The original version of this page can be found at : http://forum.sfreader.com/default.aspx?f=7&m=76153
| Posted By : N. D. Hansen-Hill - 4/5/2008 7:18 PM |
It's a weird leap from science fiction to romance. I've been writing SF, fantasy, and horror for years, but only branched off into romance during the last year and a half. It was much more difficult to make that leap than I'd thought. Like many mainstream or genre types, I have to admit that I thought writing the romantic word would be easy. But I hadn't reckoned on the transition between action- and crisis-driven storylines (my SF fantasy horror) versus character-driven (with the focus on only 2 characters!). When I received the brief from the publisher, it was to write a suspenseful novel with no paranormal elements and with the 2 protagonists occupying most of the space. Dear God  I griped silently. No problem  I said to the publisher. It WAS a problem. I was accustomed to having numerous characters in the thick of the action, and frankly, limiting it to 2 people seemed...well, boring. So, my first romantic endeavor ended up with 2 couples instead, crypts, mausoleums, buried treasure, etc  I have only admiration now for many of those romance writers. This stuff is darn hard to write, but maybe that was just me, because I refused to let go of any of my customary heavy-duty research (and I don't mean into the romance side of things!). Frankly, those historical authors know their stuff, though, and really work at it. No wonder many of them have such huge readerships! Which brings me to why I ventured into romance in the first place: to challenge myself (even though I didn't realize it at first), and to expand my readership. Well, and also because some people didn't think I could write romance, since I was a SF person. So, of course, in the way of things, I had to prove them wrong  Now, to SF romance: My first SF fantasy/romance novel was released last week. It's my 23rd published book, but my first SF romance. It's spec fiction all the way - SF research, fantasy lands, but it also has a trace of eroticism. Apparently, romance readers are embracing this kind of book which crosses genres, as long as there's a enticing or heated romance and a good storyline involved. But whether, in science fiction fantasy circles, books like this are well received is open to question. I do review edits for 3 major sites and let me tell you, there are 100's of books like this out there - with the focus on romance, but with strong SF fantasy connections. In my opinion, fantasy readers might venture into a few of these, but seldom SF readers. The ridicule factor for romance is too dominant. It would be interesting to see what other people think. All snobbery aside, can these 2 genres combine into something interesting to read? Or will the romance "elements" be too distracting  from the story? Just interested in your thoughts. Cheers, ND |
| Posted By : MichaelEhart - 4/6/2008 3:18 AM | Cecilia Holland, Floating Worlds
Click here to buy my book!
The Servant of the Manthycore from DEP
Illustrated by Rachel Marks, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock
Read me in 2008!
"Without Napier" Every Day Fiction, TBA
"Night of Shadows, Night of Knives" Magic and Mechanica, Ricasso Press, Spring 2008
"To Destroy All Flesh" Return of the Sword, Flashing Swords Press, Spring 2008
"Only His Name" Every Day Fiction, March 30
"An Exorcism Straight, Hold the Elvis" They Are Not What They Seem, Janrae Frank, ed., TBA
"The First Trial of Jermaish the King" Flashing Swords #10, May 2008
Still in print!
"The Stars by Law Forbidden" Unparalleled Journeys II, Journey Books, 2007
"Six Zombies Doing That Mick Jagger Strut" Damned in Dixie, Tenoka Press, 2007
|
| Posted By : SJHigbee - 4/15/2008 7:03 PM | Lois McMaster Bujold and her hero Miles Vortosigan comes to mind - particularly his courtship in her novel A Civil Campaign, in which the love story is alternately funny and touching. I think it's great...
www.sjhigbee.com |
| Posted By : strange behaviour - 4/16/2008 11:50 AM | | I would happily read either fantasy or sci fi with a romantic element, because I wouldn't see that as a separate part of the story (this assuming that it's an integral part of the plot, of course, and not just tacked on).
But I wouldn't pick up a romance, for exactly the reasons you give. It's never seemed particularly exciting to me.
Hypothetically, if a crossover book were to come out and be marketed to both readerships (like the child/adult versions of Harry Potter) then I'd buy it, but not in the romance cover. |
| Posted By : Gustavo - 4/16/2008 3:45 PM | Well, I guess it all depends on what you actually have that robot dragon and ravishing, bodice bursting maiden DO when you write the romance bit.
