Comments on THE GALAXY EXPRESS: Futuristic Romance Retrospective, Part I: The Pion...

Blackroze, thanks for visiting!

Eh, and tha...

2009-02-09T23:23:00.000-05:00

Blackroze, thanks for visiting!

Eh, and that reminds me that I need to remember to add a comment indicating when a contest has ended, which this one has. Sorry!

Come back again because I have periodic giveaways.

i havnt read alot of futuristic romance, would lov...

2009-02-09T21:54:00.000-05:00

i havnt read alot of futuristic romance, would love a shot to try it

Helen, Very good point.

Most Futuristic Rom...

2009-02-04T13:33:00.000-05:00

Helen, Very good point.

Most Futuristic Romances have more in comon with ERB than they do with modern SF or even modern fantasy for that matter.

Don't laugh too hard, but I think my first futuris...

2009-02-04T12:47:00.000-05:00

Don't laugh too hard, but I think my first futuristic romance was ERB's SWORDS OF MARS. I'm streching the definition a bit, but if you go with the literary definition of romance, it works. ;) And my favorite romances do tend to have lots of drama and action, with the love story being underplayed. I want the couple to be together but I want something else going on in the story too - preferably with swords. (Yeah, I was overexposed to movies like THIEF OF BAGDAD, 3 MUSKETEERS, PRINCE VALIANT, etc. as a youngster. ;)) So, SWORDS OF MARS really works for me, with a good part of the story being about John Carter trying to save his beloved Dejah Thoris from assassins while jumping about the moons of Mars and slashing away. I would have preferred their roles to be reversed, but what can you do? It was written in 1934. ;)

Now my favorite SF romance is Bujold's A CIVIL CAMPAIGN, which is the perfect mix of romance, whimsy, and SF.

Helen Louise Caroll
Amber Quill Heat author since 2008

Jayne Ann Krentz writes well, you should put her o...

2009-02-04T08:54:00.000-05:00

Jayne Ann Krentz writes well, you should put her on your list too. Her work can be a little over the top with Alpha male meets his match in quirky eclectic woman stereotypes, but they are fun. Her work has a more fantasy/paranormal feel to it than SF, even in the books with more SF plots. Her Jayne Castle books are good reads if you like paranormal tale w/o the usual vamps or shape shifters.

I'm just now venturing into the world of SF Romanc...

2009-02-04T08:08:00.000-05:00

I'm just now venturing into the world of SF Romance, so I haven't read many pioneering authors--yet; but definitely plan on sampling as much of the buffet as possible. From what I've read so far? I quite enjoy the world building of Catherine Spangler, Marianne Mancusi, Eve Kenin, and Liz Maverick--just to name a few. :)

I think Francis hit on the head what bothered me m...

2009-02-03T15:58:00.000-05:00

I think Francis hit on the head what bothered me most about the early Futuristic Romances,and said it in a much more politic way.(Must make not to self not to type posts after having big fight with co-worker.)

There was a strong 'forced seduction' element in many of Futuristic books

---Some feisty young beauty, who also happened to be Queen, President of the Senate, High Priestess, or Chief dog catcher of her people is kidnapped by warlord Zxork, because his people no longer can breed tiny blonds and that's the only gene type that can give him an heir. At first FYB is upset by Zxork's people's law that a woman must wear only body-paint, walk back-wards on her hands ten feet behind her man and wash his beer stein with their hair in public every night. But, soon she learns walking on her hands is a great way to stay in shape and washing glassware with her hair for someone as studly and virile as Zxork is the one thing she was missing in life, and learning to do it just right is the only hope she has for future happiness.---

Folks had already rejected that sort of plot in mainline Romance but somehow it seemed OK if it was in a SF setting. I think that was what I found so insulting.

Heck, get a strong enough community together, and ...

2009-02-03T15:10:00.000-05:00

Heck, get a strong enough community together, and maybe another reader's choice award will spring up.

BTW, Kate Pearce who writes some futuristic erotic romance did an interview over on my blog if you'd like to check it out. (She's giving away a free book, not a futuristic, but a free book.)

http://jessgranger.blogspot.com

Jess

Heather,

Outstanding article on the history...

2009-02-03T13:20:00.000-05:00

Heather,

Outstanding article on the history of Science Fiction Romance. It was a trip down memory lane. SWEET STARFIRE was the first Science Fiction Romance that I ever read. I still enjoy going back to it for a comfort read. It holds up quite well. To my knowledge, that was the first mention in popular fiction of e-readers, and chips. This was long before PCs were in common useage. JAK was clued into future technology even then.

I can't say that I enjoyed all of the older futuristics as well. Some seemed to only be excuses to stitch together erotic scenes with domination themes. Not my cupa! I like sensible alpha men and women who can learn to work as a team to save their... whatever needs saving.

And Jace, I love TIMESHADOW RIDER. For me it's like reading a beautiful poem, the imagery is so evocative. Admitedly, it takes some getting used to the language of the first chapter. However, make it past that first confusion and you are hooked.

