The state of science fiction romance and some industry questions

clara bow · Oct 8, 2007

So, I came across this blog post today. Disclaimer: The topic is relevant to me since i'm currently shopping an SFR myself.

The post made me wonder if I'm being a little naive about what I'm trying to accomplish with my little SFR. While I've always gravitated to romantic stories, I'm a big SFF fan at heart. Then I realized I wanted more romance in my SF and fantasy and I started seeking out those stories. Unfortunately, there's not many (meaning about a 50-50 split. If I want heavy on the romance, I'll read a historical or something. I can't stand a story with lightweight SF elements because it doesn't seem genuine to me. And SF with an understated romance is fine when I'm in that mood. But I really dig stories that give equal weight to both the SF part and the romance).

It was easy for me to cross over into romance, because in some ways I had already been a consumer. But what about you more experienced (heh!) romance readers? I have some questions for you, because I've got no perspective from the strictly romance side of things.

What are the chances you'd read an SF romance (not a light futuristic with maybe one SF element, but not hard SF either)?

If you're not a fan of SF, would it still turn you off of a *romance* science fiction story? Do romance readers tend to, uh, experiment this way?

Assuming there's a HEA, would the type of story matter that much, or would you have preferences (e.g., no space opera but time travel/android/invasion of the body snatchers are okay?)?

Have niche romance subgenres cycled over and over in the history of romance (e.g., paranormal, erotica), or is the explosion of the whole paranormal phenom something unique?

Anything else you'd like to add would be cool. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this as well as where you think the romance genre is headed in the next 10-15 years.

thanks!

Cathy C · Oct 9, 2007

Well, since I was going to point you to every member of that blog as potential SF romance authors, I can't add much to what Linnea says (who won the RITA, by the way, for her SF romance in 2005.) There is indeed an identity crisis for SF romance, but then I think that also goes toward fantasy romance and light paranormal. They all go side by side on the romance shelves, or on the SF shelves. Most of our books, which are dark paranormal (in tone and topic) wind up on the SF/fantasy shelves in stores, because they weren't selling on the romance shelves. It's tough when competing in contests, too, because one of our books might be compared to an historical time travel, a chick-lit vamp romance and a hard SF romance. Yet, how do you compare them against each other? They aren't vaguely similar.

I've had similar conversations with Linnea and both Sues (Kearney & Grant) but I don't think there's a ready answer. RT was the first to separate out werewolf and vampire stories in the Reviewers Choice award, but it's almost impossible for smaller contests to do the same. Just like it's almost impossible for bookstores to do separate shelves. Heck, there's barely enough room now for the flurry of new releases that hit the shelves every month.

Afraid I don't have any answers. :Shrug:

But they're good questions.

DeleyanLee · Oct 9, 2007

What are the chances you'd read an SF romance (not a light futuristic with maybe one SF element, but not hard SF either)?

Honestly? Pretty nil, unless it comes highly recommended by the few friends who truly understand what I like, and even then it's iffy that I'll get through it. There's only one in the last 10 years I've made it through, Body Electric by Sue Squires. Excellent book, I highly recommend it. However, the spine also said "Fiction" not "Romance" and my friend had to dig it out of the general fiction aisles for me. No idea how well her sales were on it in 2002, but it's out of print now apparently.

If you're not a fan of SF, would it still turn you off of a *romance* science fiction story? Do romance readers tend to, uh, experiment this way?

Not an SF fan, nope. Fantasy, all the way, but not SF. I have more technology and science in my real life that I can't handle, I don't want more in my fiction. Yeah, this is a big deal breaker for me, personally.

That said, I don't know that I'm the standard because the majority of my friends who read Romance have never read real SF, so they might very well try it if they were in the mood for something different. However, the challenge I see is keeping enough Romance in the story while still giving the SF enough space to be understood, not overwhelming when that's not what the vast majority of Romance readers are reading for.

Personally, when I'm picking up any kind of Romance, it's because I want a good emotional relationship story with that guaranteed happy ending. Light trappings of other genres are fine, but I've found that too many "cross over" books sap too much of the book into what I'm not interested in reading. Neither fish nor fowl doesn't work for me--My reading time is scarce and I want to read what I'm in the mood for. If I don't get it, the book goes bye-bye and the author goes on my "don't trust" list.

triceretops · Oct 9, 2007

Clara, I don't think there's any danger of SF romance taking a hit like the straight SF titles have. SF romance is still a fairly new genre and it is getting some recognition and respect. If anything, the willingness of the Romance publishers to acknowledge SFR authors and begin to buy some of them, just might be the shot in the arm the genre needs. I alway had a lot of romance in my futuristics or off-planet tales, but not enough of it and too late in the game.

My last two books are in Cathy's area--the paranormal romance/thriller variety because its what my agent wants, and what the editors are tellling my agent. But that's just my experience. My stuff is actually "urban fantasy", which I've always liked anyway, but now with a darker and sexier tone.

