Running With Quills: ELIZABETH LOOKS AT OTHERWORLDLY ROMANCE

Welcome to Running With Quills, your online newsletter designed to keep you up to date with what your favorite authors (that would be us) are doing throughout the year. Here you will find the release dates of our new books and get information about our backlists. We'll preview our cover art here long before the books hit the stores and we'll keep you informed about works-in-progress and special projects. You'll also receive advance notice of signings and appearances. From time to time we'll give you a peek at our worlds, tell you what we're reading, and introduce you to some new authors.

Monday, May 15, 2006

ELIZABETH LOOKS AT OTHERWORLDLY ROMANCE

A lot of people don’t know that my first novels were in the science fiction genre. Nine in all. Some featured earthlike worlds. Most didn’t. They were considered “girl books” by science fiction reviewers because I included the possibility of heterosexual attraction, of love, in the story.

Jayne has written eight novels and several novellas set on earthlike planets with earthlike societies. All of them were built around the ancient story of man and woman and love.

Neither of us had any luck attracting a big audience for those stories. Or as Jayne has often said, “People lined up around the block NOT to buy the books.”

Today, vampires and werefolk, ancient gods and goddesses, psychics and magic are not only accepted in romance, they are relished.

All that kept Christine Feehan and her marvelous vampires from having a number-one NYT bestseller spot was the Da Vinci Code. J. D. Robb/Nora Roberts has made a #1 NYT success story out of Rourke and Eve, set in New York’s near future. Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley MacGregor made her bones (so to speak!) with her Dark Hunter novels based in cultural myths. Katie McCalister and Mary Janice Davidson give us a humorous take on things fantastic. J. R. Ward, and Marjorie M. Liu have exploded on the scene with their own dark take on mythic and psychic and magical beings falling in love.

(If you haven’t read these authors, I can’t recommend them enough to fellow fantasy lovers!)

Does that mean that science fiction and romance are finally combined?

I’ve thought a lot about it.

My answer is … no.

Science fiction can take place on earth, but most often doesn’t. Science fiction readers not only don’t require the reference point of their home planet, they often don’t even want the home galaxy.

The futuristic/paranormal romances that have worked as well or better than ordinary romances with the readers are uniformly grounded on our home sweet home, aka Earth. They are earthbound fantasies.

See where we went wrong, Jayne? Unlike Stephen King or Dean Koontz, we didn’t picture a familiar earth where unfamiliar things can happen. We pictured an unfamiliar place where familiar things happen.

Big mistake for us. (Hey, hindsight is always 20-20.)

So fantasy lovers out there, how many of you prefer your paranormal love affairs to be firmly rooted in earthly myths?

40 Comments:

DFender said...: *raises hand*
Me, me, me! (Horshack anyone? lol)
For myself, the fact that several science fiction series are NOT earth-related in anyway is what kept me from ever becoming really interested in the genre. I don't do well without some sort of reference point for my imagination (or lack thereof! lol).

When futuristic/fantasy/paranormal/romance came around, most of 'em earth-related in some way, I found that I loved the stories as well as appreciated the great imaginations of the authors.

I love Jayne's earlier books because Jayne wrote them and the characters are great, as always...but were they my favorites? Nah. After trying the first couple, I haven't ever gotten into the JD Robb series but have read every other Nora Roberts book printed. Sherrilyn Kenyon is great! All of the Dark Hunter books are terrific. The others you mentioned I'll need to pick up and give a try.

Another author that I really like is Laurell K. Hamilton... her Anita Blake books are considered "Horror" according to Border's but they're really more Paranormal/Fantasy/Romance in my opinion. Weird, graphic, sexually oriented, yes... horrific? Not to me. Maybe I'm the weird one...lol. Her Merry Gentry books are great too.

Would Karen Marie Moning's books be considered Paranormal/Fantasy? I love all of those, too. Ha! No wonder Borders loves me. I'm such a sucker. No pun intendend...lol.

