Known throughout the solar system as the #1 Cheerleader of science fiction romance, Kimber An runs Enduring Romance, a book showcase & review site. What’s distinct about her site is the Heat Level feature, a guide to the extent of sexual tension and sex in the books she and her colleagues review.
As an experienced(!) romance reader, I asked her to comment on the topic of Heat Level in science fiction romance books because she’s had her ear to the wormholes longer than anyone can remember. It’ll be a satisfying conclusion to the exciting discussions we’ve been having this past week.
The Galaxy Express: First of all, Kimber An, thanks for taking the time to participate.
Kimber An: Thank you for inviting me, Heather! You’re a sweetheart and I’m not worthy!
TGE: First question—What inspired you to include Heat Level (HL) as a factor in your reviews?
KA: I started doing book reviews soon after I launched the original Star Captains’ Daughter blog. As always, I reviewed a variety of books; not just Romance. I was stunned when authors started checking out my blog and commenting. I mean, sheesh, I was just a puny little newbie blogger. What’d I know? Who’d care what I had to say?
I also started interacting with readers more and more and every day. The one complaint I heard the most was about graphic sex scenes in Romance novels. Since the boom of Erotica, the Romance genre has gotten more and more graphic with sex scenes. It’s gotten to a point where a reader cannot find a Romance novel without graphic sex in the New Releases, unless it is Inspirational (religious) or Young Adult (for teens.)
So, what’s a reader to do if she wants to read a Romance novel, but she’s over thirty and not a Christian? She’s expected to skip those scenes. Some readers do that. However, many have abandoned the New Releases altogether and now only read from the library or the used bookstore. The publishing industry, meanwhile, seems to think these readers no longer exist. They base what they put out next on what is selling new right now. Since there is nothing for these readers in New, there are no sales figures reflecting their opinion. Their voice goes unheard.
My book reviewing was getting rather out of hand, taking over my personal playground blog. I decided to start a new blog just for reviewing books and to rate the Heat Level for those readers who did not want to be shocked by graphic sex scenes. I named the blog, Enduring Romance because I believe in Happily Ever After in Real Life, and it’s grown so much I recruited fellow bloggers, Lady Bronco, Kimber Chin, Robyn at [Picnic At] Stonehenge, Mystery Robin, and, pitch-hitter, Sara J. to help out. We now have a Gore-O-Meter to rate violence too. That was Robin’s suggestion, I think.
TGE: As a reader, what are your general impressions about sex/sexual tension in SFR books?
KA: My favorite authors, Linnea Sinclair and Susan Grant, both do an excellent job with that. The tension always mounts and the lovemaking is always well-supported by the story and character development. To tell you the truth, I haven’t read much of any New Releases from new-to-me SFR authors. I don’t like to read anything hotter than Sensual and most SFR is Highly Sensual or Erotic. I rate Susan’s as Highly Sensual, but I know I can count on her to support that with original storytelling and multi-dimensional characters.
Like a lot of readers who’ve been disenchanted, I’m hesitant to try new SFR authors. Hot Nookie in Outer Space is not enough. I was impressed enough with GRIMSPACE and NETHERWOOD to request ARCs for the blog, but didn’t have time to review them personally. Sara J, my pitch-hitter, kindly volunteered. She does the Science Fiction and Fantasy I want reviewed but I can’t get to at Enduring Romance.
TGE: How do you think these elements impact a science fiction story in particular?
KA: Naturally, I think my favorite authors do an excellent job building tension and balancing the lovemaking with the plot and all that. Linnea is especially good at telling an excellent Science Fiction story without losing it to Standard Issue Sex Scenes. To use a Real Life metaphor, to me SFR without the Intimate Adventure is like sex without foreplay—boring. Read the Jacqueline Lichtenberg interview on this blog from June 23, 2008, for the definition of ‘Intimate Adventure.’
TGE: You’ve read & reviewed many, many books. Have you noticed any HL trends in SFR stories since you first began Enduring Romance? If so, what are your thoughts about them?
