Zombie of My Dreams? Not Likely.
by Devon
I’ve got monsters on the brain. Not surprising, given the season and all. Things that go bump in the night are everywhere, from my local Target to all the Halloween books and shows my kids have been overdosing on The Nightmare Before Christmas (back-to-back three times Saturday afternoon), to the elaborate lawn displays put out by some of my neighbors.
As I watch yet another Scooby Doo movie, I can’t help but compare the depictions of all things creepy and monstrous to the characters to be found in my favorite subgenre, the paranormal romance. How do authors take creatures meant to inspire fear and horror, and make them into heroes and heroines, objects of desire and romance?
The reasons for the appeal of the paranormal romance are numerous, in my opinion, and require multiple posts for me to explain all my theories. So I’ll spare you. But, how to make undead bloodsuckers and hairy wolfmen romantically appealling?
Putting it simplistically, it’s a matter of taking out the ugly, and leaving in the power and strength. Let’s look at perennial favorites the vampire and the werewolf. We don’t want a romance vamp to look like Count Orlok or even Bela Lugosi. Nor do we want our werewolves to look like that guy. He must be human enough not to squick a reader out. It’s the power and strength that we are drawn to, the heightened senses, the abilities no regular man has.
But along with the physical ugly, the ugliness of their powers must be downplayed. The vampire doesn’t drink blood for fun, but to survive (and it is often a source of angst). The shapeshifter turns into a wolf because it is what he is, he must. Not to terrorize necking teenagers or whatever. But what about the other creatures?
With the popularity of paranormal romance, we have seen a diversification. Witness the rise of the demon (a romanticization of the embodiment of evil). The shapeshifter romance has been branching out. There’s a number of big cats (especially lions), and quite a few dragons. Birds of prey. You’ve got a few selkies (half-man/half-seals from Celtic folklore). I think I’ve seen a dolphin story.
But this ties back into the ugly thing. These animals are predatory, beautiful, strong, almost elegant. There may be more wereanimals coming our way, but I bet we’re not getting a were-rat, a were-vulture or a were-cow hero anytime soon. Only cool animals need apply. What else? Fairies and elves? Notoriously good looking. Witches and sorcerers don’t count, neither do humans with extrasensory powers. I know there’s some gargoyle books out there, and I read one with a Yeti, though I doubt Yeti romances will catch on any time soon.
So what “monsters” will never be attractive subjects for romance? Zombies get my vote, as do mummies. Undead is one thing. Dead and shuffling around, possibly drooling, is another. You never see a zombie with a personality. Also Leprechauns. Too short and I can’t get past the association with Lucky Charms and a bad movie franchise.
What underrepresented supernatural creature would you like to see get a chance at true love? And alternately, what creepy crawly do you never want to see get his own sex scene? Devon will pick a comment to win a Zombie pack of three Berkley Books.
PS: If anyone knows of a decent zombie or leprechaun romance, pass it on. I always try to keep an open mind. For more ramblings on romance, particularly of the paranormal kind, visit my blog Is that a Stake in Your Pocket? And Happy Halloween! 
As for creepy crawly- please no snake like creatures. For some reason a man who can turn into a python is not an attraction for me!
Oh, I fogot- What I would like to see is Gargoyles get their chance at love! If we can have demons and devils, why not more of them? 🙂
Um, acutally…I don’t think I’d like to see a love scene between Freddy Krueger and anyone…those hands..yuck!(Don’t know if he counts though)
Now Count Chocula…there’s a man with presence…he deserves a chance at love.
I’d like to see more horse-shifters, a la some of the characters in the Riley Jenkins novels by Keri Arthur.
Or more animal+human DNA characters from Lora Leigh’s Breeds novels. Not fantasy characters or shifters, but have animal characteristics.
i would never want to see a love scene between the creature from the black lagoon and whoever, also I would NEVER want to see an ET love scene, lol. Also the man from mosquito or the fly, ewwww.
I would love to see more gargoyle or dragon books.
yay halloween!
