From: mike@xenocyte.com   
      
   Jymesion  wrote:   
   > A publisher is seriously interested in the novel I've been working on   
   > for umpity-umpteen years.   
   >   
   > A couple of issues, though. They want family-friendly books, so the   
   > sex has to go (minor -- edits already done), and two characters being   
   > demons and two more being devils worries them because of the whole   
   > demonology thing.   
   >   
   > I really don't have a problem with calling them something else because   
   > they aren't stereotypical demons.   
   >   
   > I just don't know what to substitute.   
   >   
   > Creating a name out of thin air won't work. A made-up name for what   
   > mortals call them would have to be tediously explained and won't carry   
   > any automatic impact / instantly call up any mental images. They   
   > already call themselves something different.   
   >   
   > Foreign/ancient/obscure names are out for the same reason.   
   >   
   > It should to be a single word, something to insert into ". . . the   
   > demon said." sentences.   
   >   
   > It shouldn't have any obvious religious connotations.   
   >   
   > I've already ruled out: goblin, hobgoblin, imp, and jinn for various   
   > reasons.   
   >   
   > Any ideas?   
   >   
   > I'm seriously considering 'troll,' but it doesn't strike me in a   
   > "that's wonderful, should have used that from the start" kind of way.   
   >   
   >   
   > Basic traits:   
   >   
   > Immortal as far as aging, disease, etc. but can be killed.   
   >   
   > Created by a god, goddess, or very powerful wizard tearing them from   
   > the roots of a mountain.   
   >   
   > Everyone thinks they're evil, but actually they reflect what they   
   > find. If you're scared, they become terrifying. If you want to hurt   
   > them, they'll tear you limb from limb. If you approach them with   
   > innocent curiosity, they're like kittens. Etc.   
   >   
   > Humanoid (if you're somewhat generous with the term) changelings.   
   > Their forms range from a grotesque monkey to a fiery scaled beast   
   > filling a room. For most of the story, they look perfectly human.   
   >   
      
   I don't think there's any single word that in and of itself encapsulates   
   all those ideas in a totally intuitive way - demon itself does not, as you   
   recognise.   
      
   Maybe demihuman? Implies human appearance, but actually something more than   
   human and of supernatural origin, and occupying a niche between human and   
   something else. Can be expected to have powers (such as shapechanging).   
      
   You could abbreviate it to demm'n for use in general conversation, it's a   
   natural diminutive which could carry echoes of the "demon" concept without   
   ever actually using it and therefore shouldn't frighten the Bible Belters.   
      
   --   
   "In 900 years of time and space, I've never met anyone who wasn't   
   important."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)