Space Opera Fans discussion

One common trope in SF and fantasy is some kind of mental/emotional bonding to a single other being, usually for life. In the Liaden Universe this appears as lifemates, and typically includes sexual bonding as well. In The Dragonriders of Pern and similar books by Anne McCaffrey it's a bond between rider and dragon.

I'm currently rereading the Dreamhealers series, which starts with Mindtouch, by M.C.A. Hogarth. Dozens of different species in an interstellar alliance, with their various cultures mixing mostly peaceably. (Imagine what a winter solstice celebration would entail trying to please all those various cultures, particularly when their home worlds have it at different times.). In any case, the way this book presents mind bonding is unusual. Both partners appear to need to encourage the bonding, it only happens between telepaths, sex doesn't appear to be part of it, but it works between species. It's almost like reading a falling in love story, without the sexual attraction. Very strange.

Do you recall some other approach to this trope?

Humans and treecats in the Honorverse. Only occurs with humans who are strong empaths, maybe even genetically modified to encourage it. And only with certain cats who are strongly adventurous and curious and even impatient with rules. Happens suddenly and unexpectedly (one can't seek it), and strengthens gradually over a lifetime bond.

Do you want to count bonds with AI? Then how about Theo and Bechimo in the Liaden Universe.

Thanks Betsy, those are both good ones. Bechimo's type of bonding reminds me of the captain to ship bonding in the Linesman series, although there isn't any formal ceremony and the line ships while sentient to some degree aren't as sapient as Bechimo.

Pip and Flinx. by Alan Dean Foster. A young slave who bonds with a flying snake, neither of whom know where they came from and how they ended up in the situation they are in. Many books to the series.

Leoine Rogers Frontier series (3 books). The young scouts bond with Starcats. This series was great on world building, aliens that are different, a colonization of a planet because of accidentally being forced to land there. Sentient plants. Young adult. It might fit several categories. I read it as ebooks. Bought printed set for my daughter for christmas a few years ago.

Andre Norton had some. Was is Starman's Son with the large cat? The Beastmaster stories with several types of animals communicating with the humans (dont' remember if they bonded or just ESP).