 |
| King Titan is da man—I mean, fish man |
As a diehard fan of Gerry Anderson’s STINGRAY,
I’m a guaranteed lover of any science fiction romance that takes place underwater
and/or features aquatic characters. STINGRAY featured a mermaid heroine and lots
of wild-looking ocean creatures both good and evil. The show is highly
fantastical, but that’s what I love about it. So if a science fiction romance
were to take that route, I have already bought into the concept hook, line, and
sinker. (Could resist going there, heh heh.)
Of course, there’s a difference between the child in me who
enjoys STINGRAY-inspired stories and the adult me who expects at least a
modicum of plausibility—or at least a great BS
device. In terms of plausibility, aquatic characters are a big logic leap.
I mean, we’re basically talking futuristic, gill-bearing fish people here.
Creating believable aquatic heroes and heroines poses a number of challenges. It
probably goes without saying that most of these characters will be humanoid in
nature. But even so, readers will want to know specific details about them. How
did they evolve? If they didn’t evolve, how were they created? In what ways are
they similar to fish or other aquatic life and in what ways are they different?
How do all the various human and fish parts fit together? What are their
strengths and weaknesses? What do these characters have to say about gender
identity, sexuality, and gender roles (i.e., hopefully something beyond the
heteronormative default)?
I haven't encountered very many aquatic heroes and
heroines in my science fiction romance adventures so far, and I think I know why: How does one make a fish guy or gal sexually
attractive to his/her future mate, especially if the mate is a human? The word
“fish” tends to connote things like scales, coldness, sliminess, fish lips, and
the like. And don’t get me started on when I’m eating fish and I bite into a
sliver of bone. Blech.
I also get the heebie-jeebies if a fish rubs against my bare
leg while swimming in a lake, so on that level I have a hurdle to overcome
regarding viewing aquatic heroes and heroines in a sensual/sexual context.
Still, execution and tone can go a long way toward making
such characters believable as well as desirable. I’ve read a few SFR books
featuring aquatic characters and so far, so good, but given my raging STINGRAY
fanaticism that’s hardly enough. I would really love to read more stories that
take place in a water setting, whether right here on Earth or on an alien
planet. I see them as having great potential as far as characters, action-adventure
elements, and cool tech.
Oh, and keep in mind that I really dig those dynamite
deep-sea fish creatures, so feel free to throw in a few of those as well.
 |
| "Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale..." |
Luckily, the following books are already available:
REFUGEES
ON URLOON by Melisse Aires features characters who adapt to the planet Urloon
by transforming into aquatically adept humanoids. The author had only to
mention the magic phrase “genetic engineering” and that was enough for me.
Plus, there’s lots of shiny details about the specific biological features
associated with the adaptation. It may not be hard SF, but it sure was fun
fantasizing about what it’d be like to live beneath the sea in that world.
In STELLARNET
REBEL by J.L. Hilton, the hero is an alien humanoid of the amphibian variety. He doesn’t
spend very much time in the water (for a reason), but the reader experiences
his aquatic Otherness in a variety of ways. One bonus is that the story explores the
hero’s culture as it pertains to relationships, romance, and family structure.
I’d explain my favorite bit of social commentary but that would constitute a
spoiler—sorry!
TRUE
BELIEVERS by Maria Zannini features an alien hero with “moisture ducts”
a.k.a. gills and also “double eyelids” that induce a “white membranous
film” to cover each eye for enhanced underwater vision. Nice! I don’t recall
that this aspect of the hero’s anatomy translated to very much aquatic action
during the story. But because I’m a STINGRAY fan, the author gets an “A” for
effort!
If you know of any sci-fi romances that showcase aquatic heroes
and heroines, hit me up!
Joyfully yours,
Heather