Deb
evrvxr: Every version really verifies x-ray readings.; 9:32 AM
K.L. said...: I must be abnormal (as opposed to paranormal). I loved Jayne's earlier futuristic works and I still reread her flower series. I am seriously looking forward to her Ghost Hunter book. I got interested in the otherworld romance books when I read one by Saranne Dawson, and have been hooked ever since. I love the wide open plot opportunities that other realities offer. I just wish more people supported the style so that more authors would start writing them.; 9:36 AM
elizabeth said...: dfender,

I haven't read Moning yet, so I can't comment. She's on my TBR, if it helps.; 9:38 AM
elizabeth said...: k.l.,

I love Jayne's futuristic books, too. I DIDN'T like the vampire fantasy until Christine Feehan convinced me of the error of my ways. She opened up the paranormal world for me. :-); 9:40 AM
Lynn said...: I bought Jayne's futuristic books (really, I did)! Some I liked better than others, but that is the case with any book you read. I definitely loved the series with Orchid, Amaryliss, and Zinnia and more recently the two book series After Dark and After Glow. What drew me to them were the characters and story, where and when they took place was secondary. Actually, along the same vein, Jayne's Amanda Quick historical fiction are the only one's I buy in hardback. I don't care much for the genre, but know I won't be disappointed with Jayne's books regardless of the time period.

I love the JD Robb In Death series, sometimes more than her regular romance title. Again, I think it is a connection to, involvement with, the characters more than the futuristic time period in which they are set.

Another author I enjoy who has characters with paranormal senses is Kay Hooper. But, I just do not enjoy the vampires, werewolves, and other assorted creatures who go bump in the night.

So, I would say I do indeed prefer my paranormal love affairs to be more earthly bound. Guess I'm just firmly rooted here.; 9:57 AM
CCHirsch said...: First: Loved loved LOVED all Jaynes futuristic/paranormal. I even bugged my local bookseller for more Amanda Glass books!! She was merely before her time --- I know, small consolation.

In terms of science fiction/fantasy, I think it might help to make that distinction. As a well-read young friend assures me: science fiction = robots; fantasy = dragons. Somehow I can't help but see dragons as more "romantic" than robots, so perhaps science fiction is a harder market to crack while keeping the focus on the relationship? As long as the human romance is the core of the book, I don't understand why there is a problem [which, of course, is no real solution, but MAY, at least, serve to clarify terms].

Did anyone read Justine Dare's books "Lord of the Storm" and "Sky Pirate"? Another apparent case of the dreaded "didn't catch on" but really wonderful books.

One problem with JD Robb -- which Jayne has successfully negotiated at least twice -- is that there is at least a subliminal expectation that romance books end at marriage [or its equivalent]. When that doesn't happen, it plays with the convention. I don't generally view "couples" books -- where the mated pair continue in sequel(s) -- in the same class/genre as "true" romance.

Maybe THAT's the real issue: what are the lines we delineate? Is it simplistic to say that the romance is a “… work of prose fiction that tells the courtship and betrothal of one or more heroines” [Regis, 2003, p.19]?

If that definition rings true, then all the Jaynes and Elizabeth/Anns and the other numerous sci-fi/fantasy/paranormals are just... characters in search of an audience? [shamelessly mixed metaphors indicate why I am NOT a romance author].

Thanks for allowing me to blither...so many papers to grade, so little romance in the pile :-); 10:11 AM
beadlizard said...: I just cannot enjoy vampire books (too creepy!), but my DH loves them, especially Rice. The other paranormal devices, even some of the creepy ones, can really add to a story, but not the teeth -- ewwww.

When my brother married, he had to haul off nine cubic YARDS of scifi to the used bookstore to make room for his wife's scifi, so I've read a fair bit just from being around him. MZB's Darkover books are wonderful for their character development, and she definitely expands what humans can do and sense. McCaffrey's Pern series has quite a following, too, and is an interesting meld of earth and non-earth, human and alien, historical and futuristic.

I like time travel, more for the contrast of cultures and the way the characters deal with this than for the pure scifi end of it. I prefer a bit of humor, not just drama, and earth-based or earth-like. For instance, I have all of Sandra Hill's books and only a few of Dara Joy's.