I think SF romance is a safe bet, and I would say a much better bet to break in than straight SF.

Tri

Susan Gable · Oct 9, 2007

Actually, I think you'd be surprised at the number of romance readers (or at least, the readers who are also writers <G>) who are also SF readers, and who grew up reading SF.

I had this conversation with a number of writers this past weekend. Seems there are quite a few of us who grew up reading SF.

That said, the editors in NJ did say that they think Fantasy romance was going to finally hit its stride soon. Also, they mentioned that cross-genre stuff (like SF romance!) is really going well.

If a story intrigues me, I'll read it.

Good luck!

Susan G.

dolores haze · Oct 9, 2007

I love the idea of romance/sci fi, and have a couple of Linnea's on order. I'm one of those readers that Susan just described - I grew up on both hard Sci Fi and old fashioned romance, and love the whole idea of this sub-genre.

I think that SFR will be big, though maybe not as huge as the paranormal subgenre. This might be wishful thinking because I've got an SFR all outlined and ready to go. My hubby (sci fi geek) is more excited about this WIP than anything I've ever written, and I'm going to try to write it in a way that appeals to male sci-fi readers as well as female romance readers. Don't know if I'll pull it off, or if I'll be able to get a publisher interested. We'll have to see.

I'm following your query experiment quite closely. I notice you're trying to get an agent vs a publisher, and I wonder if this is the best strategy considering it's such a new genre. I'm unpubbed, so obviously no expert. Just not sure if an agent is going to take on something so untested vs an editor falling in love with a great story, and just having to buy it. Wish I could be more helpful, as you're blazing a trail I'm going to be following shortly.

So yes - I'd read SFR, but I can't guess as to the general romance reading populace. My strategy is going to be writing something that appeals to sci- fi readers as well as romance readers, that could be shelved in sci-fi, romance, or (preferably) both.

Good luck, Clara. As I do my own research into possible publishers, etc, I'll be sure to PM you anything that might be helpful to you. And thanks for the link to Linnea's blog.

DeleyanLee · Oct 9, 2007

Susan Gable said:
Actually, I think you'd be surprised at the number of romance readers (or at least, the readers who are also writers <G>) who are also SF readers, and who grew up reading SF.

I had this conversation with a number of writers this past weekend. Seems there are quite a few of us who grew up reading SF.

I would so love it if writers-who-are-readers were a large enough of the buying market that we could write for each other and still have a substantial career. Too bad we're not, y'know? Then it would be so much easier. LOL!

Jersey Chick · Oct 9, 2007

I'm not a sci-fi fan, so chances are I wouldn't pick it up (Johanna Lindsey's one of my favorite romance writers and I've never read her futuristic books.) However, I think that, like everything else, romance is cyclical in all sub-genres. A few years ago, historicals were dead, now they're making a comeback.

It's all about the story - if it's good, it stands a good chance of finding a home. Even when paranormals are "out", I'm sure there will still be some on the shelves. Like Miss Snark said (**sniff**) "Good writing trumps everything."

clara bow · Oct 9, 2007

Sorry I haven't had a chance to come back to this discussion until now. I'm a little too bleary eyed right now to post anything insightful, but I really appreciate hearing everyone's thoughts and insights. I feel really supported and informed. I want to tell entertaining stories but I sure do need an education in order to do so. This helps a lot.

Thanks!

Irysangel · Oct 10, 2007

I remember I liked Johanna Lindsay's space romances, but they were very VERY light on the space.

jodiodi · Oct 10, 2007

I have a SF/Romance in the works, but I'm not sure how it'll go over. Once I got the hero and heroine together, the SF aspect is more like Fantasy except futuristic. I know I'm making no sense. I'll just have to finish the thing and see what it turns into.

Good luck to all of you writing actual SFR. I'll be watching and waiting to hear how it goes.

clara bow · Oct 11, 2007

hi!

jodiodi said:
I have a SF/Romance in the works, but I'm not sure how it'll go over.

hopefully agents will be falling all over you to represent it!

Once I got the hero and heroine together, the SF aspect is more like Fantasy except futuristic. I know I'm making no sense.

That does make sense! Like Final Fantasy or something. I also have some fantastical/fantasy elements in my story.

clara bow · Oct 11, 2007

Irysangel said:
I remember I liked Johanna Lindsay's space romances, but they were very VERY light on the space.

I can dig cosmic lite if there's a lot of plot going on. Thanks for the recommendation.

The state of science fiction romance and some industry questions

clara bow

Li'l Rug Bug

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist

triceretops

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

dolores haze

international guttersnipe

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist

Jersey Chick

Up all night to get Loki

clara bow

Li'l Rug Bug

Irysangel

She of Many Names

jodiodi

Reflections of Reality

clara bow

Li'l Rug Bug

clara bow

Li'l Rug Bug