I am so excited to welcome sci-fi romance author, Linnea Sinclair to Book Chick City. This is Linnea’s second time visiting BCC, the first time she featured on “Where Stories Are Made“.
Linnea is a former news reporter and retired private detective and writes award-winning, fast-paced science fiction romance for Bantam Dell, including Gabriel’s Ghost (RITA® winner), Games of Command (RITA® finalist), Hope’s Folly and her current best seller, Rebels and Lovers. Her SF-police procedural, The Down Home Zombie Blues, is currently in motion picture production. Linnea splits her time between Florida (winters) and Ohio (summers) – and the Intergalactic Bar & Grille at www.linneasinclair.com.
A GLIMMER OF STARLIGHT AT THE END OF THE INTERGALACTIC TUNNEL OF LOVE?
Linnea Sinclair
I’ve been actively writing in the science fiction romance genre for eleven years now. Not as long as some authors but long enough that I’ve been able to watch for trends, for shifts not only in the fabric of space-time but in the way the genre is perceived by others. ‘Others’ being not the aliens or androids that populate most of our novels but agents, editors, readers, and—most notably—science fiction authors who heretofore would have run screaming out of the airlock at the first mention of romance.
If you’d asked me, eleven years ago, if science fiction would ever accept the inclusion of a romance plot or subplot in an SF novel, I’d probably have told you emphatically not…all the time doggedly plucking the tar and feathers from my hide for having done just that. Not that I was the first: Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Catherine Asaro, even Andre Norton had elements of romance—from veiled to blatant—in their books long before I did. I just came into the whole thing on the heels of the futuristic romance explosion (and its subsequent crash-and-burn) and hence ran into the backlash of Futuristics Are Not SF And Don’t You Dare Try To Write Things Like That.
Futuristics are not SF. And SFR—science fiction romance—isn’t RSF—romantic science fiction. They’re variations on a theme, if you will, in much the way chocolate can be mocha or double dark bittersweet or white chocolate with a hazelnut infusion. Flavors vary from mildly sweet to buzz-your-head-off caffeinated cocoa. The same is true of the futuristics—SFR—RSF spectrum. Lotta romance/less world-building on one end, heavy world-building and science with lighter romantic subplot on the other.
But the fact that there were variations seemed to matter no one whit to the SF crowd. Any mention of romance paired with SF immediately garnered accusations of “Weak world building!” and “Sloppy science!” as the tar balls flew… As if any character who fell in love would also have his or her brains fall out of his or her head, since anything with romance could only be bodice-ripping junk.
Then a funny thing happened at an SF convention—Context 23—last year in Columbus, OH, USA. I sat on several panels with SF authors (mostly guys) and was asked more than once, “Tell me about including romance in my stories…” I was even asked (gasp!) for more information about the annual Romantic Times BOOKlover’s convention (aka “RT”) and whether or not they’d be welcome there.
Welcome? Shit, dude, you’re a dude. You’re an author. RT would love you.
Then I realized what had happened—SF authors were starting to recognize the commercial appeal of including an emotional-relationship subplot in their story lines. Not that that hadn’t been done before, but I don’t think it’s been done with the direct purpose of bringing in non-hard-SF readers. In the SF I’ve read (for decades) any relationship subplot always seemed to be strictly for conflict or characterization. There wasn’t a conscious intent (save for a few notable SF authors) to have the emotional-relationship issue as a valid part of the characters’ journeys. And HEAs (Happily Ever Afters—a requirement of the romance genre) disappeared into black holes with alarming consistency.
As to why this shift is happening, I’ll leave that for you all to debate. I’m just glad it has. Humans (and lots of non-human aliens) have emotions which, to me, have always added to the story line and characterization, not detracted from it. We are complex, befuddling, wonderfully unique emotionally-driven creatures, and I don’t see where plopping us on a starship eradicates or limits that.
I’m reprising my appearance at Context 24 in Ohio come August, and I’m looking forward to an emotional reunion with, I hope, more than a glimmer of starlight at the end of the intergalactic tunnel of love.
Thanks so much Linnea! 
You can find out more about Linnea Sinclair here:
GIVEAWAY
Linnea is generously giving away ONE ITEM from her Intergalactic Bar & Grill Shop – winner’s choice!
This giveaway is international as long as the shop delivers to your country – to check click HERE
To enter all you have to do is the following:
1. Fill out this form (be sure to read BCC’s giveaway policy)
2. Only one entry per person – multiple entries will be disqualified.
Ends Sunday 29th May 2011 8am BST
GOOD LUCK!
7 Comments
Science Fiction Romance is new to me but loved the interview and I will definately give it a go !thank you for doing a giveaway
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I've been happily enjoying sci fi romance ever since I first read Linnea's FINDERS KEEPERS. I guess I was fortunate not to know it was a genre no-no.
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It's about time that the male authors start to acknowledge SFR. Your world building, science and characters with emotions are what makes the stories so wonderful. I have all your books in PB and ebook formats so I always have one of my comfort books with me. Looking forward any new book you may be writing Linnea!
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Your books have practically spoiled me for non-sf romance. I hope the guys come through with more relationships too – to me, this is such a satisfying combination that feeds head and heart! Thanks for the interview and giveaway.
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I sure hope you're right! I keep hoping the genre will reach the tipping point that urban fantasy did. Your books really brought me into the genre. I'm boldly going places I never thought I would in my reading and my writing.
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I completely adore science fiction romance. I always was a scifi lover and I was unbelievable happy to discover that there actually are books that combine my 2 favorite genres. I can't that you authors enough for actually writing it. and I hope with all my heart that more will do it. So much better than vamps and shifters.
Go Linnea!
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I grew up reading Andre Norton, and almost every single one of her books has a romantic thread! Which is probably one of the reasons I loved her books so much. :0)
I'm glad the men are starting to see the value of adding romance to their SF plots. Cynically, I wonder if that's because romance is such a popular genre. . . but as a SFR fan, I don't care as long as they do it!
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