My favorite books are ones where I can identify with the heroine, and I'm rather earth-bound. Adding a mystical component (lucid dreaming!) is wonderful, but so is EL's Donovan series where I learned such interesting things about gems and pearls.; 10:12 AM
Teresa Medeiros said...: I completely agree with you, Elizabeth. I even think the HARRY POTTER books worked so well because they were so deeply entrenched in the British boarding school fantasy, something we all recognized and could identify with.; 11:06 AM
Christina Dodd said...: I'm an easy reader. I like a touch of paranormal and I like to go all the way. (With the fantasy worlds -- geeze, you guys!) I loved the Amanda Glass books, they're some of my favorites. But I also loved Elizabeth Vaughan WARLORD which seemed like earth history to me, and I read JD Robb without a qualm -- altho I definitely agree I don't consider them romance.

But Elizabeth, I had no idea you wrote s/f. What are the books??; 11:30 AM
elizabeth said...: Hey, Christina! Here you go:

CHANGE
THE SINGER ENIGMA
A DEAD GOD DANCING
NAME OF A SHADOW
JAWS OF MENX
FIRE DANCER
DANCER'S LUCK
DANCER'S ILLUSION
TIMESHADOW RIDER; 11:52 AM
elizabeth said...: oops

Should have added that my science fiction was written under Ann Maxwell.; 11:53 AM
Tammy said...: I LOVE AND REREAD Jayne's and yours Elizabeth.

I actually don't care where the action takes place, to me as long as the story fascinates me that's all that matters.

I love the flower series and can't wait for Ghost Hunter to come out Jayne.

And speaking of the sci-fi one's Elizabeth - is there ANY chance you/your hubby might "finish" the Fire Dancer series one day?

::::please say yes, please say yes, please say yes!!!:::; 11:54 AM
Tammy said...: Thank you for the list Elizabeth!

The only ones I don't have are - THE SINGER ENIGMA
A DEAD GOD DANCING
NAME OF A SHADOW
JAWS OF MENX

Name of a Shadow would have to do with Change or TimeShadow Rider would it? I mean in the "same type of universe?"; 11:57 AM
elizabeth said...: tammy--

The reason you don't have those is probably because they are the least "accessible" of my s/f books. It took me a loooong time to overcome my University education. ;-); 12:03 PM
Tammy said...: :-)

I keep looking I'm sure I'll find them someplace.

I'd really love to know more about Rhea though and that universe and hopefully things have a HEA.

And this is my opinion - but I see no reason why the Dancer series woudln't sell now, granted they don't take place on Earth like places, but good futuristics can happen anywhere. And yours and Jayne's are GOOD!; 12:09 PM
MomSear said...: Count me as a former anti-sci fi reader. Must have been that o/d on Azimov in my early teens. I caught, absorbed, adored the Justine Dare books, then avoided all paranormals until Sherri's Kiss of the Night caught my eye. Since then I've become a DH addict, added in Feehan, Moning,Liu, McAlister. And the list grows monthly. I DO, however, prefer at least some reference to humanoid/earthly lives and history. Maybe I'm too old to completely leave my comfort zone. I missed all of Jayne's early stuff, and the only Ann Maxwells are a few reprints that were out in the past few years. Now I find that I'll choose a paranormal/vamp/fantasy over contemporary or chic lit any day. I've gotten adventurous enough to sample Angela Knight and JD Ward, but return to the milder Kenyon for my favorites. All in all, keep it familiar, and, in Katie McAlister's case, keep it funny, and it'll keep me coming back.; 1:17 PM
Mary B. said...: I like all of the futuristic novels of both Jayne and many other writers, which is what I think Jayne's books are since it is the humans from the future that have gone to the stars and the beings that humans meet there. Sci-fi can include humans or non-humans, even sentient machines as the main characters. The paranormals are a lot of fun, too.

What I don't like is when there is no real bonding of the couple (or even more individuals if the "new" world culture is naturally that way) into a basic family unit held together by love and fidelity to each other by the time the book get to the end. I am looking for HEA endings even in the future, paranormal situations, or on other worlds. What can I say, I am a romantic!; 1:32 PM
Anonymous said...: I like it all - on Earth (past, present, and future) and in outer space, among humans, aliens, vampires, werewolves, gods, godesses, witches, elves, and combinations thereof.... I love everyone mentioned here, plus many others (anyone read Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy? Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse books?)