KA: I haven’t seen any new trends, just more of the same growing. Heat Levels in New Release Science Fiction Romance are Highly Sensual or Erotic with a handful of Sensual novels in there. While that may capitalize on the genre-wide rush for Erotica dollars, it alienates a significant number of potential readers at the same time. Reader preferences are as varied as they are. Not everyone is the same or likes the same thing. Science Fiction Romance readers may be busy and tired, but they are smart. Really smart. Authors and their associates who doubt that do so to their own peril.
TGE: Any other comments about HL and SFR?
KA: In my opinion Science Fiction Romance needs to become more inclusive, or maybe I should say it should *return* to being more inclusive. Remember Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura kissing? If I were to judge SFR readership based upon the SFR New Releases I know of, all SFR readers are white, only like white guys, are between the ages of 25 and 35, only read Highly Sensual or Erotic novels, and hate babies.
Consider that nearly all SFR readers are women and most of them are mothers. Many are over 35 and, yes, they had wild crushes on Han Solo. But, they also thought Mr. Sulu and Will Smith were hot too. One of the reasons put forth to explain the decline of Science Fiction is that we’re already in the future. We have iPods and cell phones and a probe on Mars. I think it’s because Science Fiction has fallen behind the Real Here and Now.
For example, Mommies command corporations in Real Life, but not starships in Science Fiction. It used to be that women yearned to fall in love, marry, and live happily ever after. The cultural expectation was that she became non-sexual once the first sperm hit the first egg. Meanwhile, it was acceptable for men to keep mistresses for sex instead. It’s called the Madonna/Whore Complex.
Nowadays, however, we know that women can enjoy sex throughout babymaking and motherhood, past Menopause, and all the way into their sixties and beyond. Did you know that Oxytocin, a hormone involved in great sex, is double-dosed to pregnant and lactating women? Think of all those new mommies who could have been having multiples (talking O here, not twin babies) if they only had the support they needed during that time of their lives!
A woman can fall in love at any age and stage of life. The readers have learned there is so much more to Womanhood than our culture previously thought, but Science Fiction and Romance (to a lesser degree) have not kept up. I believe Science Fiction Romance is the ideal vehicle to forge this new path, but Susan Grant is the only author I know of who can and does carry it off. And no wonder—she’s a Mommy and an airline pilot, as well as a novelist.
My point is there could be a LOT more SFR readers than there are right now. Did you know most girls have their love of science peer pressured out of them by Junior High? This means future SFR readers have little to build their interest on and most will be turned off to SFR by the time they’re old enough to read it. Now, if there happened to be Science Fiction Romance novels in the New Releases which were also Sweet or Mildly Sensual, I could recommend them to teens and there would be that many more readers for the rest of SFR in five years’ time.
I don’t make these observations to be snarky and criticize Science Fiction Romance. Far from it. I want SFR to grow because I love it. I also realize my observations don’t always match up with what the publishing industry believes about readers and I’m nobody to them. I doubt SFR will change much in the coming years, but I do hope it grows anyway.
There is greater variety of SFR when a reader includes eBooks and Small Press, but a reader who wants to avoid Highly Sensual or Erotica ought to go searching through the greats like Anne McCaffrey and Marion Zimmer Bradley and any of the authors before the 1990’s, I’d guess, which Heather has posted to the left. Most of these will be bought at used bookstores or borrowed from the library, which means no New sales for SFR. Hopefully, it will at least grow the interest in SFR as a whole.
Once I’m through my current stack of ARCs, I plan on focusing on the authors who paved the way. Also, there is a lot of Science Fiction with strong romantic plots and many don’t go over a Mildly Sensual Heat Level. The following link might be helpful: www.romanticsf.com.
I think it would be helpful to create and post Booklists, recommending SFR-type novels which include stories outside the popular-though-narrow demographic I described. If you know of any SFR with a Sweet Heat Level for example, recommend it to the list! Know of a novel with a gorgeous black man as the Hero? Let us know! Help your fellow SFR readers find the books they will love.
Thanks for inviting me, Heather. You’re a sweetie.
;)
TGE: Kimber An, the pleasure is all mine!
Now, I open the floor to you, my progressive passengers. Chat up a solar storm with your thoughts, and don’t forget to stop by Enduring Romance or Star Captain’s Daughter to
Joyfully yours,
Heather
24 comments:
My goodness, you did an awesome job editing that, Heather! Please, no wet ones. I get enough peanut butter and jelly kisses at home.
;)
Readers, Heather and I are already up to our gills in a bazillion other tasks, both in Real Life and in the Blogosphere. So, if any of you want an SFR Booklist blog like I mentioned, one or more of yas will need to create one. All you got to do is click on the Blogger link at the top of the page and start it. For example, one post might be titled 'Heroine Mommies' and within the post the list could start with HOW TO WIN AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL IN 10 DAYS by Susan Grant. Posting cover art in thumbnail size next to the title helps readers remember it when they get to the store too. Be sure to request reader recommendations at the top of the page, link to each category, and enable comments for new recommendations.
If SFR readers want to grow and expand their favorite subgenre, they need to actively participate, I think. Be sure to remind readers to always *BUY NEW!* This is how authors earn money, which makes publishers want them to keep writing SFR.
;)
Glad you liked it! PB&J, lol! Well, mine was going to be hummus, but oh well....
I think your idea is great. Anyone with the resources/time can do it, but I thought I'd add that any aspiring SFR writers out there without a blog yet could benefit from exploiting this idea.
Active participation is key. Word of mouth helps, too.
Speaking of buying new, I've got birthday cash burning a hole in my pocket and I'm going to go order some books right now.
"In my opinion Science Fiction Romance needs to become more inclusive, or maybe I should say it should *return* to being more inclusive."
Yes! Yes! Yes!
The very thought gives me a screaming 'O'
(Easy to please, huh?)
The "whiteness" of space in SF and SFR really gets my goat. I'd love to see a more colorful cast of characters.
On sensuality level: I stated previously on another post that I have no objection to really hawt sex scenes, as long as they are an integral part of the story, rather than a sideshow attraction. I'm one of those readers who will skim through them in order to get back to the real action. When it IS part of the story though (and I think that they can be exceptionally useful for showing deep character) I'm going to read every word.
I'm currently reading Susan Grant's 'Moonstruck,' and in the first sex scene, the awful struggle going on in Brit's head is so very important to the story. It's a hot scene, no doubt, but the mechanics of the sex takes a back seat to that interior monologue. That, for me, is an example of a sex scene that does NOT bring the story to a halt, but uses a very intimate act to show us more about the characters.
Babies in space: I haven't thought about this too much, except for random musings about how the colonization of space would certainly involve an awful lot of babymaking and child rearing. A fascinating example of motherhood in space is Ripley of the Aliens series of films. Does anybody have any other examples? I'd love to explore this topic more deeply.
Fascinating post! Thank you Heather and Kimber An.
*marmalade kiss to Kimber*
Mmm, marmalade. Haven't had that in a while.
To add a little color to your reading lives, pop over to enduringromance.blogspot.com and read my review of CRYSTAL RAIN by Tobias S. Buckell. It is not technically SFR (girl-meets-alien), but it is awesome Science Fiction and the hero does get frisky with his wife in the kitchen. It's got the most awesome world-building I think I've ever read. The cast of characters is truly multi-cultural too.
The follow up to Crystal Rain, Ragamuffin, is well worth a read too. Not SFR, but a fun fast read with good female characters who aren't just there as trophy eye candy.
RAGAMUFFIN also has a BLACK Kick-Butt Heroine on the cover! Very cool.
>Does anybody have any other examples?
This isn't SFR, but Stephen R. Donaldson's The Gap series (starting with THE REAL STORY which can be read as a standalone) explores what happens to the heroine when she has a child. I won't go into much more because of spoilers. but Z you'd probably like that series a lot. I can't recommend that series enough.
I second the notion about including multi-cultural characters. Especially given that Asians outnumber caucasians like, three to one or something.
That RAGAMUFFIN was refreshing. I'll add that to my TBR list.
Heather, I'm amazed at the fantastic content you keep putting together for this site. This interview in particular touches on several issues important to me as an SFR reader and writer.
Specifically, a more varied cast of characters is a topic important to me. I'm your average American white girl, but I really am tired of reading only about Caucasians in space, and Tobias S. Buckell's books are right at the top of my TBR list.
My own novels aren't Earth-based at all, but the hero in one has an ethnicity similar to Hindi, while another is Black. The heroine in another is similar to Asian and two would be considered Caucasian.
As far as heat levels go, I agree that Grant's style is more sensual, but she handles it deftly. I hav read somewhere, sorry I can't remember where right now, that Sinclair's heat level is a little lower because she considers a possible teen readership.
Rather than a new blog, I noticed last night that there isn't an SFR group on Shelfari (at least I couldn't find one). So, I just created one.
Looks like a good start, Lisa! I hope everyone pops over to Lisa's Shelfari site and contributes. Here are some suggestions:
Heroine Mothers
Heroine Fathers
Children Involved
Non-White Main Characters
Main Characters over 35
Main Characters Under 25
Space Opera
Time Travel
Post-Apocoliptic (bad spelling!) Earth
Near-Future Sci-Fi
Monster-in-the-House
Alien Cultures
Telepathic/Empathic Main Characters
Cybernetically Enhanced/Android Main Characters
Any other suggestions?
I remember reading an interview with one of the people who helped Gene Roddenberry create Star Trek: The Next Generation. He said he told Mr. Roddenberry it was 'unconscionable' to expect human beings to travel through space for years at a time apart from their spouses, children, love interests, extended families, and also to expect the singles not to fall in love with each other and start new families. Consequently, the Enterprise-D had a school, two daycare centers (one for infants and toddlers and one for older children), weddings, and other social events. I think it's a huge part of what made that show a success. It felt so real, so *human.* It wasn't all about war and slipping into the sonic shower for a quickie with a passing alien every week.
Great list! I started four discussions for these kinds of topics to get things started.
Wow, this is another excellent topic, Heather. Kimber Ann, you've hit on many important points. I really appreciate your Enduring Romance blog. I'd like to comment on the need for a more varied cast of characters. I'm an elementary teacher and a mother of 3(we're beyond p-nut butter and jelly kisses, though!). This summer I've been part of a school-related book club about culturally responsive teaching. I'm Caucasian; Spanish surname by marriage (my husband is Mexican-American). One of the points of our school reading has been how important it is for literature (in this case for students) to reflect society, so kids can see themselves in the characters. I think especially in a future society, which is the setting for a lot of SFR, society would be more bi- and multi-cultural. I am in a bi-cultural/ethnic marriage. The school in which I teach has many families of different cultural and ethnic blends. I was a naval officer for 10 years before I became a teacher and I saw a lot of multi-ethnic families in the service. I agree with Lisa and Kimber Ann; our book characters should reflect what we see when we look around. I think Will Smith is a hunk. So is Jason Momoa (Stargate Atlantis). Rachel Luttrell, who is also in Stargate Atlantis is gorgeous and smart and exceedingly talented(classically trained dancer and singer). Every time I see her, I'm reminded of Jorie from Linnea Sinclair's Down Home Zombie Blues. But in Jorie's advanced world, her parents chose her exotic coloring! I guess what I am saying is that I, too, would love to read about a hero who has warm brown skin and chocolate chip brown eyes like my husband. I want my 15 year old daughter, who is bi-racial, to grow up reading about characters who look like her. Lisa, thank you for your ethnically diverse characters.
Oh, absolutely, Patty! It's wonderful when an author can do what Linnea Sinclair did with Jorie. To me, Jorie is a biracial Pat Benatar. What I liked most about DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES was Jorie's observations and education on human culture. She also had a thing for peanut butter kisses.
;)
Lisa, thanks for starting up that group! I didn't know about that site and what a cool find it is.
I really have to tip my hat to Kimber An because she has really given these topics a lot of thought.
Gosh, I'm hearing about some really cool SFR works in progress. Can't wait to read them!
Kimber An, that's a neat factoid about ST:TNG. No wonder that show has such staying power.
I'll have to think about other suggestions for that list when it's not so late in the evening.
Patty, you raise so many good points. Considering that census projections show that Hispanics will soon be the majority of citizens in the U.S., you'd think more artistic ventures such as books and film would take this into account. Give it time, I suppose, and artists will catch up.
I think I experience culture shock of sorts when I *don't* encounter different ethnic characters in the books I read and the shows/films I watch. It's something that takes me out of the story.
Hey, I was just over at Tobias S. Buckell's blog. He's the guy who wrote CRYSTAL RAIN which I reviewed on Enduring Romance today. Here's what he had to say about writing novels with multicultural casts of characters-
http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2006/01/13/douglas-blaine-on-shame/
I hear ya, Heather. Nighty-night.
Kimber Ann, I like what Tobias S. Bucknell has to say. Thanks for providing that site!
Kimber An, thanks for that link. I do believe Mr. Bucknell's piece is inspiring a post of my own, buwaahahhhaaa!
You're welcome, Patty and Heather! My husband took CRYSTAL RAIN with him to work today. He likes it when I get an ARC he can enjoy too.
Both Heather and Kimber an,
I loved your interview. You addressed issues that people need to think about. If we want the genre to grow, it can't all be insert tab A into slot B. Boring!
Thank you,
Frances
Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future
http://frances-writes.blogspot.com/
Frances, thanks for reading *and* commenting. It means a lot.
Soooo true about the inclusiveness! We live in multicultural countries. Folks fall in love with lots of different types. Great interview. -C
What a great interview! I'd have read it sooner, but I was playing with my iPhone. Apple opened things up to third party apps and I had to get th ereader! Since nothing is ever easy in computer world, let's just say I was a bit distracted. **g**
Will be checking out the blogs asap, because I like knowing heat level before I buy a book. Like many women, I tend to skip the sex scenes that aren't part of the story. I just don't want to spend money on a book where I'm skipping more than 50% of the book!
I would probably feel despair over what publishing is doing, but thankfully there are options these days. I believe small presses have always been the incubator of talent, but even they had their limits when printing books was the only option. There are some cool things happening out there in independent/small press world.
Many current NY authors started in indie publishing, but I think some had to make some big compromises when they moved to NY.
It's kind of sad, because there aren't middle of the road romances much in NY, for readers to buy, so they don't buy, which means NY publishes even fewer of them.
And the authors in indie world who DO write middle of the road are asked to move out of the middle if they get offered NY contracts.
It's a connundrum (not sure I spelled that right! I'm one of those women who were discouraged from going into science or math. **g**)
cheers,
Pauline
Thanks, Carole--and spot on observations.
Pauline, so true. Your comments remind me about a piece Stephen King recently wrote in Entertainment Weekly. He basically said that the most effective and scariest horror films were those done by independent filmmakers using low budgets. They have the vision and the creative freedom, but not the most money or best distribution.
It's all so surreal!
Yeah, I signed up for Shelfari too, and need to get back to read some of the discussion.
Heather, your site continues to amaze me. You've done such a great job of getting Skiffy Rommer writers and readers together and thinking more about the genre and the possibilities. What a great blog.
Laurie, thanks so much. When I couldn't shake this idea for nearly a year, I knew I had to do it. But in the end it's a team effort, and I'm honored to be part of this community.
Post a Comment