5 Ways Our Promised Sci-Fi Future Is Here Now

When writing SF/science fiction romance, it often pays to be up on current technology. This can help authors project more realistically into the future and provide more longevity to their work if "the future" turns out to be correct.

Examples of this would include Ford Prefect’s copy of THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, from the Douglas Adams book of the same name. Let’s see a show of hands of those who expected her iPad/Kindle/nook to light up with the large, friendly words “Don’t Panic” on its screen.

Not only was the man a clever author, but he was prescient too.

Given the fact that a group of Hong Kong scientists recently proved (their words) that time travel is impossible (so much for the premise of umpteen SF movies and novels), I thought it would be nice to round up a list of current technology that would have been straight out of science fiction 30 years ago, but is here right now.

Will any of these make recent SF works obsolete or empower them further?

1)   Frickin' Laser Beams on Battleships – According to this article on Gizmodo.com:

Boeing and BAE are building a weapon that combines a traditional M242 autocannon—which fires 175 rounds per minute with a range of 2.5 kilometers—with a high energy laser. They call it the Mk 38 Mod 2 Tactical Laser System.”

"The laser will be able to target and destroy surface and air targets like small boats and unmanned aerial vehicles. The Navy is excited about it because they can integrate it in current ships with little work.”

I think I've seen this somewhere before. Wait a minute...now I know!

Aliens Aren’t Sexy? Say It Isn’t So!

At Biology in Science Fiction, Peggy recently blogged about The Kirk Effect or why aliens won’t be sexy:

If we do find a planet with intelligent life, it is unlikely to be a humanoid or at all shaped like us. And we are unlikely to be able to easily find a way to communicate.

Yep. Can’t argue with that argument. Yet SF and sci-fi romance authors have ignored the truths of biological sciences in all sorts of ways, for decades, in order to deliver exotic aliens that are also relatable. As partners in this dance, readers have validated le sexy aliens (say, the kind with three boobs or extra large, enhanced penises) with their pocketbooks over and over and over.

Such aliens tend to be aesthetically pleasing more often than not. The ugly fuglies are frequently reserved for aliens out to conquer Earth or exterminate the human race. (That extreme pendulum swing is an interesting topic in and of itself.)

Neytiri - ©Twentieth Century Fox

The latest, most high-profile example of Beautiful Aliens is AVATAR’S Neytiri. I mean, that bosom! I’m sure James Cameron devoted years of research toward developing a sound biological basis for her firm, round breasts.

Yeah, right.

In SF, sexy aliens are often about delivering a fantasy aimed at heterosexual men. In SFR, heterosexual women are the ones most often benefiting from handsome humanoid alien males with sculpted bods. In many cases, the biological sciences are ignored to a ridiculous degree.

But how tragic is the above scenario, really? Are all of us readers and authors just a buncha idjits for perpetuating the myth of the sexy alien?

Blogging at the SFR Brigade

For my post tonight, I'm blogging at the SFR Brigade about Redefining The Brass Ring For Science Fiction Romance. It's an industry-style post, so if you're in the mood for something else, Charlie of Smart Girls Love Sci-Fi & Paranormal Romance has a fun post called Do pets have a place in sci-fi storytelling? There's an SFR slant to her piece as well.

Wherever you decide to go, thanks for visiting!

Joyfully yours,

Heather

Guest Blogging About Steampunk at The Pen and Muse

I'm guest blogging at The Pen and Muse Book Reviews: In 10 Reasons You Should Drop Everything Right Now and Read Steampunk, I discuss...well, I think you have the idea!

While there, you can enter for a chance to win a copy of WHITECHAPEL GODS by S.M. Peters or THE IRON DUKE by Meljean Brook. Winner's choice--see the post for details.

Joyfully yours,

Heather

Science Fiction, Diversity, and the Golden Age of Ebooks

In Is a lack of realism good for science fiction?, Ian Sales wrote

I can understand the desire to exclude realism in some subgenres, I can even see how many readers would prefer non-realistic – escapist, immersive – stories. But I don’t think that’s the only way to do it, and I suspect it does little good to the genre’s reputation to produce only those.

The following day at the SFR Brigade, Marva Dasef had the following to say in SFR – Does it need the sex scenes?:

I'm only mentioning this to let you SFR writers know that there is a good market for SFR without explicit sex. I know. I know. Many readers want that in their books, but I don't think it hurts to consider those of us who get a bit red-faced when bodily parts are strewn across the pages as well as the people (and aliens).

So, I ask your opinion. If you've written no-sex SFR, how was it received by your readers? If you haven't, would you consider it to pick up a potential market?

Both of the above are valid questions and on the surface they seem totally unrelated. But after reading both posts, I was struck by what they have in common: Each one attempted to address elements that could impact the perception/marketability of SF & SFR books, respectively.

To my eye, both articles had a parallel theme of discovering the “sweet spot” that would draw potential readers as well as cast SF & SFR in the most positive—and profitable—light.

Upon further reflection, I had the following thought: In this golden age of ebooks, is it still an either/or question? When print books dominated the market, I could understand certain types of stories influencing a genre’s direction and reputation (e.g., literary SF being strongly associated with hard SF).