As a writer of SFR, I have a couple of universes I play in. The one I first created was the Fusion, but the one used for IN ENEMY HANDS is the Republic.
I love politics. I love reading about and thinking about it and someone wise (I forget who) once said that science-fiction is the projection of politics. So, when building a world, I tend to look at the political first.
The stories I've set in the Republic (ON BLISS, PRIME SUSPECT, A PIRATE'S PASSION and now IN ENEMY HANDS) occur a few centuries from now, where about a third of our galaxy has been dominated by humans. I don't have a lot of faith in humanity because I posit that, in the drive for rule, humans have continued to discriminate. In our time, people of different colour or sexual persuasion are singled out; in the future, my theory is that non-humans will be. They are called “Subs”, short for sub-human. Not worth bothering about. A necessary evil. Expendable. And they know it.
Among the most hated of all the Subs is a species of shapeshifter. Although you won't read about them in my latest novel (ON BLISS has one), IN ENEMY HANDS does reference them. Shapeshifters are hated because they can appear to be someone else. Their potential for toppling the Republic is high, and so the Republic is hell-bent on a campaign of extermination of that species.
But it's not only the Subs who suffer under Republic control. Humans too are locked into a caste system that determines what opportunities they can access, what assets they're allowed to acquire, and so on. There are only two groups of people who are outside this caste system. The first group is the Gentry, a group of humans who supposedly can trace their association back to a fabled Earth president. Through networks of similarly-placed people, they have built up enormous power and assets. A lot use this influence in the political sphere, although some want to lead nothing but an hedonistic life, frittering away their money in one extravagant gesture after another. The second group outside the caste system are the pirate cartels who roam space, killing and stealing as they see fit. (A PIRATE'S PASSION describes a situation where both groups meet and pirates also make a brief appearance in IN ENEMY HANDS.)
If you want a mental image, don't think of the Republic as resembling one giant amoeba of area in the galaxy. In order to make things work, I've ignored relativity through the use of “creases”. Think of a blanket with creases in them. If you roll a marble near one of these creases, the marble will drop into it and, presuming it's independently propelled, will come out at the end of the crease. Republic space is like that. The “crease” is a runnel through hyperspace. You can enter one anywhere along its length, but you only come out at the destination. The destination may be the star system next door, or it could be at the other end of the galaxy. So, the Republic resembles more a spider's web than a blob. The problem with creases is hyperspace. It is so chaotic that a human looking at it will go insane. Because of this, all hyperspace navigation is dependent on software and all transparent ports are locked down tight during crease travel. Definitely not recommended for claustrophobics.
The second problem with creases is that some of them appear to be unstable. Ships are getting lost. The surety of interspatial travel is being thrown into doubt. Ah, but that's for another novel!
I really like the Republic because there's so much potential for nefarious goings on. And there is a larger arc I have in mind with more stories involving Shapeshifters, pirates, dissidents, not to mention the loathsome Security Force.
What I've tried to do with IN ENEMY HANDS is provide a bit more information on the Republic through the lens of a love story. It's all relevant and it will all tie together as the series progresses, although the stories really are – to all intents and purposes – standalone.
Thanks again, Heather, for inviting me here today and if anyone has any questions on the Republic, I'd be happy to answer them!
Kaz Augustin is a Malaysian-born writer of science-fiction, romance, and permutations of the two. Her website is at http://www.ksaugustin.com and she blogs at http://blog.ksaugustin.com You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter; just look for “ksaugustin”.
COMPETITION: Kaz is giving away two copies of IN ENEMY HANDS at her blog, Fusion Despatches [http://blog.ksaugustin.com]. To be in the draw, stop by and comment at the Competition post, telling her at which blog (::koff:: Galaxy Express ::koff::) you read about her book. You have till 30 June!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The Politics of a Galactic Dictatorship by KS Augustin
An Interview With KS Augustin & A Giveaway
KS Augustin is the author of IN ENEMY HANDS, one of three science fiction romance launch titles from Carina Press. June 7, 2010 is the official launch date of this new digital-first publisher, and to help celebrate its opening as well as the release of another SFR, it’s my pleasure to present an interview with KS Augustin. In addition to featuring the ebook’s cover back in April, I contacted the author so we could learn more about the story itself.
Also, KS Augustin is hosting a giveaway of IN ENEMY HANDS at her blog (details follow the interview).
And away we go…
The Galaxy Express: According to your bio, you’ve had jobs ranging from running your own IT consultancy business to being a martial arts instructor. When did you decide to become a writer, and why? What attracts you to science fiction romance?
KS Augustin: It may not be fashionable to admit, but I really believe that there's a genetic component to the writing bug. I'm not saying that you can't be a great writer without it, but I believe there's a little “kick” there from having it in your genes.
My pseudonym, for example, takes the Augustin name from my paternal side, where a number of them, and their descendants, were known for their skill in written communication. And, before I began writing fiction in earnest—as a way of making a career out of it—I was already writing non-fiction for 15 years.
As for science fiction romance, well, my very first love was science fiction. (Yes, even before boys!) It was Harry Harrison, with his Stainless Steel Rat series, who first tuned me in to relationships within sf. Jim di Griz's wife, Angelina, must be one of the original kick-ass heroines. She's smart, protective and lethal. I fell in love with her instantly! As I continued reading, however, I noticed a certain lack of strong relationships between men and women and so set out to start redressing the balance. No big ego here! :)
TGE: Without going into spoilers, what kind of setting and characters can readers expect from IN ENEMY HANDS?
KSA: You know, I've always said that I can't write series and yet here I am with three! IN ENEMY HANDS is a Republic novel, which means it's set in my Republic universe although, rest assured, you don't have to read any of the others in order to make sense of this one. I like my series standalone. In the far future, humans have dominated a sizeable fraction of the galaxy, but have remained in control through subjugating other species. In order to make this work, the Republic has to squash any hint of dissent that dares make an appearance. The keyword here is “control”.
IN ENEMY HANDS is about astrophysicist, Moon Thadin. Moon is brilliant and craves recognition for her ground-breaking work in stellar mechanics. She was under suspicion of being a terrorist, was reluctantly exonerated and is trying hard to pick up the pieces of her research. As you can imagine, the last thing she wants is to get involved in any kind of controversy.
Then she meets Srin Flerovs, who is also brilliant in his own way, outwardly serene and completely charming. She is stunned when she finds out that he only has a two-day memory because of a strict drug regime he is under. This is so he and his abilities can be kept under control. What is Moon going to do about it? Can she do anything about it? Does she even want to?
TGE: What kind of research did you do for the story? What was the path to publication like for IN ENEMY HANDS?
KSA: Oh my! Got a couple of spare weeks, Heather? LOL
Research. Because my husband, J, is such a physics geek, we have loads of books on quantum mechanics, from Einstein to Feynman to Penrose and a couple of Russian classics. I browsed through them all when trying to put together the mechanism of stellar re-ignition that I use in the novel. I also did a crash course in chemistry and biochemistry/pharmacology for a couple of other elements in the book. It can really hold me up because I won't move from a point until I have some piece of technology worked out. I'm not the sort to just keep writing and come back to it later because the make-up of the technology often has repercussions on the plot itself, so everything's got to wait until something gets sorted.
Path to publication. I thought this novel was a goner even when I was polishing it! Terrorists? Non-white characters? Drugs? I tried some literary agents with it but, while they described my writing as “strong”, they told me it wasn't commercial enough, and a couple felt that it had “too little sf” to be sold as sf, and “too little romance” to be sold as a romance! When Quartet Press started up, I subbed a partial to them, mostly because I know digital presses are bigger risk-takers than traditional publishers. They liked it and asked for a full then, one month later, they folded! Aaarrgggghhhhh!
Then I heard about Carina Press. Still doubtful, I gave my little novel a kiss on the forehead and sent it off. The good thing about Carina is that they only accept completed manuscripts, so I thought the chop, when it came, would be quick and merciful! I was stunned and delighted to find out that editor, Michael Banks, wanted to acquire it for Carina, and the entire Carina team have been very supportive of the novel. I'm still walking around with a glazed look on my face.
TGE: What’s on the itinerary when Srin and Moon go out for a date?
Well, Moon likes her food. That's even more obvious after three years of incarceration, where she had to make do with meals barely above survival rations. And Srin is delighted with anything that arouses Moon's passions as well as keeping track of novel sensations himself. It's his way of throwing himself back into life. Putting that together, I think that Srin is likely to hunt out an exotic restaurant hidden away somewhere that serves delicious, but obscure, galactic dishes. He'll make a reservation and then surprise Moon by taking her there.
