For most readers, science fiction is not perceived as a particularly sexy genre. But trust me, it is – you only have to know where to look. In the past few decades, science fiction and romance hybrids have become increasingly popular. Regardless of how these crossbred reads are categorized – romantic science fiction, futuristic romance, science fiction romance, etc. – their appeal is undeniable. It’s like consuming a literary Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup – two great genres that taste great together.
I still remember the exact
moment in time that I discovered these science fiction/romance fusions. It was
way back in 1990 when I worked as a bookstore manager. I was in the backroom
unpacking freight when I came across a box containing multiple copies of Joanna
Lindsey’s Warrior's Woman. The cover art was cheesetastic – a bare-chested,
sword-wielding Fabio clone embracing a scantily clad woman in front of an
intergalactic backdrop. (The book has been subsequently reissued with new cover
art… bummer.) Anyway, I read the back cover, and thought, “Huh? This is science fiction?” (The blurb is below, for those
interested.)
“In the year 2139, fearless Tedra De Arr sets out to rescue her beleaguered planet Kystran from the savage rule of the evil Crad Ce Moerr. Experienced in combat but not in love, the beautiful, untouched Amazon flies with Martha, her wise-cracking, free-thinking computer, to a world where warriors reigns supreme – and into the arms of the one man she can never hope to vanquish: the bronzed barbarian Challen Ly-San-Ter. A magnificent creature of raw yet disciplined desires, the muscle-bound primitive succeeds where no puny Kystran male had before – igniting a raging fire within Tedra that must be extinguished before she can even think of saving her enslaved world…”
Warrior’s Woman sold very well in my store (the softcore porn cover helped) but only romance readers bought it. I don’t remember selling one copy to any of my science fiction customers. There was an undeniable stigma associated with reading romance back in the day – but a lot has changed in the last two decades…
Today, in 2011, genre fiction has a dramatically altered landscape. The boundaries between genres have been blurred into nonexistence and genre hybridized releases like Warrior’s Woman are commonplace. Any stigmas associated with a particular genre, I believe, have faded away. Not only are there considerably more science fiction romance novels being released today, the thematic diversity has expanded as well. There has been an undeniable evolution – particularly in terms of innovative storylines and overall quality of narrative.
Case in point: Enemy Within,
the recently released debut novel from Marcella Burnard.
The novel is a perfect blend of science fiction and romance. Protagonist Captain Alexandria Rose Idylle (aka Ari) is very much comparable to iconic science fiction heroines like David Weber’s Honor Harrington and Elizabeth Moon’s Esmay Suiza. She’s strong, smart, courageous, and largely misunderstood. Accused of being a spy and imprisoned by the Chekydran (sadistic insectoid aliens) for three months before being inexplicably released, Ari is still struggling to come to grips with the tentacled torture inflicted upon her body and mind. In the midst of a “forced sabbatical” from her post, she is assisting her father on a scientific expedition when their ship is commandeered by pirates. The leader is a golden-eyed man named Cullin Seaghdh, an arrogant rogue who, after challenging her to a duel with energy blades, has the nerve to kiss her during the contest:
“Snarling to cover the grudging admiration at Seaghdh’s skill welling up within her, Ari charged him. He did not retreat. They locked, body to body, blade to blade. Feeling the leashed strength coiled in him, she knew instantly that she’d made a mistake, one that in any other circumstances would have been fatal. Scorched where their bodies strained against one another at chest and hip, she struggled to control the rush of yearning crashing her defenses. What was wrong with her?
She met his hooded gaze. Desire glittered in the golden depths of his eyes. Pleasure rocketed through her, almost painful in its intensity. She’d forgotten what it felt like to be appreciated as a woman and the want in his eyes, shadowed by surprise, took her breath away… His gaze dropped to her mouth and the fire flared in his eyes. He whipped his off hand around her, grabbed her by the hair, and fastened his mouth on hers. She tasted exotic spice and the faint trace of salt…”
The pacing of Enemy Within begins at breakneck speed and never lets up until the very last page. Ari and Cullin are forced together as a matter of survival and, as they flee for their lives, they begin to learn more about each other’s very different lives and cultures. It turns out that Ari isn’t the only one harboring deep secrets, Cullin isn’t exactly a pirate and his mission isn’t so much to capture Ari as to save her – and in doing so saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocents.
Bottom line: I loved this
book. Yes, the science fiction wasn’t exactly hard and the romance was
tastefully understated – no graphic play-by-play porno sequences – but Burnard’s
narrative sensibilities were spot on: she wrote an entertaining, engaging story
that revolved around a beautifully intense relationship between two strangers
fatefully thrown together under dire circumstances. It was beautifully,
sensually written – “shockingly supernova” – and I firmly believe that fans of
science fiction, particularly military science fiction, will enjoy this novel
just as much as readers who read predominantly romance.
Also, for those of you adventurous readers who do seek out this novel and are impressed with Burnard’s impressive storytelling skills, please note that she has another novel coming out in May, a related novel that takes place in the same universe as Enemy Within, entitled Enemy Games.
Remember the name: Marcella Burnard. Trust me on this one.
Paul Goat Allen has been a full-time book reviewer specializing in genre fiction for almost the last two decades and has written more than 6,000 reviews for companies like Publishers Weekly, The Chicago Tribune, and BarnesandNoble.com. In his free time, he reads.
