<DIV><P>Monsters are more than things that go bump in the night...</P><P>Monsters are lurking in the woods, beneath the waves, and within our favorite books, films, and games--and there are good reasons why they appear so often. Monsters are manifestations of our fears and symbols of our society--not to mention they're a lot of fun--but each should serve a purpose and enhance the themes and tension in your fiction.</P><P>In <I>Writing Monsters</I>, best-selling author Philip Athans uses classic examples from books, films, and the world around us to explore what makes monsters memorable--and terrifying. You'll learn what monsters can (and should) represent in your story and how to create monsters from the ground up.</P><P><I>Writing Monsters</I> includes:<UL><LI>In-depth discussions of where monsters come from, what they symbolize, and how to best portray them in fiction</LI><LI>Informative overviews of famous monsters, archetypes, and legendary creatures</LI><LI>A Monster Creation Form to help you create your monster from scratch</LI><LI>An annotated version of H.P. Lovecraft's chilling story "The Unnamable"</LI></UL> Whether you write fantasy, science fiction, or horror, your vampires, ghouls, aliens, and trolls need to be both compelling and meaningful. With <I>Writing Monsters</I>, you can craft creatures that will wreak havoc in your stories and haunt your readers' imaginations--and nightmares.</P></DIV>