Fictional depictions of worms

Worms have played major roles in world mythology and its associated literatures.

[1] The word was often used to describe creatures now classified as snakes, lindworms, serpents and dragons.

The current usage of worm as a type of malicious Internet software is derived from John Brunner's 1975 science fiction novel The Shockwave Rider.

[2] More positive interpretations, based on the concept of the friendly 'bookworm' or mutated forms of the common earthworm, are found in many recent books, especially those written for children.

[citation needed] On Pink Floyd's album The Wall, worms were used as "symbols of negative forces within ourselves.