diff --git a/include/hack.h b/include/hack.h
index a7ea384ed..9628fa977 100644
--- a/include/hack.h
+++ b/include/hack.h
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@ typedef struct sortloot_item Loot;
 #define GP_ALLOW_XY 0x080000L /* [actually used by enexto() to decide whether
                                * to make an extra call to goodpos()]        */
 #define GP_ALLOW_U  0x100000L /* don't reject hero's location */
+#define MM_NOEXCLAM 0x200000L /* more sedate "<mon> appears." mesg for ^G */
 
 /* flags for make_corpse() and mkcorpstat(); 0..7 are recorded in obj->spe */
 #define CORPSTAT_NONE     0x00
diff --git a/src/makemon.c b/src/makemon.c
index 8cc95517f..103c946c8 100644
--- a/src/makemon.c
+++ b/src/makemon.c
@@ -1411,13 +1411,30 @@ makemon(register struct permonst *ptr,
 
     if (!g.in_mklev) {
         newsym(mtmp->mx, mtmp->my); /* make sure the mon shows up */
-        if (!(mmflags & MM_NOMSG)
-            && ((canseemon(mtmp) && (M_AP_TYPE(mtmp) == M_AP_NOTHING
+        if (!(mmflags & MM_NOMSG)) {
+            char mbuf[BUFSZ], *what = 0;
+            /* MM_NOEXCLAM is used for #wizgenesis (^G) */
+            boolean exclaim = !(mmflags & MM_NOEXCLAM);
+
+            if ((canseemon(mtmp) && (M_AP_TYPE(mtmp) == M_AP_NOTHING
                                      || M_AP_TYPE(mtmp) == M_AP_MONSTER))
-                || sensemon(mtmp)))
-            pline("%s suddenly appears%s!", Amonnam(mtmp),
-                  distu(x, y) <= 2 ? " next to you"
-                  : (distu(x, y) <= (BOLT_LIM * BOLT_LIM)) ? " close by" : "");
+                || sensemon(mtmp)) {
+                what = Amonnam(mtmp);
+                if (M_AP_TYPE(mtmp) == M_AP_MONSTER)
+                    exclaim = TRUE;
+            } else if (canseemon(mtmp)) {
+                /* mimic masquerading as furniture or object and not sensed */
+                mhidden_description(mtmp, FALSE, mbuf);
+                what = upstart(strsubst(mbuf, ", mimicking ", ""));
+            }
+            if (what)
+                Norep("%s%s appears%s%c", what,
+                      exclaim ? " suddenly" : "",
+                      distu(x, y) <= 2 ? " next to you"
+                      : (distu(x, y) <= (BOLT_LIM * BOLT_LIM)) ? " close by"
+                        : "",
+                      exclaim ? '!' : '.');
+        }
         /* TODO: unify with teleport appears msg */
     }
 
diff --git a/src/pager.c b/src/pager.c
index a454c8872..8abb64e8d 100644
--- a/src/pager.c
+++ b/src/pager.c
@@ -161,10 +161,10 @@ trap_description(char *outbuf, int tnum, int x, int y)
 /* describe a hidden monster; used for look_at during extended monster
    detection and for probing; also when looking at self */
 void
-mhidden_description(struct monst *mon,
-                    boolean altmon, /* for probing: if mimicking a monster,
-                                       say so */
-                    char *outbuf)
+mhidden_description(
+    struct monst *mon,
+    boolean altmon, /* for probing: if mimicking a monster, say so */
+    char *outbuf)
 {
     struct obj *otmp;
     boolean fakeobj, isyou = (mon == &g.youmonst);
diff --git a/src/read.c b/src/read.c
index d02d848f5..a177923f9 100644
--- a/src/read.c
+++ b/src/read.c
@@ -2703,7 +2703,7 @@ do_genocide(int how)
         if (!(mons[mndx].geno & G_UNIQ)
             && !(g.mvitals[mndx].mvflags & (G_GENOD | G_EXTINCT)))
             for (i = rn1(3, 4); i > 0; i--) {
-                if (!makemon(ptr, u.ux, u.uy, NO_MINVENT|MM_NOMSG))
+                if (!makemon(ptr, u.ux, u.uy, NO_MINVENT | MM_NOMSG))
                     break; /* couldn't make one */
                 ++cnt;
                 if (g.mvitals[mndx].mvflags & G_EXTINCT)
@@ -2977,10 +2977,12 @@ create_particular_creation(struct _create_particular_data* d)
         if (d->genderconf == -1) {
             /* no confict exists between explicit gender term and
                the specified monster name */
-            if (d->fem != -1
-                && (!whichpm || (!is_male(whichpm) && !is_female(whichpm))))
+            if (d->fem != -1 && (!whichpm || (!is_male(whichpm)
+                                              && !is_female(whichpm))))
                 mmflags |= (d->fem == FEMALE) ? MM_FEMALE
                                : (d->fem == MALE) ? MM_MALE : 0;
+            /* no surprise; "<mon> appears." rather than "<mon> appears!" */
+            mmflags |= MM_NOEXCLAM;
         } else {
             /* conundrum alert: an explicit gender term conflicts with an
                explicit gender-tied naming term (i.e. male cavewoman) */
@@ -2989,11 +2991,11 @@ create_particular_creation(struct _create_particular_data* d)
                commented out here */
             /*  d->fem = d->genderconf; */
 
-            /*  option chosen: let the explicit gender term (male or female)
-                override the gender-tied naming term, so leave d->fem as-is */
+            /* option chosen: let the explicit gender term (male or female)
+               override the gender-tied naming term, so leave d->fem as-is */
 
-               mmflags |= (d->fem == FEMALE) ? MM_FEMALE
-                               : (d->fem == MALE) ? MM_MALE : 0;
+            mmflags |= (d->fem == FEMALE) ? MM_FEMALE
+                           : (d->fem == MALE) ? MM_MALE : 0;
 
             /* another option would be to consider it a faulty specification
                and reject the request completely and produce a random monster