An Interview With Samhain Publishing’s CYBERSHOCK Authors

Samhain Publishing’s CYBERSHOCK, a cyberpunk romance anthology, is now out! Editor Sasha Knight is the brains behind this snazzy collection. To learn about the anthology's evolution, read this interview with her at The Book Pushers.

I decided to celebrate the release with a totally epic interview feature. Toward that end, I asked each author—Stacy Gail, Nathalie Gray, and Barbara J. Hancock—four identical questions so we could discover what their stories have in common as well as what makes each of them unique. To read each story blurb and excerpt, just click on the title.

Welcome to the world of CYBERSHOCK:

Stacy Gail – ZERO FACTOR

What does cyberpunk romance mean to you?

I firmly believe that romance is romance, no matter the setting.  In any romance, there must be that visceral attraction – the brain-scrambling, heart-thumping awareness that comes from two people whose personalities and shared chemistry fit together like long-lost puzzle pieces.  But what makes that even more romantic, in my opinion, is a cyberpunk background.  To me, the term “cyberpunk” generally represents a human-created dystopia where “connecting” with someone happens only virtually, and the basic human elements such as compassion, loyalty and even intimacy have been run over by the speed of a high-tech cyber-driven universe.  If two people can meet, fall in love, and try to change the world for each other in that sort of emotionally detached environment, it’s about as awe-inspiring as the human condition can get.

Name the standout features of the hero and heroine in your story.

Sci-Fi Romance: A Great Source For Cosplay Inspiration

Photo © Shannon Cottrell

At Geekfeminism.org, Courtney Stoke shared her observations about “Geek girls” and the problem of self-objectification (via SF Signal):

I’ve been researching and thinking about cosplay for a while now, and one of the most distressing trends I’ve been grappling with is how women will choose characters, costumes, or costume constructions based on how “sexy” the costume will appear on them. This is not just a cosplay problem, but a geek problem. And until we start having an intelligent conversation about it (preferably a conversation that starts with the assumption that it is a problem), it’s not one that geek communities will ever be rid of.

Remember those cadres of Slave Leia cosplayers that parade through Comic-Con on a yearly basis? Yeah, that’s basically the self-objectification at issue.

The article gave me a lot of food for thought. Specifically, I started to wonder why the ratio of super sexy cosplay (of which Slave Leia is one subset, albeit a large one) was so skewed. I mean, as one commenter pointed out, where are all the Bounty Hunter Leias? I’m telling you, Bounty Hunter Leia had a much bigger influence on me in terms of empowerment than Slave Leia. Why don’t more women do that kind of cosplay?

The 10 Most Eligible Robot Bachelors in Science Fiction

Believe it or not, there are actually robots (and androids) in science fiction films and television shows that are marriage/partner material.

Whether lead characters or sidekicks, a few of these mechanical wonders have demonstrated abilities that go beyond lightening-fast calculations and superhuman strength. Certain traits and the way they interact with humans indicate an aptitude for intimate, long-term relationships (and as we all know, the very nature of their construction ensures they’ll be around for a very long time).

Robots and androids are quite intelligent, you know. That factor alone makes some of these bachelors a real catch. But that’s not all. Energy-wise, they’re practically limitless. I mean, you might never leave the bedroom.

Others are large-and-in-charge, with the potential to take care of a partner’s every need, from changing the oil in your car, running errands when you’re sick, to protecting you against muggers (and also alien invaders!).

Therefore, I thought it important to point out a few robot and android bachelors that are waiting for the right woman/android/partner to come along. Specifically, a very special someone who can appreciate all that these mechanical beings can do and be.

There are lots of terrific robots and androids in science fiction, but a few in particular stand out head and shoulders (or rivets and antennae) above the rest. Here are 10 that deserve their own Happily Ever After:

"What If...?": More Than Just A Kinky Idea

The other day, I noticed DA_January’s review at Dear Author of a book called MORE THAN A MAN (Emily Ryan-Davis and Elise Logan).

At first, I was about to pass it over since the cover struck me as that of a paranormal romance. It was only because my eye caught the “Romantic SF” tag and “C+” rating that I lingered. Usually I skip reading reviews of science fiction romances until I’ve read them, but for some reason, that day I became curious about what was behind the C+ rating.

I basically went in with two questions: Which element(s) didn’t work for this reviewer? Additionally, was it something that warranted discussion in the SFR community?


Before I share what I found, here is the story premise:

Manporium. It's where women of The Future go to buy the men of their dreams.

Genetically engineered to the bride's specifications, a Manporium husband is a perfect husband. At least, that's the theory. But twice-widowed Noelle Lytton shook Manporium's flawless track record when both her first and second husbands died tragically while pursuing interests she engineered into their makeup. Desperate for the perfect marriage she's always dreamed of, she knows her third Manporium husband will be her last. It's this man or nothing.

Vegetarian. Generously equipped. Dominant in bed. When Aya Lytton emerges from Manporium's creation chamber, he knows exactly what he is: custom-made for his bride. Noelle's wish list made her desires perfectly clear. But her desires have nothing to do with his overwhelming need to be more than just the man she created. He'll use every advantage he has to convince Noelle he's not just her match: he's irreplaceable.

Warning: Sometimes things don't go quite as expected at Manporium. A bride's wish list is, er...subject to interpretation and a man might come out with extra appendages and a mind of his own.

Despite the review’s “Romantic SF” tag, based on the content of the review itself as well as others I subsequently read, it seems that the story is more accurately described as erotic SFR.

In short, MORE THAN A MAN is about a woman who uses the Manporium and purchases a man (and gets it on with said man) who has unexpected accessories. DA_January discussed one aspect in particular that didn’t work for her:

QUEENIE'S BRIGADE: Sci-Fi Romance with a Punch

Cover design by Lyn Taylor

What’s QUEENIE’S BRIGADE? It’s my new science fiction romance novella, and it’s set to launch this October, 2011, from Red Sage Publishing.

A space opera military SF tale, QUEENIE’S BRIGADE features:

* A smart, charismatic, and honorable Alpha hero with a touch of angst
* A kick-butt Latina anti-heroine in search of redemption
* A biracial romance with sparks a flying
*An Earth-in-peril story with underdog heroes
* Very high stakes & high-octane action

The story: