I think the title and the accompanying picture explains it all. Science Fiction Romance features a love story (with a happy ever after) which is inextricably linked with a science fiction plot and setting. Simple, really. When I first started writing a novel set in a future, post-apocalyptic Earth and which focused on the love story between my two main characters, I really thought I was inventing the wheel. Um, not so. It’s been a small sub-genre of both Romance and Science Fiction for an awful long time and is only now starting to pick up a real head of steam. Some well known authors of the sub-genre are Linnea Sinclair, Susan Grant and Gini Koch.
The above are all science fiction romances in print. On the e-book tip there are many, many more. There are some exciting new releases out at the moment or upcoming from Heather Massey, Ella Drake and Lisa Paitz Spindler.
And gosh – aren’t those covers just beautiful.
If you’re a reader or a writer interested in exploring the exciting world of Science Fiction Romance, one of your very best starting points is The Galaxy Express. Check out the long list of authors on the left of the blog. Other sweet spots include The Spacefreighters Lounge, the SFR Brigade, Contact – Infinite Futures, and Alien Romances.
Well, that should keep you busy for a while. Have fun exploring the many flavors of Science Fiction Romance!
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Thanks for the shout-out!
You’re welcome, Lisa. Best of luck with sales!
Excellent! This is the sort of thing I’ve been looking for since I read Sherrilyn Kenyon’s “The League” books and started thinking about the possibilities. Thanks!
You’re welcome and have fun!
Do you have any favorite sci/fi romance couples?
Mine are Crichton and Aeryn from the cult show, Farscape.
I haven’t read many books of this genre, so I’ll keep the ones you mentioned in mind.
Han and Leia from Star Wars (movies).
Zoe and Wash from Firefly (TV).
Too many to mention from books!
Yes, Thank you!
And wow, aren’t we lucky to have such great covers?
E-covers have come a long way. Good luck with sales, Ella!
I get it the genre, but does it really need it’s own classification?
It’s a distinction that helps readers find the stories they like and helps other readers avoid the ones they don’t. Some SF readers would be horrified (and worse) to find a good 50% of the story focused on the romantic relationship.
I like scoundrels! Han… over here!
I love writing sci-fi but I feel too embarrassed to write romance. I like to keep those fantasies to myself.. and hubs. 😉
However, I’ll definitely read them! Who knows, maybe they’ll change my mind and help me to expand my own sci-fi horizons. 🙂
A cheap and easy way to try SFR is to check out Heather Massey’s free short story on her website. Also, Carina Press novellas (such as Jaq’s Harp) are very reasonably priced – under $3, I believe.
I’ll thumb wrestle you for Han, by the way!
Even though the sub-genre has only been promoted to any extent in recent years, there are notable examples dating back to the pulps (and probably beyond, but using A Princess of Mars as a starting point seems more than generous), though the emphasis on romance has increased to a more central role relatively recently. When I first heard it described as a class of SF unto itself I was rather taken with the notion, but some of the science seems to be rooted more in the direction of E.E. “Doc” Smith than it does to Alastair Reynolds – not something I can entirely get behind.
If this helps increase readership of SF as a whole, it is a welcome addition alongside the more mainstream titles.
If science fiction romance serves as a gateway to science fiction for the legions of voracious romance readers, I think SF will be well served. And, of course, there are lots of people like me, who love both romance and SF and wallow delightedly in the combination of both.
And you are so right about the pulpy roots, as well as many SF authors dabbling with a side serving of romance.