I finally stopped reading Feehan because I got tired of the way her heroes always rape her heroines into submisssion (overpowering rather than seducing), and the Anita Blake novels are about to go because the characters I loved have become distorted beyond all recognition and the stories are all about the erotica of pain (which isn't of interest to me; I prefer my sex to be fun), but I think you just might have been ahead of your time. The next step will be an unfamiliar place where familiar things happen. It's rough being a visionary.; 2:40 PM
BadBarbs' Blog said...: Hi Elizabeth!!

I happen to be one of those people who have read Jayne for a long time and I loved her science fiction stuff. Shield's Lady is one of my all time fav books. What is really funny is that I wrote my first author fan letter to Jayne, this was way before I was online and right after I had read Family Man. I asked her if she was planning on writing a vampire romance cause I thought she would be awesome at it. (what was really cool is that Jayne took the time to write me back too)

I have always been a fan of vamp romances, I won't tell how long it took me to find all of Maggie Shayne's Twilight series. I loved her vamps because they weren't whiny vampires. They were what they were and made no apologies for it. Thank goodness Chris Feehan came along, because I was beginning to give up on finding anything like Maggie Shaynes.

I think that e-publishers have had an effect on it too, because before the big publishers jumped on the paranormal bandwagon, the only place a reader could find a paranormal romance would be Elloras Cave or something similar.; 2:40 PM
talpianna said...: I'm not sure I agree with Our Fearless Leader; but then I'm not sure that we would agree on whether certain books are paranormal romance or SF/fantasy with a romance plot. Very often paranormal romance novels annoy the hell out of me because they don't pay proper attention to world-building. One example would be the J.D. Robb books, which I love and reread frequently: it was only on about the third reading that I realized that there was absolutely NO explanation of how space travel worked and where the off-planet locations actually were, because they aren't actually in our solar system (unless they are in the asteroid belt) unless they are L5 satellites, and without ftl drive other systems are decades away. She tells the stories so well that I just don't notice! Jayne DOES work such things out, which is just one of the many reasons I reread her paranormals (though I still want to know how to play golf-tennis!)

Some of my favorites, as I've mentioned all too frequently, are the Liaden Universe books of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, with a couple of really great romance plots; and Anne Bishop's dark-fantasy Black Jewels Trilogy. Both get raves from romance writers and RT, though they are published as SF/fantasy.

I don't think I'd get many romance readers if my lovers were multi-tentacled slime monsters rather than a man and a woman (though it might be fun writing the sex scenes!), but I'm perfectly happy with love stories about characters who live in alien societies on other worlds or in other universes. For one thing, it can provide some interesting conflicts.

I also enjoy stories that feature characters with psi powers, especially in romances, if they are well done. The late great Andre Norton was particularly good at this, and most of her stories do have a romance element, especially the Witch World fantasies.

So bring back the Fire Dancer already!

It took you a long time to overcome your university education? I liked your SF, and I didn't consider it particularly erudite compared with, for example, Dorothy L. Sayers and the Kate Fansler mysteries by Columbia English professor Carolyn Heilbrun writing as Amanda Cross. And a couple of the all-time great YA romantic fantasies were written by Elizabeth Marie Pope, who was an English professor at Mills College. I wish you'd explain (especially for the benefit of those like the Tigress and myself, who do it) why scholarly writing (as opposed to pomposity) is bad in and of itself--after all, every style has both good and bad practitioners!

If you mean that there's too much technical data--what Jenny Crusie calls "infodump"--that's true of lots of SF (at least from my techno-dummy PoV; others may differ) and it doesn't spoil my enjoyment of the books. Yours certainly is not nearly as hard to take as the 50s stuff written by geeky engineers.

I totally agree with Mary B.'s comment.

nlbtuin -- Not love books? Trying 2 understand. Intelligent? NOT!

Oops!

wfpic -- Werewolf fiction! Please! Involve cats!; 2:51 PM
Lynn said...: cchirsch said: I don't generally view "couples" books -- where the mated pair continue in sequel(s) --in the same class/genre as "true" romance.

