Science fiction and romance…can ever the twain meet?
One of my all-time favorite works of science fiction is Ringworld, by Larry Niven. He creates a colorful cast of characters who set out on an epic journey to explore an anomaly, a ring-shaped, artificially created, giant planet containing an earth-like atmosphere and ecosphere. The crew includes the giraffy guy…that’s how I like to remember him, and the lucky guy - because in this story, luck is genetic. Ringworld is my husband’s very favorite work of science fiction.
So last night, hubby was reading my book, Daughters of Persephone, on his Kindle. Since I’m stuck downstairs with the new puppy, he came down to discuss his thoughts.
“I really like it,” he said, “but I’m feeling an existential conundrum coming on.”
“Oh?” I asked. “What sort of existential conundrum?”
“Can science fiction and erotic romance exist in the same book?”
“I don’t know,” I replied, “but they coexist in both Captured and Daughters of Persephone .”
“Yes,” he said, “but true science fiction aficionados might go into shock when they come upon an explicit sex scene while fans of erotic romance might not get the science fiction, especially the science fiction references you’ve included.”
“Well, hmmm, but that’s what I’ve written.”
“But is there a market for this? Is there an audience?”
Good question, hubby! I don’t have a clue. I hope so!
Can the two genres meet in the middle? In Dune, for example, while the romance takes a backseat to the overarching messianic theme, there is love in the book. In George R.R. Martin’s series, A Game of Thrones, there is sex, not what I would consider erotic sex or romance, but sex nonetheless.
Science fiction romance is not Paranormal, i.e., Vampire Romance, Shifter Romance, Were Romance, Faerie Romance, time travel romance…those fall more in the realm of fantasy and are a sort of pop-culture genre right now. Science fiction is not necessarily post-apocalyptic, although it may contain post-apocalyptic elements, nor is it quite Steam Punk - which does contain elements of science fiction. I don’t know whether science fiction romance is a separate genre, a sub-genre, a new genre, a finding its way genre…and I have no idea if there is a fan base. From what I’ve read on the blogs, there isn’t, not really.
Here’s what pops into my head when I imagine a damn good science fiction story containing romance and sex in addition to outstanding science fiction elements - The Terminator.
Any ideas? Yes? No? Regardless, I don’t plan to stop writing ‘em.
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Do I have an opinion…? lol!!!
Your husband’s comment was so telling and I will predict completely laughable in coming decades. It does highlight the greatest conflict in western culture, which is the gulf between male and female thinking. In many male minds sex, spirituality, art and science do not mix.
They do mix-men just have a difficult time balancing them so those powerful themes are separated so no one will get hurt but they won’t stay separated and we do get hurt. Disowning sexuality has hurt us all.
Men don’t want to face the fact that their lovely intellectual world can be hobbled by something as pervasive as sex or reality. They don’t want the purity of idealism to be interrupted by the animal part of their personality.
Early Sci-fi was almost an alternative religious vision-an apology for taking the world to the edge of ruin. It offered hope there would be a future when humanity was still in bitter shock from two world wars and the on-going horror of the atom bomb. A retreat into intellectual idealism at this uneasy time was what a damaged culture needed to do to stay sane. It was the equivalent of taking a breather and regrouping to make a new plan. The animal-nature of humanity was not invited into the bomb shelter… it was feared and despised.
Now it’s time for something different. The erotic life force is a healing one and this is why I deliberately chose erotica as the method I would share my ideas with the world. The erotic perspective is a balancing one and to my mind signals a coming time of greater connection and balance at every level.
So in my mind Sc-fi and erotica definitely do mix but maybe only for women at this time.
XXOO Kat
Interesting way to look at this existential conundrum! I agree - our animal nature was not invited to the party - look at the trouble it has gotten us into over the centuries!
Life has romance in all aspects, so why shouldn’t Science Fiction? Star trek had romance in it… I actually had a whole slew of examples before I had to rescue my kitten from the “evil” mini blinds. But Yes I truly do think that they can coexist. Science fiction and fantasy does not mean a loveless existence, it means that anything is possible!