I love the idea of gargoyles as hero material. But then, I loved the cartoon about the gargoyles from the early 90’s. And one of the stories dancing around my head that would see the light of my hard drive if I ever got off the Internet involves a were-bear. I also think crow shifters are fun, too.
What I don’t want? Actually, I’ll try anything once when it comes to paranormals. I do agree that zombies are not sexy. I also threatened to write a werecockroach, which… did not meet with excitement on the part of whoever I threatened.
Katiebabs and Shannon C, I have read one absolutely excellent gargoyle romance out there- my Marjorie M. Liu. *loves on her books* The Gargoyle story was in an anthology called… *thinks* Dark Dreamers, with Christine Feehan also. I have to admit, I LOVED the Gargoyles show when it was out there- something about a being that’s not quite beautiful- but the beauty inside more than makes up for whatever’s on the outside. And Gargoyles are the quintessential defenders- they were made to guard and protect. *shudders* Quite simply, done right they are quite yummy.
I actually wouldn’t mind snake love stories (Amelia Atwater-Rhodes Hawksong is the only one that comes to mind)- that fluid power and grace- they hypnotizing way his gaze captures you’re own… *grins*
For beings that I don’t want to see in a romance novel- Giants weird me out. Ogre’s in their traditional sense do too (yet somehow I love Shreck…). Cyborgs aren’t very sexy either in my mind- I mean, who wants cold metal pressing against you in those delicate moments?
LOL! That cracked me up.
One thing I wouldn’t want to see…the “S” word. I’m not saying it, so don’t ask..but I’ll give you a hint: More than 7 legs. *shudder* I just creeped myself out.
I think a strong, cool animal is the way to go. Dragons gave me pause at first (I mean, their HUGE and they conjure up images of Donkey from Shrek) but I’m warming to the idea now. Any kind of cat..black panther, tiger, leopard. I’m thinking maybe no sheep shifters..too soft and cuddly.
I agree with JC about Cyborgs. Eek! And I have a thing against Aliens. Don’t know why, but the idea of a green, big eyed dude as sexy doesn’t work for me. LOL
I don’t mind Cyborgs. Love ’em in fact. I was going to talk about Frankenstein, but I actually think that idea of a “manmade” man has interesting possibilities.
I was going to mention that Liu novella, JC. I’ve got it, but I haven’t read it, may just have to bust it out. I believe it’s Vickie Taylor who has a Gargoyle series.
Good choices all. What do you think of mythical creatures like Centaurs, Satyrs and Minotaurs? What’s the most unusual creature you’ve run across in a romance (and was a hero/heroine)?
I would never EVER want to read a romance book about a leprechaun – Oh. Hell. NO. Just thinking about it makes me think of the leprechaun movies – Yuck! that little man is so evil and ugly!
I’d like to read a book about zombies – just not a romance, but an urban fantasy sounds good! I’ve always like zombie movies but a zombie romance? Nah.
The idea of zombie romance wouldn’t do it for me. I suppose it is because of the assumption that a zombie is pretty mindless and may drip decaying body parts.
I have read the same gargoyle story by Marjoire M. Liu that JC mentions above. I found the story to be a bit dark and very sensual. l enjoyed it very much. The story is titled A Dream of Stone & Shadow by Marjorie M. Liu and is a short story from Ms. Liu’s Dirk & Steele series. You can find it in the DARK DREAMERS anthology just as JC said. 🙂 I agree that gargoyles capture many of the characteristics that we all love about our paranormal alpha heroes!
Insects are a NO due to the gross factor… and cyborgs/androids are also a NO due to the “too mechanical” factor. Even the android Gigalo Joe (played by the sexy Judd Law) in the film A.I. doesn’t quite make the hero cut.
I have to agree with Gwen and the horseshifter from Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson books… was his name Kade? …. talk about a wild ride! LOL
Eeww, I agree with a lot of the posts. I definitively don’t want to see romances with zombies, or insects.
I have enjoyed romances with succubus-incubus, gargoyles and would love to see more of them.