I find that a very interesting statement as it pertains to sequels and series romance/adventure/futuristic titles. One of the things I have enjoyed not only in the JD Robb titles, but also in several of Jayne's books (which were alluded to), is the chance to see a relationship develop and mature over time. I love the happily ever after within any romance novel. But, I also wonder how long until the 'bloom' of romance may/may not wear off. Looking at the series books, be it future/paranormal or any other romance genre, in a well written book the romance continues throughout.

Kind of like Into the Woods, happily ever after is hard work. What comes next can be as romantic as finding true love.

Or at least, I sure hope it is.; 3:36 PM
Fantasy said...: I've been reading for over forty years now. The last couple of years have been like a dream for me because the kind of books I could only dream about are finally being printed. LKH, Christine Feehan, Sherilyn Kenyon, Kay Hooper, JR Ward. Vamps? Ghosts? Genetically altered men (Lora Leigh's Breeds series)? All I can say is bring it on! I intend to wallow in the paranormal until the winds shift & the pages turn to a new popular genre. I would dearly love to see more from the world of Shield's Lady and I'll be looking for Ann Maxwell's stuff. Thanks ladies for making this the most fun blog to read, ever. Everyone else takes themselves way too serious. You all are doing a great job!; 5:20 PM
TashaDMS said...: I'm ashamed to say that my suspension of disbelief is not good enough for most sci-fi books. I love sci-fi television, but can't quite stretch to the same genre in books. Go figure. In fact, the only thing I haven't read from EL/AM are her sci-fi books. I am tempted from time to time to try them out, but I would be so disappointed if it turned out I didn't like them. I know, I have no sense of adventure. I did recently buy a Christine Feehan book just to give it a spin but I haven't taken it off the shelf yet. I love books that have a little bit of magic or a mystical twist. The very first romance novel I ever read was "A Breath of Magic," by Teresa Medeiros and then I was hooked. I just can't stretch my imagination to include books that are set on other planets or in the future.
By the way, I noticed several people mentioned Justine Dare... does she also write under the name Justine Davis?
Tasha; 9:28 PM
Ranurgis said...: I guess if you think of earth-rooted fantasies as meaning vampires, demons, witches, wizards, werewolves and other "Dark" elements, then no, I don't like them. I can deal with some of the werewolf stories by certain authors but on the whole, I want to read books that entertain me, not make me sick. I've never liked vampires and after seeing a documentary about the supposed role- model for this character, I have tried to read some vamp short-stories and managed to get through one. That's *not* how I want love depicted.

Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to get caught up on your sci-fi books yet. I think I've read most of Jayne's because those came out after I started reading her books and I was able to keep better pace with them. I really enjoy those. I've dropped other favorite authors when they stepped into that vampire world. It's just not for me.

I know one comment in a blog somewhere said that the writer wanted to have a science fiction book in which the world was totally different from our own. I find that very difficult to picture. Can we really totally divorce ourselves from our world, such as it is, and create one that is completely different without any sort of reference point to our own experience? Maybe someone will be able to do that or maybe someone has tried but found too few readers. Are a writer and the readers not always bound in some way to a common experience in some form?

And yes, *Justine Dare* is a pseudonym for Justine Davis. She wrote some sci-fi and some non-series romantic suspense as the J. Dare persona.; 10:53 PM
Ranurgis said...: Tammy:

I may have a double of one or two of the Ann Maxwell sci-fi books you're looking for. The problems is they're in storage and it might take me a while to find them. I'll try to find them soon and see which ones I do have doubles of. I've been intending to sell some for a while including some of Jayne's older series. If the Quills will let me, I will post when they're on eBay. I desperately need some money because my sole income is a disability pension which does not in any way cover what I need though it does make for a good weight-loss diet. Otherwise I'd love to just give them away but I need a less trouble-prone computer. The associated stress is constantly making me feel worse. So is the stress from the siblings constantly telling me to "get rid of your books and all the rest of your junk." This "junk" is memorabilia from my trips and living abroad. Just because they have different tastes...; 11:07 PM
Ranurgis said...: I've really enjoyed Susan Grant's futuristic/space-flight books. I noticed, however, that her latest story is a contribution to an anthology that I'd call "dark". I'll have to see how that goes.

