Isn’t It Romantic? Part I: The Nature of Attraction in Sci-Fi Romance

I’ve been wondering about the expression of romance in a science fiction romance for some time now. Specifically, the issue of whether SFR has unique romance “prose codes” or “trope codes” (or a mixture of the two). To put it another way, because of the myriad settings and characters in this subgenre, do authors have more choices when it comes to describing a) the nature and basis of the hero and heroine’s attraction to each other, b) new ways of objectifying beauty, and c) the relationship development, i.e., courtship?

In part one, I’d like to open up for discussion the issue of physical attraction between sci-fi romance heroes and heroines. In part II, we can have fun with courtship behaviors in SFR.

I was reminded about this topic when author Marcella Burnard (ENEMY GAMES) left a comment in response to a previous post here, Sci-Fi Romance: A Great Source For Cosplay Inspiration:

Read SPARKS IN COSMIC DUST, or Watch THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE?

I’ve known about John Huston’s THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE for a long time, but didn’t feel particularly compelled to prioritize it over other films. I mean, classic or no, it’s so gosh darn old, as films go. And I have plenty of other stuff I’ve been meaning to watch as well.

But then along comes Robert Appleton’s romantic science fiction tale SPARKS IN COSMIC DUST. That book went and changed the whole picture (pun intended!).

Why? Well, here’s what the author had to say on his book’s Acknowledgments page:

Special mention must go to John Huston’s classic 1948 Western, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, probably the definitive story about prospecting for gold and the insidious nature of greet. It inspired Sparks in many ways, and though I’ve seen it countless times, I find its characters and themes endlessly fascinating.

That statement intrigued me for a few reasons. One, I came to Westerns by way of Japanese animation shows, some of which drew heavily on classic Westerns by the likes of Sergio Leone (A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS).

And may I just say that Westerns rock the cinematic range!

Two, THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE stars Humphrey Bogart. I’ve been periodically catching up with some of his films, and this represented a chance to get another one under my belt. Three, I knew I’d get to blog about both stories if I both read the book and watched the movie—boo-yah!!

So, I read SPARKS IN COSMIC DUST and right after finishing it, I borrowed THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE from my local library (libraries rock, too!!!). I’m going to share a few observations about my experience, but first, I need to set all this up with a little background information about my movie viewing habits.

SFR News & Links For September 2011

This month, science fiction romance has something for everybody, so dig in!

SPARKS IN COSMIC DUST (Romantic SF) - Robert Appleton

(This novel-length story is inspired by THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE.)

The final frontier is shrinking. Interstellar Planetary Administration sanctions are forcing the border colonies of deep space into extinction. Kappa Max is one of the last major cutthroat outposts, home to the lawless and the lonely...

Varinia Wilcox, the star attraction of a lucrative bordello gambling house.

Solomon Bodine, spurned by his lover and looking for distraction.

Clayton Barry, AWOL and a few drinks away from having to live in the gutter.

Lyssa Foaloak, a double-crossing criminal who'll kill anyone for a few credits.

Four strangers, each with secrets that could cost them their freedom, are desperate to get off-planet. They meet Grace Peters, a cynical ex-doctor with an intriguing offer: a six-month trip to a faraway moon where she claims a stunning fortune awaits.

But this adventure is no easy escape. Danger, passion, secrets and madness await. Can they survive the mission, and each other, to make it out alive?

Read the excerpt.

And there are many more releases....

Winners of the RT Book Reviews Giveaway

The winners of the RT Book Reviews giveaway are:

Brandy
Diane Mc.
Cathy Pegau
Erika
Yttar2

Winners, please email your snail mail addresses to sfrgalaxy "at" gmail.com (subject line: RT), and I will send them to RT's Morgan Doremus. She will then mail you a copy of the October 2011 issue.

Thanks again to everyone who entered. I enjoyed your eloquent and insightful comments--some of which might inspire a future blog post or two.

Long live science fiction romance!

Joyfully yours,

Heather

Will Sci-Fi Romance Escape The Brink of Extinction? Plus, an RT Book Reviews Giveaway

Check out this awesome coverage for science fiction romance, folks: The cover of the October 2011 RT Book Reviews poses the following question:

“Is Sci-Fi Romance An Endangered Species?”

Quelle horreur! Yes, my heart was pounding as I cracked the cover of the magazine and went straight to the featured article.

I must admit, though, that even before learning the title of the article within—“Whither the Sci-fi Romance?: For Fans, Finding This Genre Combo Means Hitting The ‘Net,” I’d been pondering the absolute dearth of sci-fi romance being released by the Big Six publishers (and Harlequin). Except for releases by Gini Koch, Marcella Burnard, Susan Grant, and Sara Creasy, it’s been slim pickings in the past year.

RT’s latest article on science fiction romance (by Faygie Levy and Elissa Petruzzi) tackles the Great Question Of Our Time, namely, “…why don’t we know about them?” Meaning, of course, sci-fi romances. What about this scary statistic disclosed in the article: among the magazine’s 2,700 books reviewed since January 2011, only 15 were labeled as “futuristic”?

Is science fiction romance being robbed? What’s happening here?