The Sluagh In Popular Culture

The Sluagh appear in various outlets of modern pop culture, and literature. Two of the most popular mention of the class of wicked undead are in the Merry Gentry book series, and in the popular role playing game, The Changeling. Though the Sluagh also appear in other literary works, as well as video games, these are just the most recognizable, and readily available. Not many stories can be found that are specifically only about the Sluagh, unfortunately. Like all great stories, time eventually wears them down to a few footnotes, and we are left with just the vague details. Some attribute the Sluagh to an Irish version of the Teutonic Wild Hunt.

Merry Gentry is an odd series of novels, by Laurell K. Hamilton, –who is better known for her previous work in Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter. Merry Gentry brings to mind American Gods, by Neil Gaiman, at least in the idea of old legendary deities walking among us today in the modern United States. In the Merry Gentry series, the Seelie, and Unseelie Courts came to America and were offered sanctuary as long as they behaved themselves. Merry Gentry is the name of a Seelie princess, who turns P.I., and works hard to make sure her cousins keep their toes on the line.

In The Changeling, the Sluagh play a much more prominent role; they are a class of character that the player can choose for his or herself, and play as throughout the game. The Sluagh in The Changeling are also more realistic, technically, anyway. They are described as being slimy, destructive, and ultimately unpleasant characters, who favor fighting dirty. They are also given other traits, by those who choose to play in that character, and are not particularly bound to be bad, –some players reverse the role, and give their Sluagh a less monstrous and more humane outlook.