I refuse to cheat.
I refuse to cheat.
Of course, if you were asking different questions, a study of Robert Heinlein, Poul Anderson and Gordon Dickson. Heinlein doesn’t pad, while the others add a bit. For bigger padding, Roger Zelazny managed. But I imagine you a more Pournelle/Niven hard science writer.
Lastly, to handle the delicate romantic scenes, may I suggest Richard E. Geis, aka Peggy Swenson and most of the Pethouse Forum authors?