Moon will order a bottle of wine that reminds her of Drue Jeen (the captain of the combat ship, the Differential, where Moon and Srin first met). They'll eat and laugh but there'll be a slight bittersweet edge to the evening and they'll make love tenderly that night and fall asleep in each other's arms.
TGE: Please describe a few of the techniques you use to balance the romance/SF/heat elements in your stories.
KSA: I have an A4 spiral-bound notebook that I keep all my story outlines in. When starting a new story, I'll open to a pair of blank pages and start outlining—word count, then chapter count. Then I flesh out the characters by doing profiles of each of the major ones. Then I'll break the story down by Act (three acts) and numbered chapters with usually two scenes per chapter. I do a one-sentence outline of each scene, and then look at what aspect I'm concentrating on in each.
If it seems out of balance, I'll add scenes that fill out more of the universe particulars or a character's background or emotional context, or whatever seems to be lacking. That planning usually takes two days, then I'm ready to write.
Now, that might seem awfully quick but let's take a step back. Before I even open that notebook, I have to have the beginning, the penultimate chapter and at least three other scenes (as well as all the major characters) complete in my head. Now that process can take anything from one month to three years or more. And I edit in my head before I even put fingers to keyboard so, by the time a scene comes out, I've been through it maybe a dozen times, changing the pov or the setting, reworking the dialogue, or what have you. It's much quicker doing it in your head than trying to rejig things once they're on the screen.
Of course if I've forgotten one of the scenes (and it happens because, worst case, nothing has been written down or best case, only one meta-sentence exists), then I figure it wasn't powerful enough to be in the novel in the first place.
TGE: What are your favorite science fiction romance books, films, and/or television shows?
KSA: Of course I read Linnea Sinclair, Susan Grant and Lois McMaster Bujold! But I tend to spend most of my time reading and watching non-fiction. Documentaries. Textbooks. Cookbooks. I love reading cookbooks!
I find it difficult to read fiction without analysing it. Would I have said it the same way? Why did they approach the scene like that? What device did they use in order to achieve X? Of course it doesn't help living with a man who once had an ambition to be a literature critic!
TGE: Do you have any advice for authors considering a career writing science fiction romance and/or ebooks?
KSA: General advice for anyone considering being an author is to (a) treat it as a small business, (b) cultivate self-discipline, and (c) understand your market. You may not write to what you ostensibly think of as your market, but understand what rule you're trying to break before you try breaking it. I know that sounds a little zen, but that's the best way I can put it.
As for ebooks, as you pointed out in a post [http://sfrcontests.blogspot.com/2010/04/ebooks-science-fiction-romance-match.html] you wrote for SF Brigade, Heather, SFR authors can start being more interactive and elastic with what they write. I'm thinking a bit about that for a steampunk I have knocking around in my head at the moment. By definition, we are authors and readers who are very comfortable around technology, and love researching it, so here's a digital advance that we can all leverage.
TGE: Is there anything else you’d like to share about IN ENEMY HANDS?
KSA: I'm really curious about what readers will think of it. I hope they like the characters, and find enough intrigue in the universe to want to come back to it. And I hope I show that you don't have to have a blaster in your hand to get your way.
TGE: What else can readers look forward to from you?
KSA: I currently have a straight sf out on submission, but have another two SFRs that I'm working on.
The first is “War Games”. It's set in the Fusion universe and concerns a war criminal and the woman she falls in love with whilst in the middle of a planetary war-zone. I originally had this serialised on my website, then I pulled it, added almost 30,000 words to it to make it flow more smoothly and I'm currently polishing it.
The second is still very much a wip, and set in the Republic, with a working title of “Quinten's Story”. It's about a developing relationship between a damaged and cynical human who's lost the love of his life, the secret shapeshifter who works for him, and a tough choice she must make between saving her people or loving a member of the species hounding her kind to extinction.
If anyone's interested in what I'm doing, or what I've written, my website is http://www.ksaugustin.com, I blog at http://blog.ksaugustin.com and I'm also on Facebook and Twitter. Just look for “ksaugustin”. And thanks so much, Heather, for inviting me here!
Ms. Augustin, thanks for your time, and for your art.
Now for the giveaway details: KS Augustin has two copies of IN ENEMY HANDS waiting to be won! The winners will also receive bookmarks and a collection of items mentioned in the novel. To enter, visit this post at her blog and leave a comment indicating you read her interview at TGE. She’ll draw the winners’ names on July 1, 2010.
Joyfully yours,
Heather
Thursday, June 3, 2010
What Are The "Must Read" Science Fiction Romance Books?
