Genre Wars: Why I Like Combining Science Fiction with Romance @CarmenWBuxton

By Carmen Webster Buxton

Romance and science fiction are seen by many readers as two unrelated genres. Of course, you could call any story a romance if the primary plot is the development of a romantic relationship. A benefit, to me, of focusing on a romance means, to some extent, the book will have two protagonists. On the other hand, science fiction can involve extrapolating future technology, human evolution, alternate history, alien contact, and any number of other non-real but non-magical things, with any number of protagonists.

Some people want to make genre into a folder into which they put stories. I find that limiting, because if you have a physical document, you can only put it into one folder. I consider genre more a label than a folder, and stories can have as many labels as they need. That’s one reason I like ebooks; you don’t worry about where to shelve them because an electronic shelf is virtual and can exist in more than one “place.”

What appeals to me about combining the two genres is that while I find the future intriguing, I want it to be at least a little bit familiar. Looking back at history, we see that societies change, but human emotions are more constant than politics or technology. People still fall in love. Parents still love their children. Family relationships are still with us.

Most of my books are set in the far future. A common thread in many of them is that our world could become a crappy enough place that some people might be willing to leave it permanently. In the two Haven books (The Sixth Discipline and No Safe Haven) the colonists included New Age mystics, libertarian survivalists, and entrepreneurs seeking resources to exploit.  In Tribes, the entire world was populated by prisoners. In Saronna’s Gift, my most recent romance, the colonists were followers of a patriarchal religious cult leader. I like to make my two protagonists come from totally different backgrounds, because it’s a great way to create conflict, and it means the relationship requires both work and change for both of them. Creating my own worlds lets me do this with a vengeance.

I do think that our future is bound to bring change. Advances in science and technology might well wipe out inherited flaws and other diseases. We may someday eliminate hunger, disease, mental illness, and even some accidental deaths. But I don’t think science and technology can change human nature. This might be bad when it comes to evils like war and social inequality, but I think it’s good, in that it also means that love will always be love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saronna's Gift available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S3GH9ZW

Follow Carmen Webster Buxton: http://carmenspage.blogspot.com/

 

Note: the views expressed are solely those of the author and not the SFR Brigade.

 

"Metropolis" – A Love Affair

A long time ago (the 1980's) in a land far, far away (Toronto, Canada) I was walking up Yonge Street, enjoying the posters glued to every possible empty spot and spotted one for "Metropolis". It wasn't for an official showing; it was for a local set of second-run movie houses that specialized in showing offbeat movies. But it was there and reminded me that I'd yet to see a good copy of the poor beloved beastie.

For those of you not in the know – "Metropolis" was first made in 1927 and detailed the classic science fiction romance story between a rich man's son and a poor girl who toiled in the deep, dark underground that kept the rich man's paradise going. Boy finds girl, boy wants girl, evil scientist builds evil robot, the usual trappings of a good story. To me, one of the first and best science fiction romances, with robots, technology run amok, airships and deep, deep secrets.

But what a movie! The scenery, the buildings – not that impressive by today's standards, but in 1927 it was a startling accomplishment. A silent movie as well, it was the most expensive movie made at the time. But, unfortunately, also one of the longest. Sitting at 153 minutes, it was just too long and complicated for audiences.

Thus began a horrible series of editing and deletions, mangling the original movie over time to the point that it became almost a parody of itself. The prints I remember seeing briefly in a Toronto theater were so faded and washed out as to almost be useless, and the story jumped around so much that you had no idea what was going on.

In 1984 a new version premiered in theaters, adding on some restored footage and a rock music soundtrack. And yes, I liked it. Not loved it, liked it because at least now you could experience more of the original film on the big screen, restored as best as it could be with today's technology.

And now…

Kino International has now added back in 25 minutes of found footage, bringing "Metropolis" back as close to the original as it could be and is releasing it this summer! Check out the offical site and trailer here!

(Youtube here for those who don't get it to work for them!)

Am I thrilled?

You bet! One of the first ebooks I purchased for my Nook was the book, written by Thea von Harbou. I have one early paperback copy that I dare not paw over too much, lest it fall to pieces in my hands.

Let me encourage you to see this new, restored copy of a science fiction classic when it comes to your town, or make a point of renting/buying it when it comes out on DVD. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised and thrilled to see "Metropolis" as it was meant to be. And maybe just a little encouraged to see what people thought the future would be and how it's turned out.

My One and Only Sci Fi Romance - Should I Write More?

I had a lot of fun writing Lucy in the Sky - my one and only sci fi romance - erotic romance. It's based on a thought I used to have - what the hell would I do if I found a spaceship in my garden and it's a humorous story about what followed when that happened to Lucy.

The book came out a few months ago and - to be honest - has sold very poorly compared to my other books. There seems to be some nervousness among authors about revealing sales figures but I don't mind being open about it. In 3 months Lucy sold 258 copies. In one more recent month a contemporary sold 720. It makes me think - why bother with sci fi if readers don't want it.

Maybe it's not that. Maybe the blurb sucks. If anyone has any thoughts, I'd love to hear them but I must admit, as it stands at the moment, I don't see any point writing another story set in space.

For a comment selected at random - I offer a free e-copy of Lucy in the Sky. Please let me know what you think.

Lucy in the Sky - the blurb

When you wake up to find a spaceship in your backyard, what do you do? Choose from three:

Phone the police.

Scream.

Go yell at the alien for wrecking your garden.

Lucy storms out of her house to confront the inept pilot and the last option turns out to be both the right and wrong choice when she finds the gorgeous hunk’s name is Three. She’s torn between fury that he’s crushed her roses and decapitated her statue of Eros, and a longing that he enliven her boring life and whisk her to the stars. Three doesn’t give her a choice when he throws her over his broad shoulders and takes her into space. Lucy soon finds herself exploring alien territory in ways she never imagined.

Three’s efforts to hide and protect her on the mother ship are stymied by his inability to keep his hands—and other body parts—off the luscious Lucy. But the two of them are being observed, Three's friend Hyll has been in unrequited lust with Three for years and he wants what Lucy's getting. Poor Lucy looks as if her immediate fate might be a solo trip into space without a spacesuit.