Nicole - I like your take on the subject and I agree. I guess it’s why I love the genre. Anything is possible. Go rescue your poor kitty! I’d like to hear your examples - I think of BSG - which contains a lot of romance and sex. Firefly - the same, Star Trek - of course!
Oooh how about The 5th Element? It’s one of my fave SFR movies!
Oh yeah! The 5th Element! Now there’s sci fi, sex and romance! Even Blade Runner has sex - lots of it!
Yes our animal-nature makes trouble BUT a purely intellectual mind is a terrifying mind. Edmond Teller the “father of the atomic bomb” spoke without remorse about vaporizing human beings and actively sought ways to be more efficient.
The trouble is not in isolating the intellect or shackling animal-nature to prevent them from making trouble-I think the solution is in bringing them together and allowing them to evolve into something richer and making peace with these two titanic forces within humanity.
XXOO Kat
First, and foremost, love, sci-fi is about the situation and the environment. So you are definitely in a totally new genre when you write erotic sci-fi romance. The focus of an erotic sci-fi romance is the erotic romance, with the sci-fi coming in a close second. I personally don’t read plain old ordinary sci-fi, no matter how fabulous it is. Now, you throw in a sexy, hot romance, and I will be greatly tempted. LOL!
Fran, you make me smile! I love sci fi and I’ll read a good work of science fiction any time, any place! But…I love adding love to science fiction!
I hope I didn’t didn’t sound terribly rude in my first comment. Your husband’s comment was a legitimate one. What I was reacting to was the exclusion of the feminine from the traditionally male dominated genre of Sci-fi. I love Sci-fi and ever since my earliest teens I’ve been the only girl at the sci-fi lecture, the only girl in the extra-credit high school class on Sci-fi, the only girl at the college lecture on how to write Sci-fi, The only woman at the Sci-fi synposium-you get the picture. Name a prominent female Sci-fi author from the golden age of Sci-fi… there are none. The feminine view point of what our future could be has been completely lacking. Don’t you think that’s sad?
XXOO Kat
In my opinion, erotic romance and sci-fi are a perfect match! Both genres delve deep into unexplored territories and push boundries!
Oh hell no, Kat, you’re not being rude! I agree we need more female voices in science fiction. I agree 100% - we also need more readers. It’s like the Big Bang Theory - a show I love - I get all their references but even in the show, women don’t have a clue!
Thanks, Tessie! I think we are all about pushing boundaries!
Julia, I’m a huge fan of The Big Bang Theory! Doesn’t it perfectly explore SO many differences between men and women on SO many levels??!!
Examples- What about the Stargate series- there is Romance throughout it, not steamy scenes but romance nonetheless. You have Maria Snyders Study series. You have Anne Bishops series The Black Jewel series, Tir Ailann series, and Emphera series. All sci/fi-fantasy series. You have the Chronicles of Elantra Series by Michelle Sagara.
I love The Chronicles of the Warlands, by Elizabeth Vaughan. Great suggestions, Nicole!
What? Sci-fi isn’t the only romance genre? Are you sure?
LOL
Okay, I love all genres of romance but sci-fi will always be my favorite so keep ‘em coming.
LOL Rachel - I wish! I do love sci fi and if you throw some sexy stuff in there…I always was a James T. Kirk fan. Slept his way across the galaxy!
Hi! I’m a little late to this discussion. There are two types of romantic books that have sci fi components - that would be science fiction romance, and romantic science fiction. Of course, the latter places more of an emphasis on the sci fi part, the former more on the romance.
For my taste, science fiction romance can often forget that science actually has to be included, and use a spaceship solely as a setting detail for a romance. There are quite a few authors like that including Sherrilyn Kenyon and her newest series.
But of those I especially enjoyed a few written in the 90s - one was Lord of the Storm, and others by that author (Rejar and Mine to Take).
Susan Grant is one author that seems to be good at mixing science fiction and romance, (she is a former pilot and she writes flying sequences really well), but for some reason I’m not as fond of her. Her stuff is kind of derivative.