A Galaxy Express passenger—her name is Tamara—contacted me recently to inquire if a “Top 10 or 100 list” of science fiction romances was available. And boy, did that question ever spark the proverbial light bulb.
I’m constantly making SFR recommendations, and I sent Dear Author a personal top ten list, but hadn’t ever compiled a formal one for this blog. By “formal” I mean one that can serve as an official showcase list, not to mention a go-to list for readers new to the genre.
I thought we might put our heads together and brainstorm a list. How long should it be? I think 10 is too few, and anything over 100 will make readers’ eyes glaze over. And I’m not sure if the list would be effective if it’s simply a regurgitation of every available book. If possible, it would be nice to have a balance of popular and/or bestselling titles as well as those that represent the subgenre well, even if an author only wrote the one book.
At the risk of splitting hairs, I hesitate to compile a list of the “best” SFR books because taste is so subjective. But if a list is a “must read” then it can take into account books both older and newer as well as those that have had an impact of some kind, or best represent certain elements unique to science fiction romance. I’d like for such a list to include both print and digital titles of any length, as well as representative works in m/m and erotic SFR.
Also, if we are telling readers new to the subgenre to expect science fictional elements, my feeling is that the books should be traditional SFR, meaning few paranormal/fantasy elements (although there might be exceptions depending on the quality of the book or its impact on the subgenre).
One issue that arose as I contemplated this list is that a few authors have written multiple SFRs or have included romances in multiple books. Would we choose one representative title or refer readers to their body of work? For example, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Anne McCaffrey, Lois McMaster Bujold, Catherine Asaro, Linnea Sinclair, Susan Grant, and S.L. Viehl come to mind. Or might we include their first SFR in the list as a place to start?
This list could be subject to change as new books are released. So for as long as I run this blog, it’s a list we can revisit as needed. We may even reach a consensus of just 30, 40, or 50 books for the time being.
I compiled a list of 22 books to get us started. I did not include every book I personally enjoyed because I was trying to maintain as much objectivity as possible (I'll admit some bias might have slipped in but hey, I'm only human!). I could have added more but I wanted to know what the community of SFR readers would vote for as well (and since I haven’t read every last SFR book on the planet—yet—input from you will allow for titles I might have otherwise overlooked).
This list is in alphabetical order by author:
[Edited to add: list updated 6/16/10. Count: 100 specific titles]
Ann Aguirre – Grimspace
Katherine Allred – Close Encounters
Evangeline Anderson – Planet X
Robert Appleton – The Mythmakers
Catherine Asaro – Alpha; Primary Inversion
C.J. Barry – Unmasked
Marion Zimmer Bradley –The Planet Savers (Darkover series)
Cheryl Brooks – Slave (Cat Star Chronicles series)
Lois McMaster Bujold – Shards of Honor; A Civil Campaign
Nancy Cane – Circle of Light
C.J. Cherryh – Merchanter’s Luck
J.A. Clarke – Moonfire
Lanette Curington – Star Kissed
Justine Davis – Lord Of The Storm; Sky Pirate
Autumn Dawn – No Words Alone
Gail R. Delaney – Revolution (1st in The Phoenix Rebellion series)
Kate Elliott – Jaran
Philip Jose Farmer – The Lovers
*Dave Freer – Rats, Bats and Vats
Jess Granger – Beyond The Rain
Susan Grant – Contact; Moonstruck
Susan Grant, Liz Maverick, Patti O’Shea, Kathleen Nance – 2176 series
Nathalie Gray – Metal Reign
R. Garland Gray – Darkscape: The Rebel Lord
Sharon Green – The Warrior Within
*Stephen Gould – Blind Waves
*Joe Haldeman – The Forever War
*Barbara Hambly – The Silent Tower (Windrose Chronicles)
J.C. Hay – Hearts and Minds
Elysa Hendricks – Star Crash
*John G. Henry – A Just Determination (hard military SF; legal thriller)
Colby Hodge – Stargazer
Sarah A. Hoyt – Darkship Thieves
Pauline Baird Jones – The Key
Dara Joy – Knight Of A Trillion Stars
Susan Kearney – The Challenge
Isabo Kelly – The Promise of Kierna’ Rhoan
Eve Kenin – Driven
Sherrilyn Kenyon – Born of Night
