Here's another perspective, from science fiction writer James H Schmitz, in the introduction to his book, A Pride of Monsters: https://web.archive.org/web/20010

Here's another perspective, from science fiction writer James H Schmitz, in the introduction to his book, A Pride of Monsters: https://web.archive.org/web/20010727131117/http://www.white-crane.com/Schmitz/Monsters_intro.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20010727131117/http://www.white-... Extract: "That was a period vastly longer than the civilization which has brought us a growing security against the beast that prowls by night. And the beast remains part of our heritage, unforgotten; it pads through the dark back-ways of our minds, peers out into our dreams. There is a kinship, a bond, between it and us. It's part of the raw substance of life; if necessary, we'll create new forms for it. As the original monsters of the environment dwindled into relative insignificance, man invented mythological terrors to replace them, new heroes to confront his inventions. It was as if he sensed a lack-and dragons and griffins, werewolves and vampires were born to hunt the outer dark again and restore to it what was missing."