I believe it is she who has a talking computer in the "Star King" series which can really crack you up. I hope she doesn't go too far away from her roots.

Sorry, I kept finding new things to comment on.

ezssqo - Eat zesty strawberries; so quit ogling.; 11:32 PM
erin said...: I really like Jayne's books, futuristic or not, and I think I've read them all. I love re-reading Shield's Lady, actually. I think I've only read one or two Ann Maxwell books, but it's because I don't see many of them out there, not because I don't want to.
I enjoy reading scifi. I don't read scifi nearly as much or as often as I read romance, but I think it's just out of habit. If I read too many romances in a row I get "romanced" out, and I need to take a breather, so I read mystery, I read scifi, I read thrillers. And then when I do that, I remember, "oh wow, I forgot how much I like reading ___ genre!" so I'll go on a mini reading spree of that genre. But I digress.
I think as long as the author can make this futuristic/paranormal/otherworldly world logical in its own way AND as long as the writer is a great writer regardless, it doesn't matter to me if the world is earth-based.; 1:33 AM
Chez said...: I must have been one of the people breaking the mould and lining up for both of your futuristics. I can remember bugging the Melbourne sci/fi bookstore for more Ann Maxwell (I adore the Dancer books) novels. I came at romance reading from the opposite direction, through sci/fi and fantasy and realising that my favourites all included elements of romance (Anne McCaffrey's Dragon books, your Dancer books, even E E Doc Smith included romance in his epic space battle books). I then decided to just slip into more mainstream romance and have drifted further and further away from the scifi. I love how more romances are now adding paranormal to the mix and this whole conversation has me looking at all my lovely shelves of scifi/fantasy and thinking of some rereads.; 2:39 AM
Anonymous said...: I like most paranormal stories - ghosts (Kay Hooper does really good ghosts) werewolves (I like Angela Knight's weres) vamps (lots of good authors here) witches (I like Nora Roberts and a couple of others) and psychics (Jayne and Kay Hooper again). I am not a fan of hard science sci-fi. I am a fan of fantasy fiction, the kind with wizards and dragons and no romance. I don't really care where the story takes place as long as I get my HEA ending. I have been known to toss a book if it doesn't end "right". My dh thinks it's funny that I check the end before I buy a book, but I tell him I won't waste money on a bad ending.

Marva; 7:58 AM
Louis said...: anon...

I'm with you...if I like the ending I'll read the book!!!

Jayne's flower series were the first of the "modern" romances that I read...my wife bought them and did not like them...but I did!

That led me to the rest of JAK's books and to Elizabeth's books and to Nora's books and so on and so on...

I liked Elizabeth"s sci-fi books, also the J D Robb series...think they are great.

Not too much into vampire or werewolf books although I've read a few..Rebecca York for one.

If the "Quills" keep on writing I'll look forward to the next.

iooqlz red

Independant offers oogle quills latest zizzle

oops

yumyvaa

yummy uncles make young vampires independent always; 11:10 AM
Tammy said...: That would be cool Ranurgis.

I may have a double of one or two of the Ann Maxwell sci-fi books you're looking for. The problems is they're in storage and it might take me a while to find them. I'll try to find them soon and see which ones I do have doubles of. I've been intending to sell some for a while including some of Jayne's older series.

Willl keep an eye open for you - I visit ebay nearly daily; 6:08 PM
Jay said...: I don't mind where a story is based, but I mind how well the location is developed.

For example - the Kushiel's Dart trilogy is epic, magnificently written, and an entire world is created. Religion, politics, social structure - everything is created from the ground up.

In comparison, as Tal has pointed out, the Eve Dallas books don't go into detail. Everything just is, without explanation. Take modern Earth, advance it fifty years, add some nifty toys for the cops, and presto.

Because Jacqueline Carey has taken so much care in creating a world, there's nothing lacking. Because JD Robb is using a world that is familiar in the main, there's nothing lacking.

If the author chooses to create a world from scratch, then they need to cram a world worth of detail into their story. If they're using Earth, at any stage in time, then they've already got that base to build from. It's when they make a new world, but leave it two dimensional, that a story falls down for me.