Visit my livejournal! http://bondo-ba.livejournal.com/
|
| Posted By : Anthony G Williams - 4/16/2008 10:02 PM | Catherine Asaro's Skolian Empire series is a mix of space opera and romance - very good, too.
|
| Posted By : Rob Mancebo - 4/17/2008 2:55 AM |
N. D. Hansen-Hill said...
It's a weird leap from science fiction to romance.
ND - In the seventies--long-long ago now--I was reading all the E.R.Burroughs I could get hold of. The paperbacks had those great Frank Frazetta covers with brawny warriors, buxom, fur-draped cave girls, and snarling monsters--wuuuuf!
- Someone asked about one and I said , 'It's science fiction about . . .'
- A girl grabbed it and said, 'No, these are all syrupy love stories, here--" she thumbed through it for a moment and read something gushy that I'm sure turned me seven shades of scarlet.
- She was right. Burroughs always poured on the romance in his adventures. John Carter, Carson, Tarzan, his heroes were always out chasing love on some alien world.
- Adventurers are romantics, especially 'arm-chair Adventurers' who read fiction.
|
| Posted By : nathan - 4/17/2008 12:45 PM | Ithink as the primary subplot romance is always a good go to, that romantic tension is appreciated by all readers (then to matter of degree) and I'm pretty sure most big sellers feature romance of characters.
Just like Rob I cut my teeth on sword and planet stuff--and adventure fiction always, or almost always uses romance as subplot. Sometimes that only meant the girl was the McGuffin--but there was always as some passionate smooching and longing embraces. Ditto westerns. Spy novels.
And Gor was just rife with romance  (no, no that deserves 2)
Harlequin's Luna imprint is all about paranormal romance. Paranormal can mean ghosts and supernatural stuff--and most often does. But, it doesn't have to--it could include SF or '15-minutes into the future' trophes.
For anyone who wants a broad appeal I'd say (for what that's worth) that romance or love triangle as Primary Subplot is always a great thing for commercial-ability.
If you're writting military SF or something known to be marketed exclusively to a men's market less so--though Girl as McGuffin is a timeless device in even those narrow market demographics--if not exactly PC friendly when put so bluntly.
Just random thoughts...plus-oh man, I said Gor was rife with romance! That is HEE-LAIR-E-US. You could say Norman used it to really tie-up his plots and whip them into shape 
VIEW IMAGE
"Writing the wet dreams of teenage boys" - Lindsey Llyod, Tangent Reviews
Tarantino himself has been forward and unapologetic about his influences. In a 1994 interview with Empire magazine, he said, "I steal from every single movie ever made. If people don't like that, then tough tills, don't go and see it, all right? I steal from everything. Great artists steal, they don't do homages." |
| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/15/2008 2:25 PM | You seem to have 'bonded' with the Gor books Nathan?
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
|
| Posted By : Geoff Nelder - 8/2/2008 1:58 PM | Compelling science fiction like any fiction requires conflict. After the plot-driven hard scifi has levelled off, readers are seeking their kicks from trust and betrayal in conflict and how better to do that with romance? In my novels, romance usually sneaks in but in Exit, Pursued by a Bee, it bubbled up from the subtext and became an important thread in its own right.
Geoff
Exit >> http://geoffnelder.com/exitbee.htm
|
| Posted By : SJHigbee - 8/3/2008 1:26 PM | Don't you also think that girls (the chief market for romance novels) raised on a diet of "Harry Potter" and the subsequent rash of fantasy & science fantasy books aimed at young adults - are now looking for their romance in a more 'meatier' format than Mills & Boon?
www.sjhigbee.com |
| Posted By : Jaqhama - 8/3/2008 1:50 PM | Meatier than Mills and Boon?
Oh, well, now we're back to the Gor novels again then. 
Actually I've seen how some of the romance publishers have gone in for urban fantasy and sci-fi and even thrillers now.
Must have finally exhausted the standard market stories.
I read a Mills and Boon novel...once. 
You can read some of my stories here: Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
|
| Posted By : SJHigbee - 8/4/2008 8:05 AM | Err... upon consideration, maybe the word MEATIER was a tad unfortunate. What I meant to say is that in many classic Mills & Boon stories the female role is relatively passive - whereas in the urban fantasy, sci-fi adventures, etc they are far more kick-ass & proactive. Plus there's a really good plotline & story to accompany the smoochy bits...
www.sjhigbee.com |
|