“Love is that condition in which the happiness
of another person is essential to your own.”
– Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein (1961 edition)
Last year, I wrote a blog offering up Valentine’s Day hints for hardcore science fiction/fantasy fans – fittingly entitled Nice Asimov: Unconventional Valentine’s Day Tips From a Hardcore Science Fiction/Fantasy Fanatic – that turned out to be surprisingly popular and whose contents actually helped out more than a few people in the desperate hours leading up to the day celebrating love (and imminent relationship catastrophe for those who forget said date).
So consider this blog an updated public service announcement of sorts – for those science fiction/fantasy fans out there who aren’t sure what to get their significant others for Valentine’s Day.
First off, let’s understand and embrace who we are – when someone calls me a geek just because I read science fiction and fantasy, I say “you are absolutely right!” Most of the hardcore science fiction and fantasy readers that I know are freethinkers – people with open minds, wild imaginations, and adventurous sprits. And that, my friends, makes us potentially great lovers. 
Who really wants flowers and a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day? (Okay, I wouldn't mind a few chocolate covered strawberries...) The bouquet of flowers and heart-shaped box of chocolates seems so conformist, so uninspired. I would much rather give – and receive – something unusual, something truly thoughtful. If you or yours is a hardcore science fiction and fantasy fan like I am, here are a few suggestions...
• Dinner and a Movie. Hey, Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace 3D opens up in theatres on February 10 – make something from The Star Wars Cookbook II and then go see the show!
• Hide messages for your loved one to find. They can be romantic, sexy or funny – like these science fiction/fantasy inspired pick-up lines:
“Honey, you've been looking for love in Alderaan places!”
“Someone must have shot you with a phaser set on 'stunning.’”
"Nice Asimov."
“Would you like to pet my tribble?”
"Your mouth says, 'Shields up!', but your eyes say, 'A hull breach is imminent.'"
"I'm the droid you're looking for."
"Urkuk lu Stalga." That's Klingon for "I love you baby."
• Give your loved one a romantic fantasy classic like William Goldman’s timeless The Princess Bride (1973). Or better yet, watch The Princess Bride movie and experience an evening of “As you wish...”
• There are some paranormal romances on the shelves right now that are so wildly erotic, they should be labeled as incendiary! If your significant other likes his or her literary escapism extra hot, give them Pride Mates, the first novel in Jennifer Ashley's Shifters Unbound saga, or Dark Lover, the beginning of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, or Elizabeth Naughton’s Marked. Here is just a sample of what you can expect from Pride Mates:
“Kim laughed. Liam growled and sprinted up the last of the stairs, slammed into the bedroom and tossed her on the bed. As her clothes came off, then his, Kim gave in. For one night of her life, she was going to enjoy making wild, crazy love with a man who promised to make it unforgettable, no matter what might come in the morning...”
• Sometimes the simplest way to convey a message is the best – like through kids’ books. I’ve given out probably a dozen or so copies of Andy Rash’s Ten Little Zombies: A Love Story – this twisted little gem of an illustrated book really is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift – poetic, profound, and putrid! Other favorites include Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz and the Sesame street classic My Fuzzy Valentine.
Yeah, flowers and chocolates are okay – but there’s nothing wrong with taking the path less traveled and giving your loved one a cherished book or a gift inspired by your love of books, and genre fiction in particular: especially if it also includes sharing a bottle of wine and an inspired foot massage!
You know you’re a science fiction/fantasy geek (on Valentine's Day) when… you actually do one or more of the suggestions in this list!
A little fantasy (and science fiction) never hurt – have a glorious Valentine’s Day this year!
Paul Goat Allen has been a full-time book reviewer specializing in genre fiction for the last two decades and has written thousands of reviews for companies like Publishers Weekly, The Chicago Tribune, Kirkus Reviews, and BarnesandNoble.com. He is a member of the National Book Critics Circle.
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