I can think of a couple of sci-fi that blend romance in - Anne McCaffrey comes to mind - but until the last ten or fifteen years, they were few and far between. The sci-fi genre in general wasn't one of love relationships.

I think, Ms Ann, you and Jayne were simply ahead of your time. You didn't miss the boat - it hadn't been built yet. :)

As for vamps, werewolves etc - I like them all, and again, I don't care what location they're based in, as long as it's properly developed. Those I would recommend - Kelley Armstrong, Charlaine Harris, Sherrilyn Kenyon, MaryJanice Davison (amusement factor plus), and the first nine books of Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake books. Don't bother with the rest of the series.

If you have a strong stomach and don't require a traditional happy ending, try Wynette A. Hoffman's Blood Is Thicker Than Water.; 7:09 PM
Cora said...: Personally, I don't have a problem with non-earthly settings at all, as long as the worldbuilding is detailed and consistent enough. But then I am more of a science fiction and fantasy than a romance reader.

I welcome the growing popularity of paranormal and futuristic romances. Though I feel that the worldbuilding aspect, particularily in futuristic romances, is frequently skimpy compared to what one would find in pure SF. The J.D. Robb books don't bother me in that regard, because even though there is less worldbuilding than there would be, if the books were marketed as SF, it is at least consistent and not solely borrowed from bad movies, unlike some other so-called futuristic romances I have read. Plus, the characters are so compelling that they keep me reading, even if the worldbuilding isn't all that.

By the way, the above is not a criticism of Jayne's and Elizabeth's worldbuilding skills, as I have never read any of their SF romances. However, I will be on the lookout for them now.; 7:39 PM
Anonymous said...: I absolutely adore Jayne's futuristic novels and have reread them several times. I love JD Robbs' In Death series more than her regular titles. I also love Sandra Hill's books and Tami Hoag's older titles like Lucky's Lady and Still Waters.

Sci-fi books have always bored me, and I could never get past the first few pages. Don't know why.; 8:15 AM
BUGG said...: Okay I'll give my 2 cents.

I've read 4 of Ann's science fiction books and two of Jayne's. Plus the first 4 of JD Robbs and 2 of Feehans.

While the books were good I had a very hard time getting through them. I'll admit I don't process science fiction very well so my opinion might not matter much. I don't know if it is my comfort level or the fact that I can't grasp the "other world" stuff. I have the same problem with futureistic (sp?) novels. I have no problem with reading novels set in the past, even if I know nothing of the customs of the time. I've always found that a bit weird.

Ann, I agree with you that science fiction and romance haven't combines, and I hope they never do. At least for my sake.

Charity; 9:35 AM
talpianna said...: Bugg, when are you coming for lunch?

---------Mole the Insectivore

wpzth -- Word processing zips through hype.; 4:23 PM
deeh13 said...: Rebecca Flanders' Earthbound and Margaret St. George A wish and a Kiss are basically the only other apart from Jayne's that I can think of for the moment that I've read. Rebecca's is to do with a ghost, the second with a genie sort of theme.; 3:22 AM
sybil said...: I am one of those horrid, omgIsowishELowellwouldwritehistoricals again people. And I am sure you are tired, tired, tired of us *g*.

But! I did pick up, while sqqquuueeeing with joy to have found it, Redwood Empire. I think that counts...

I love paranormal stories but really wouldn't call myself a scifi fan, not counting a small focus on x-files for a few ::coughfivecough:: years.

I am sure you are super busy, but if you get the chance can you drop me an email. I have a question for you, I swear it has nothing to do with when are you going to write another historical ;).

No worries if you don't have the time but just in case - redwyne at gmail dot com

Thanks!; 2:41 AM
elizabeth said...: sybil

Pop over to http://www.elizabethlowell.com/cgibin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID2&conf=DCConfID1
and leave your question on there. I'll answer it.; 10:14 AM
elizabeth said...: oops. no hot button.

Just go to elizabethlowell.com and click on Write from the Source; 10:14 AM

Previous Posts

Monday, May 15, 2006

ELIZABETH LOOKS AT OTHERWORLDLY ROMANCE

40 Comments: