Science fiction romance has an awful lot of nooks and crannies. They’re yummy in an English muffin, but even better as an unexpected discovery. That point was driven home for me recently after I finished Ellie Marvel’s erotic science fiction romance novella HEAT (from the anthology SECRETS #22, Red Sage Publishing). The back cover copy explains that the story is about Tarkin, “a mild-mannered alien guy” who “goes into heat” and “the only compatible female around is a rough and tumble Terran mining specialist” by the name of Sarai.
Now, I didn’t read the back cover copy initially. The story is set in the same universe as Ms. Marvel’s MEGAN’S CHOICE so I knew I would enjoy it, plus I like to be surprised. So it didn’t strike me until well into the story that holy guacamole, this is a science fiction romance version of pon farr!
Pon farr refers to that period of time every seven years in which a Vulcan character from STAR TREK goes into heat, at which time he/she must mate or die. The concept made its first appearance in the STAR TREK original series episode Amok Time, which was written by Theodore Sturgeon. In that episode, Mr. Spock enters a pon farr cycle and excitement ensues.
Other instances of pon farr in Star Trek include an episode with the character T'Pol (STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE); with Tuvok from STAR TREK: VOYAGER; and with Ensign Vorik, also from VOYAGER.
Fan fiction is another source of pon farr stories. That’s where you’ll find the science fiction romance angle, because the authors present pon farr as a natural and positive occurrence, as opposed to the Star Trek series and films, which imply that a Vulcan going into heat is a source of embarrassment or an abnormality. Most notable among the fan fiction offerings is Jean Lorrah’s THE NIGHT OF THE TWIN MOONS (1976). In this tale, “Amanda Grayson [Spock’s mom!] teaches [her husband] Sarek and then other Vulcan couples to enjoy pon farr and to accept their physical and emotional natures.”
Now, I’m guessing—and it’s just a guess, mind you, but a pretty good one, I think—Paramount, which owns the Star Trek franchise, is unlikely to release a film wholly devoted to Mr. Spock or another Vulcan navigating a pon farr cycle and falling in love (poop on them, I say!). That is why we must search among the nooks and crannies for our science fiction romance. Ellie Marvel wrote a story that, while completely unrelated to Star Trek, explores the themes of the emotionally repressed archetype.*
You know, characters like Spock, Data, and 7 of 9 of Star Trek, Admiral Branden Kel-Paten (GAMES OF COMMAND by Linnea Sinclair), Reef (HOW TO LOSE AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL IN 10 DAYS by Susan Grant), , Teal'C (STARGATE, SG-1), and many of Catherine Asaro’s Jagernaut characters (e.g., Sauscony Valdoria from PRIMARY INVERSION). When it comes to the emotionally repressed heroes, heroines—and by extension, readers—relish the challenge of winning over such an emotionally distant lover.
Like Ellie Marvel’s HEAT, this is a great opportunity for authors to explore the possibilities of mild-mannered beta heroes in SFR. These brainy beaus have locked their emotions away, but look out, since because of a science fictional element/worldbuilding concept, this type of hero can transform into a hawt sex machine! What a splendorous secret for the heroine to unlock. And only she has the ability to look past the hero’s dispassionate side and embrace his unleashed emotions—not to mention his wildfire sex drive. Lucky gal!
Know any other stories that go where pon farr has never gone before?
Joyfully yours,
Heather
*TM Ellie Marvel
7 comments:
Yep. I agree. I LOVE this idea and always have. I mean, I don't know about you, but I waited and watched the progression of Troi, Will Riker and Worf with baited breath and NEVER got total satisfaction there.
Oh and how about Worf and his woman who had his little boy. THAT was a hot episode.
*happy sigh* I think TNG explored so much more of that and that's why that's my favorite Star Trek spin off.
You're absolutely right Heather - pon farr is a fantastic concept for a SFR novel to explore. I only wish I could think of a good example, but the closest I can come up with is from Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series, in book 3, "Caressed By Ice," where an emotionless assassin literally has to unlock his mental barriers to have a relationship with a shape-shifting female. I absolutely love stories where an emotionally shut-down character (usually the male) changes because of a relationship (hmmm, sounds like real life, doesn't it?). It would be great if more authors explored the possibilities.
BTW, when I saw your title for this post, I did a classic double-take, and thought, Heather's writing about porn now???
For anyone who is interested, the story of how Sarek and Amanda met and married is told in the flashbacks of THE NIGHT OF THE TWIN MOONS. Their early marriage, including first Pon Farr, is explored in detail in FULL MOON RISING. Both fanzines are still in print, and available at Agent with Style, www.agentwithstyle.com .
Why did I write such things? Because in those days there WAS NO professional SF Romance available, although there were thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of women waiting eagerly to devour it. In the 1970's and well into the 1980's, the only source was fanfic.
Just got back from vacation -- I'm lurking around hoping for some more good book titles :). I've never even seen Amok Time.
Ms. Marvel's HEAT is a very yummy pon farr-esque story. Gotta love a mild-mannered hero who gets hot and bothered : )
And yeah, like Rebecca I was wondering when you'd branched off into porn ; )
I always thought Spock was really cool, definitly one of the best, but I never thought of him in a romantic sense.
My twenty year old self still lurks around somewhere inside me and thinks the new Sulu and Chekov are soooo hot!
My real, forty year old self thought Captain Pike in the new movie was hot too, the older, still handsome and fit, mentor to the hotheaded young studs coming up.
But, Spock? Mmm, no. Pon-Farr? Also cool. But, like Trip said in Star Trek Enterprise, seven years is a heck of a dry spell! I'm really not interested.
I think the point really is Vulcans have to mate once every seven years, not that they only mate once every seven years. There is a huge difference.
I like the Pon-Farr idea, but I think one of the reasons is because there could easily be a mental link component too, which I find far more interesting.
Linnea Sinclair explored that link in "Gabriel's Ghost" and "Shades of Dark." I can also see the potential of mentally linked lovers in James Cameron's "Avatar" although it wasn't explored.
I'm not big into paranormal's so I don't know if telepathic lovers have been used there, but it is something I'd like to use and see in Science Fiction Romance.
Elorie (who has had a big time crush on Mr. Spock since 1966.)
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