Great Resource for Fantasy Writers: To Avoid the Mistake of Theology-Rewriting, or to Learn About New Creatures

I recently wrote a couple of pilots with bible-plans for television shows. One of these featured a jinn. My research into this creature surprised me, so I turned to this section first. “the unpredictable jinn of the Arabian Peninsula probably predated the advent of Islam in the seventh century”, before they were picked up in “renowned story cycles crafted by Muslim authors”, also featuring King Solomon (xvii). An entire section is dedicated to them: “Spirits of Fire and Air: The Riddle of the Jinn”. The summary explains: “They could make themselves invisible, transform their shape and size, and fly rapidly from place to place.” In a chapter on “Quranic Demonology”, there is an intro that jinn were not malevolent in the original stories, as they were not exiled “from Heaven; rather, they were a race of creatures who inhabited the earth before the creation of Adam and eve.” The Qur’an describes jinn briefly, as if readers were already familiar with them. A few passages are presented from the Qur’an where jinn are mentioned: “To Solomon… We gave… jinn who served him by leave of his Lord” (127). Then, “The Case of the Animals versus man Before the King of the Jinn” in Epistle 22, a history of jinn was added. It claims that jinn lived before Adam, and then Angels were “sent by God” to vanquish them “and adopted one of their captives, a young jinn named Lucifer, as their own…” Later, jinn lived on earth and were controlled by King Solomon, who “imprisoned” those among them who rebelled (130). This is a more malevolent version of jinn, as opposed to showing them as a divine superior species. This is a great dramatic story, and one I’m surprised I haven’t read before, even when I tried to do some research earlier into jinn. Any fantasy writer who plans on using a demon in their work would be advised to search this book for relevant stories to avoid misrepresenting what to many is a religious entity, as opposed to merely a light work of fancy.
This book is the perfect way to handle demons. The original stories are combined with specific and thoroughly researched introductions. I could wish for nothing better in a book like this. I just wish it wasn’t expiring before I’ll probably start my next fantasy project.
—Pennsylvania Literary Journal, Fall 2024: https://anaphoraliterary.com/journals/plj/plj-excerpts/book-reviews-fall-2024

4 stars

There is a lot to digest in this book. A ton of demons and history and origin.
I thought (wrongly) that this would be somewhat light and fun. While it is fun it is absolutely not light reading. It is heavy on the religious aspects, I understand why, it’s just not for me. Again I was expecting something a bit lighter.
This is definitely not a book you would sit and read like a novel, but more of one you’d keep handy and look at often in n no particular order, almost coffee table book style, but better!

So while at first I had mixed feelings, I do overall like this book. I do wish there was some art with depictions of these demons.
I can definitely say I will probably be purchasing a physical copy to reference and enjoy at my leisure. I think it would make for a better physical read that ebook.