He first appeared in The Last Hero by Terry Pratchett, heavily illustrated by Paul Kidby. At that time he prohibited the eating of chocolate, ginger, mushrooms and garlic by his followers.

His existence is the basis for Pratchett's novel Monstrous Regiment. Among his ever-growing list of Abominations are cats, the color blue, Dwarfs, Oysters, babies, cheese, the smell of beets, and ears.