Angela Knight – Jane’s Warlord
Gini Koch – Touched By An Alien
Susan Krinard – Kinsman’s Oath
Kristin Kyle – Nighthawk
Jayne Ann Krentz – Shield’s Lady
Kristin Landon – The Hidden Worlds
Carole Ann Lee – Banner's Bonus; Solar Wind
Tanith Lee – The Silver Metal Lover (bittersweet ending)
Sharon Lee & Steve Miller – Local Custom; Scout’s Progress; Mouse and Dragon
Jacqueline Lichtenberg – Dushau
Ann Maxwell – Timeshadow Rider
Anne McCaffrey – Dragonflight; The Crystal Singer; The Rowan
Sandra McDonald – The Outback Stars
Mima – Wild Within
Kathleen Morgan – Firestar
Stephenie Meyer – The Host
Patti O’Shea – Ravyn’s Flight
Joan D. Vinge – Tin Soldier
Robin D. Owens – Heart Mate
Dru Pagliassotti – Clockwork Heart
Stobie Piel – Lord Of The Dark Sun
Robin Popp – Too Close to the Sun
J.D. Robb – Naked In Death
Spider Robinson – Stardance (The Stardance Trilogy)
John Scalzi – Old Man’s War
Karin Shah – Starjacked
Sharon Shinn – Archangel; Jovah's Angel
Dan Simmons – Hyperion (1st in a series)
Linnea Sinclair – Finder’s Keepers; Gabriel’s Ghost; Games of Command
Cherie Singer – Wulfe’s Woman
Star Kissed – Nalini Singh
Susan Sizemore – Dark Stranger
E.E. Smith – Galaxy Primes
Ann Somerville – Somatesthesia
Catherine Spangler – Shielder
Wen Spencer – Endless Blue
Susan Squires – Body Electric
Theodore Sturgeon – A Saucer of Loneliness; The Loverbirds (m/m) (short stories)
Janice Tarantino – The Crystal Prophecy
Janelle Taylor – Moondust And Madness
Ethan X. Thomas – Crimson
S.L. Viehl – Stardoc
Patricia Waddell – True Blood
Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman – The Lost King (Star of the Guardians series; bittersweet ending)
* = Romantic SF
Please suggest titles—in the most objective way possible—for this list of “must read” science fiction romances. Let's have fun with it. The list may not be perfect, and may not satisfy everyone, but in the end we will all have one to share with other readers.
I will update it after the discussion gets going. In the interest of closure, I will make the final decision if we happen to compile a list of over 100 books (I know. I'm such a tyrant!).
Joyfully yours,
Heather
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Breaking News: Carina Press to Release Ella Drake's CAUGHT IN SILVER
Ella Drake (FIRESTORM ON E'TERRA) just landed a contract with Carina Press for her science fiction romance CAUGHT IN SILVER! Ms. Drake characterized it as a "space western." Here's the unedited blurb via her announcement post:
Backwater-planet Sheriff takes to the space-lanes to rescue his long lost love
Memories ripped away and her entire existence tied to a new owner, concubine Jewel tries to break through her re-programming to remember the man who now owns her. The crumbling barriers in her mind spark a tide of events and a race through space that reveal a murderer. Though it might kill her, she can do nothing less than reach inside herself for the truth.
Sherriff and Rancher Guy Trident poses as a wealthy playboy spacer to rescue kidnapped women from slavers, but this time the imperiled woman is the one who broke his heart five years earlier. Now that Jewel’s tied to him body and soul, programmed to his respond to his every desire, can he keep his hands and mind off of her long enough to save them both from the crimeboss hot on their trail?
Congratulations, Ms. Drake!!!
Joyfully yours,
Heather
My Interview at the Online Writing Workshop
Maria Zannini (TOUCH OF FIRE) is not only an author and blogger, but also the monthly newsletter editor for the highly respected OWW, the Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.
Ms. Zannini recently invited me to participate in an interview for the June OWW newsletter. In the interview, I discussed issues such as covers, marketing, and factors that have contributed to science fiction romance's growing popularity.(Considering that the interviewee for May was Lois McMaster Bujold, I'm in some very esteemed company, indeed.)
I really enjoyed the opportunity to share my love of science fiction romance with a group of highly dedicated writers. My hope is that those OWW members who enjoy writing blends of science fiction and romance will come aboard and introduce themselves to our SFR community.
Also, today in What's My Name?, Maria Zannini is hosting a giveaway for KS Augustin's IN ENEMY HANDS. Entering is fun and easy, so please do check it out.
Joyfully yours,
Heather