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

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

Here through gina_r_snape's flist...

Marion Zimmer Bradley touches on poly relations especially in Ruins of Isis and her Renunciate Darkover books. There are also some interesting romantic twists throughout the Mists of Avalon.

Throughout Anne McCaffrey's Pern books there are several couples including Sebell/Menolly, F'lar and Lessa, F'nor and Brekke, and Jaxom and Sharra.

There is significant romance throughout Katherine Kurtz's Deryni books. Specifically Rhys and Evaine/Elaine in the Camber of Culdi series and Kelson in the Histories of King Kelson.

Do you count Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series as fantasy? If so there are lots of romances, Anita and Jean Claude and Anita and Richard are the first to come to mind.

It's been a long while but, I think there are some poly relationships in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, the Last Herald Mage series, and Vow and Honor series, maybe Mage Winds but I can't remember.

There's an interesting treatment of sex in the military in Piers Anthony's Bio of a Space Tyrant series. I think its in Mercenary.

Those are what I can think of off the top of my head. I started reading adult Sci-fi/fantasy as a young teen; it was what my dad had on the book shelf. It was way better than my mom's hysterical romances/bodice rippers. :-P

I liked the romances as presented in Sci-Fi as the women seemed to be im more control; less whiny and pathetic that the ones in 1970s/early 1980s romances.

**michelle the librarian**

[rm.livejournal.com]

This is awesome, thank you. I think Mists of Avalon will at least get an honorable mention, because I remember being heartbroken (at 12) that the whole Guin/Lncelot/Arthur thing didn't work out better -- it was my first introduction to poly. And in the scheme of things, probably less toxic than the infamous "I love you" "I know" moment from Star Wars that infested my brain at 5.

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, I really liked that G/L/A thing in MoA as well.

I tried to use just fairly well-known names in the genre.

It's cool to know that years of voracious reading are being more useful than keeping me from being bored!

Looking forward to your column!