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Jen, I read my first science fiction novel, The Rolling Stones, when I was six. That would have been back in 1964. I read my first romance novel in 1985. In the intervening 21+ years, I would not have touched a romance novel on a bet.

Then I picked a romance novel up, on the recommendation of a fan. It was a pirate bodice-ripper ... but it intrigued me. I was lucky, and soon after picked up Kathleen Woodiwiss ... hoo-boy! Good writing!

Of course, my tastes have evolved, along with the genre. Trust me, the classic bodice-ripper doesn't get published anymore --- no one would read it, save for a guilty nostalgia thrill.

Tell you what ... I know you hate all historical periods, and I know you hate contemporary fiction. How about I send you a SF romance I like, and you tell me what you think? You don't even have to read the icky sex parts ... just the SF stuff.

The book I have in mind, in case you'd like to hunt it down yourself, is Shield's Lady, by Amanda Glass. Or you can try Sweet Starfire and Crystal Flame by Jayne Ann Krentz, together now in one book. (Jayne Krentz also writes under the name Amanda Glass.) If you can't find 'em, let me know, and I'll send you one of my copies.

Think of it as distressing but essential research into what sells nowadays, should you decide to get published ...

hehehe... yeesh... I'm still reeling from the idea of a "bodice-ripper". Yowza.

I guess it's a good thing fer womenfolk these days that they don't wear bodices too often anymore. Sounds like they were dangerous things.

I've never read a romance novel ever. And I like my sci-fi on the hard side, manly stuff. Closest to sci-fi romance I've read would be Joe Haldeman. lol

When I first got the internet, one of the first things I did was go searching info about my favorite sci-fi writers. I was really disgusted to find out that James Tiptree Jr. was a she -- strapping-on a male persona in order to sell her stories. I knew there was a big secret years earlier about her identity, that no one knew who Tiptree was. Some were suspecting she was an agent of some area of our government, or something. Lotta hoopla to sell her stories. Now she is the sci-fi mascot for lesbian women.

When you read a novel, you are essentially following the author to a place he wants to take you. It is intimate contact, it is. Especially with the best ones like Ray Bradbury, et al.

I don't read women authors, because I don't want to follow them anywhere. I'm a chauvanist maybe. And I sure don't want to follow a lesbian woman anywhere. The finding left me nauseous, and I suppose it is the closest we women might come to understanding what it is like for a man with an interest in a woman then that she is a he. ugh

Morning Glorious!

Jen, I read my first science fiction novel, The Rolling Stones, when I was six. That would have been back in 1964. I read my first romance novel in 1985. In the intervening 21+ years, I would not have touched a romance novel on a bet.

Then I picked a romance novel up, on the recommendation of a fan. It was a pirate bodice-ripper ... but it intrigued me. I was lucky, and soon after picked up Kathleen Woodiwiss ... hoo-boy! Good writing!

Hmm... well, I must admit the name-dropping reassures me a little. After all, someone with good taste in Heinleins... and the writing's good?

Tell you what ... I know you hate all historical periods, and I know you hate contemporary fiction. How about I send you a SF romance I like, and you tell me what you think? You don't even have to read the icky sex parts ... just the SF stuff.

Huh? I like historical fiction. If it's the right period... basically that's anything before 1600, or if it's Napoleonic Europe, or Victorian England, I love it. But I digress. SF is good.... SF romance?

The book I have in mind, in case you'd like to hunt it down yourself, is Shield's Lady, by Amanda Glass. Or you can try Sweet Starfire and Crystal Flame by Jayne Ann Krentz, together now in one book. (Jayne Krentz also writes under the name Amanda Glass.) If you can't find 'em, let me know, and I'll send you one of my copies.

I'll take a look! And I'll give it an open-minded try!