I am just so thankful for the contributions of Ann McCaffrey, Lois McMaster Bujold, Susan Grant, Linnea Sinclair, Catherine Asaro, and Robin Owens.

Marilynn, I regret that I have never been privileged to read one of your books. I am so glad that you won the Sapphire. It breaks my heart that that is gone. The newsletter was a hoot. Thanks for your wealth of historical knowledge.

JAK also published Crystal Flame in 1986 but was f...

2009-02-03T10:50:00.000-05:00

JAK also published Crystal Flame in 1986 but was forced to use a pen name. I heard her talk about it at RWA National a few years ago.

LORD OF THE STORM and SKYPIRATE by JD are also great favorites of mine. I still re-read them occasionally. :-)

Karin Shah
STARJACKED 2.10.09
Samhain Publishing

I grew up reading SF and the occational Georgette ...

2009-02-03T09:25:00.000-05:00

I grew up reading SF and the occational Georgette Heyer as as a home-sick-with-the-flu sort of guilty pleasure. I was in my 20's and out of college before I read my first real Romance novel and not much later I came across my first "Futureistic Romance". I don't remember what it was but from the cover blurb it looked like a perfect match for my reading taste. Boy was that cover blurb a bait and switch. It was a horrid book, seriously I found myself angry that trees had died so it could be printed.

I tried again and again, almost always with the same reaction. I just had to accept that I HATE Futurisitc Romance books. I have not read everyone out there, but I found the ones I have read to be an insult to my intelligence. For the most part they seemed to me they were second-rate bodice-ripperesqut historical romance plots with beyond horrid as SF tacked on in a last ditch attempt to make thems stand out in a crowd.

At the same time these books were being published I think there were people writing SF/Fantasy McCaffery, Bujold, Teresa Edgerton, Julian May, R A McAvoy, and even more "straight" SF witers like Brin, MZ Bradley, and Cherryh were adding some 'romance' to there work and that was much more important to creating a market for SF romance than the Futurisitic were. But that is just my opinion, and I may be wrong.

Popping in this morning to announce that Linnea Si...

2009-02-03T08:29:00.000-05:00

Popping in this morning to announce that Linnea Sinclair (HOPE'S FOLLY) has added four books to the giveaway, including one of her own! Details have been added to the original post.

Thanks, Z!

Hi, Eloriealton! Thanks so much for the heads up about YARGO. Must check it out.

I think that there is another futuristic romance p...

2009-02-02T21:49:00.000-05:00

I think that there is another futuristic romance published in February 1979, "Yargo" by Jacqueline Susann. It was her first novel written in the 50's but published after her death.

http://www.amazon.com/Yargo-Jacqueline-Susann/dp/0553128558

I have a copy of it somewhere, and remember it fondly. I also read all three of Johanna Lindsay’s “Warrior” stories.

The main reason I got started in "Trek" fan fiction was the fact that I got a combination of romance and science fiction.

Please don't enter me in the drawing, I've got Rowena Cherry's three books, two more of Linnea Sinclair's and Susan Grants "The Warlord's Daughter" came out yesterday.

Elorie

Agent Z - thanks :) I loved writing those categori...

2009-02-02T20:17:00.000-05:00

Agent Z - thanks :) I loved writing those categories.

Natalie - I'm torn between the Pern series and the Talent series. Re Sweet Starfire - you can get it down here, but it's harder to find.

Heck, yeah - enter me for the drawing!

Ente...

2009-02-02T19:24:00.000-05:00

Heck, yeah - enter me for the drawing!

Enter Natalie, too. I'll pay the shipping if she wins. (I got a nice fat bonus from that Gor job I did *wink*)

Nalini Singh - squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
All of the hundreds (thousands?) of category romances I've read, I have exactly three on my keeper shelf. You wrote two of 'em.

Excellent post, Heather!

Fingers crossed for you, Kimber An!

Linnea,...

2009-02-02T18:37:00.000-05:00

Fingers crossed for you, Kimber An!

Linnea, thanks for commenting! My goal here was definitely to acknowledge the intriguing direction romance and SF had taken. But you also anticipated a topic I'm covering in my next couple of posts, so stay tuned.

Nalini, thanks for visiting! Those books definitely broke some new ground.

Hi, Shelly! Thanks for the heads up about Sue Krinard's book.

Jace, that title alone is full of awesomeness. I will check it out and we can compare notes!

Natalie, thank goodness for McCaffrey--that's all I have to say, lol!

Hi, Jess! I agree Dara Joy's work definitely crosses over into the realms of fantasy, and that's part of the fun.

Susan, thanks for stopping by! Catherine Spangler's work is on my TBR list and I like the covers I've seen. I think it's because one of them has the hero in a uniform. Delish!

Marilynne, holy guacamole! Awesome, thank you, and please hold that thought because it's a nice lead in to my next post. Too bad about the newsletter/Sapphire awards. Well, never say never, right?

Alyclepal, your name is in the hat!

Please do enter me. I'm having a lot of fun "disc...

