if that word or something derived from it could prove useful?

[apocalypsegrrl.livejournal.com]

Not like you need my input, there's tons of good suggestions below.

I'm having the same problem with my werewolf novel. The angle I'm going at though is looking at the history I created for my werewolves and trying to find a name that would have surfaced for them in the area they came from. Okay, what I just wrote doesn't make much sense, but basically, the pack that the stories revolve around live in New York, but the pack name is in dutch. Basically the pack founder came over from the Netherlands to the colonies. Of course, I'm sure I've botched up the history somewhere...

But that's an idea.

[snowywolfowl.livejournal.com]

Loup Garouis (possible spelling mistake) is a term I've seen for some French and French Canadien stories about werewolves. Skinwalker has been mentioned and there is some type of creature that turns into a seal unless you steal its skin. God my brain fails me today.

The only other item that comes to mind other than the usual were, warg and lycan ideas is "facedancer", but that would be lifting something right out of the second "Dune" novel. Cool concept though, if somewhat disconcerting.

[darakat-ewr.livejournal.com]

I have always liked the Animorphs concept and name, but there was always a bit of Dues ex mechina in them so you may need to restrict the powers a bit more to make it more interesting.