sci-fi fantasy lit column stuff - romance!

[rm]

So as I work on the first intro article, I've been struck by a couple of ideas for future articles. One on great out-of-print stuff you should track down, and the other -- wait for it -- a Valentine's Day feature. Yes, that's right, the great (or completely compelling and utterly fucked up, to be more accurate) relationships in sci-fi and fantasy novels.

So far I've got a few on my nomination list (that is, some will make the piece and some won't) including Molly/Case from Neuromancer, Paul/Chani from Dune, Gentle/Pie from Imajica, Alec/Richard from Swordspoint, Phedre/Josclin from Kushiel's Dart, Asriel/Mrs. Coulter from HDM, Jodeau/Xas from The Vintner's Luck (this is the one most likely to get booted right now, as I'm using that book in the out-of-print piece).

But all of this speaks to my particualr biases of the moment. What am I forgetting? What haven't I read that I really should (I know, everything!)? Anyone got some f/f or poly ones for me to reference? I know they are in my brain somewhere, but they're not coming to the fore. As should be obvious from what's above, happily ever after not required. Also more hard sci-fi stuff welcome. I really like hard sci-fi, but I'm largely at a loss on it for this particular list (thank you, William Gibson for making me not look like a total pussy).

Comments

will self is not a sci fi writer

[saltbox.livejournal.com]

But his book, Great Apes is sci-fi, kinda. This artist wakes up (in a world of chimps) and thinks he was formerly human, and now turned into a chimp. (As I recall, the book leaves it ambiguous whether that thought has merit, or whether it's delusional.) Anyway, the book covers therapy sessions between the artist and this psychologist (an ape) to help him out of his delusion/"delusion," which includes the belief that monogamy (rather than the polyamory of chimps) should be the norm. It's kind of amusing.