2009-02-02T16:21:00.000-05:00

Please do enter me. I'm having a lot of fun "discovering" this genre!

Heather, if you need info or memories of that peri...

2009-02-02T15:36:00.000-05:00

Heather, if you need info or memories of that period, I'm your person.

Another good source of information is Jennifer Dunne who was the editor of the "SF Romance" newsletter for many years. Her successor turned the newsletter into a blog then let it and the Sapphire Awards die.

The Sapphire was THE reader award for these novels for many years, and I treasure winning it more than any other award.

SF romance and futuristics started out with problems including the first novel being a horrid joke of bad science, worldbuilding, and a "Mars Needs Women" plot that glorified sexual slavery and rape as sexy fun. Most readers who loved TREK novels or sf ran screaming away, and many probably didn't read another futuristic for years, if ever.

Most romance editors knew nothing about science fiction so they couldn't spot the problems, and they were absolutely certain that a romance reader wouldn't understand most of the tropes of sf or the concept that a romance could be about an idea in the same way as a sf novel can.

During its early period, one agent told me that NY publishers, with the exception of Love Spell, wouldn't touch a futuristic that wasn't written by someone who was a major name with a series of bestsellers to their name.

Love Spell kept the subgenre alive, but the money and sales were very poor so authors moved to more lucrative markets.

Unfortunately but not surprisingly, the futuristic/sf romance failed to survive. Until recently, the sf romance has made an appearance every seven years or so, lasted about a year in popularity then faded out of sight.

Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle used her status as a bestselling author to help keep the subgenre alive with her early Harmony novels, but sales of these books were much lower than her contemporary and historical romances, and even she wasn't allowed to publish these books until recently.

Small press and ebooks also kept the subgenre alive, and authors like me were finally able to add a true sf element. Then Catherine Asaro, Susan Grant, and Linnea Sinclair came along, and the rest is history.

The first futuristic romance I read was one by Cat...

2009-02-02T12:53:00.000-05:00

The first futuristic romance I read was one by Catherine Spangler. It was about five or six years ago, when I'd decided I wanted to try writing romance and was reading every genre of romance I could find. I can't remember the title of the book now, but it did have one of those clinch covers.

The first ones I remember reading were Dara Joy's....

2009-02-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

The first ones I remember reading were Dara Joy's. I didn't think of them as Science Fiction. I thought of them as Fantasy, where the magic happened on another planet. But then I don't even think I processed them as "on another planet." I guess I considered them almost pure fantasy.

I didn't run across a book that I felt portrayed a plausible extraterrestrial society until Susan Grant's "Star King."

I fell in love with that one.

(You also don't need to enter me. While I'd love new books, I've got a tight writing schedule right now.)

Jess

P.S. I didn't read any SFR before Susan Grant just...

2009-02-02T08:33:00.000-05:00

P.S. I didn't read any SFR before Susan Grant just a couple of years ago and she led me to Linnea Sinclair, so if I go back to the 1980's Futuristics it'll be pretty new to me.

Nalini I have in deed read all of McCaffrey's book...

2009-02-02T05:34:00.000-05:00

Nalini I have in deed read all of McCaffrey's books. Mum introduced me to these books when I was 12 and I've loved every one of them. Though I must admit I still like her Dragon series the most. I've got Susan Grant's 'My Favourite Earthling' in my TBR pile. But I haven't heard of Starfire or some of the others listed. Perhaps they were renamed here in Australia.

Natalie - have your read Anne McCaffrey's Talent s...

2009-02-02T04:06:00.000-05:00

Natalie - have your read Anne McCaffrey's Talent series? I really like the romantic thread in those stories as well.

p.s. please don't enter me the the draw - my tbr pile is already in danger of falling over on top of me *grin*

Bugger I can't enter. Ah well. Growing up on Heinl...

2009-02-02T02:53:00.000-05:00

Bugger I can't enter. Ah well. Growing up on Heinlein, Clarke, Bear, Anderson, and the list goes on, I loved the world building and the relationships between characters. I didn't differentiate between romances and pure military action saga's. Most writers had an element of both in them. So I was surprised as all get out to find that there was an actual Science Fiction Romance section/genre. The best of both worlds.
McCaffrey with her Acorna novels and the Crystal Singer series. Oh and the Ship Who Sang, whilst they're not SciFiRom purist I still loved the way she humanised the stories. Bringing it back to basic fundamental human needs of being accepted and loved.
Why do I like writing SciFiRom? Because I can set my story in a new world where there are no constraints.

Hey Heather ... cool article, as usual. :D

...

2009-02-02T02:03:00.000-05:00

Hey Heather ... cool article, as usual. :D

Don't enter me for the draw of the 5-book giveaway (since I live so far away and the postage will cost the earth IF I got picked.) ;)

My very first futuristic romance read was TIMESHADOW RIDER by Ann Maxwell, which I read some 10+ years ago! I admit to not truly liking it at that time, but I'd never forgotten it. I think it's time I read it again and *try* to understand why I'm still remembering it after all these years.